June 6-9th

Dancing Turtle Announces Film Festival & Screenplay Competition

STILLWATER, OK – The Dancing Turtle Film Festival and Screenplay Competition will take place as part of the Dancing Turtle Arts Festival from June 6-9 in downtown Stillwater.

Short films of 25 minutes or less and screenplays of 45 pages or less will be considered for selection. Submissions are due before May 1 at https://filmfreeway.com/dancingturtleokfilmfestival.

Film selections will be screened live, and screenplays will be performed by local talent at The Sheerar (702 S. Duncan) on June 8 and 9.  Film and screenplay awards will be announced at the “Best of the Fest” show and ceremony on Sunday, June 9.  Award categories include Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Actor and Actress, Best Screenplay and more.

The Dancing Turtle Film Festival and Screenplay Competition is led by Stillwater High School alumnus and professional actress Colleen Elizabeth Miller (Better Call Saul, Killing It).  Miller found herself back in Oklahoma in 2023 filming the zany TV comedy Fairwood when the SAG-AFTRA strike took place, putting her and many other actors out of work.

Dancing Turtle leadership learned that Miller was back in Stillwater with some time on her hands and asked if she’d be willing to help put together the film portion of the arts festival.  She thankfully accepted and has been donating her time to make the Dancing Turtle Film Festival and Screenplay Competition a reality since September 2023.

Along with the screenings and performances, there will be social activities for filmmakers and screenwriters. The film festival’s official sponsor Finnegan’s Fighting Goat, just a short walk from the Sheerar Center, will be hosting multiple meet and greets for attendees. Here filmmakers will be able to come together to network while enjoying food and beverage specially crafted for them. There will even be an official Dancing Turtle cocktail.

The Dancing Turtle Festival is an annual celebration of the arts held in Stillwater, Oklahoma from June 6-9, 2024. Offerings at the free festival include arts activities for kids of all ages, dance performances and workshops, live music, instrument workshops, industrial arts demonstrations, art vendors, visual arts competitions, theater, film and screenwriting competitions, and more.  The first-ever Dancing Turtle in 2023 drew more than 3,000 visitors and hosted over 70 free events over the course of the festival.

For more information about Dancing Turtle, please visit dancingturtleok.org.

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Media Contact:

Jarrod Beckstrom | jarrodbeckstrom@outlook.com | 303-501-9692