Allred's Latest Screenplay Finalist at Milledgeville

This week, judges at the Milledgeville Film Festival upgraded Lori Kay Allred’s latest screenplay from "Official Selection" to "Semi-Finalist" and now to "Finalist."  The screenplay is tentatively titled "Secrets" and is Allred’s first feature film.  It now advances to the final competition against other screenplays and will have a table read at the upcoming 2017 Milledgeville Film Festival in late April.

"We're so proud of Lori Kay," said producer Scott Takeda. "This now marks the second year that one of her projects has gotten into this Top-100 festival, having won Best Drama Film last year and been a nominee for Best Director. We're very excited about our first feature. Like all of our projects, we've taken a universal theme and put our own personal spin on it. This is a story about a family dealing with loss during the holidays, and how it works to hold things together."

Last year was the 4th year for the festival held in a small college town just east of Atlanta. It gets it's top rating because it regularly attracts some of the industry's best filmmaking talent to judge and hold seminars including Oscar-nominated producer Rachel Winter (Dallas Buyers Club), television screenwriter Jesse Zwick (Parenthood), Disney's Director of Production David Hartle, and Oscar.com showrunner John Heinsen.

"If Not Now" Takes Top Drama Prize at Milledgeville

Judges at the Milledgeville Film Festival named "If Not Now" Best Drama Film in their 2016 campaign. The judges also named Lori Kay Allred as a nominee for "Best Director."

"Obviously we're thrilled," said producer Scott Takeda. "First, the selection of films was very good at this festival. Kudos to the programmers. So I'm very honored that our film was considered best of all the dramatic films. And second, I couldn't be more happy for our director Lori Kay Allred. This was her very first film as a director, and she did a great job. And I'm so glad that the judges saw her talent.

2016 was the fourth year for the Milledgeville Film Festival – a Top-100 reviewed festival on Film Freeway.  Held in a small college town just east of Atlanta, it regularly attracts some of the industry's best filmmaking talent. This year's speakers included Oscar-nominated producer Rachel Winter (Dallas Buyers Club), television screenwriter Jesse Zwick (Parenthood), Disney's Director of Production David Hartle, and Oscar.com showrunner John Heinsen.

Two Shorts In Spring Festivals

Director/writer Lori Kay Allred and actor Catherine McGuire of "If Not Now" at the closing night red carpet gala of the Milledgeville Film Festival (April 2016)

Our filmmakers and cast are racking up the miles this month. Our 2015 short film "If Not Now" is an official selection into the 3rd Annual Milledgeville Film Festival in Georgia. Writer/director Lori Kay Allred and producer Scott Takeda will attend along with cast member Catherine McGuire.

The following week, Allred will escort our latest film "The Decision" to the SENE Film Festival in Providence, Rhode Island. This is the first festival for that film.

"I'm so excited for both films," said Allred. "Milledgeville has developed a terrific reputation among filmmakers for attracting some of the best filmmakers in the country. And it's just outside of Atlanta – one of the busiest film production centers in the US. And SENE is the perfect festival for the premier of "The Decision." The film fans in Rhode Island are passionate and attend in huge numbers.  I'm can't wait to get their reactions to our newest film."

Director Lori Kay Allred with NYC filmmaker Lukas Hassell at the SENE Film Festival in Providence, Rhode Island. (April 2016)