Hollywood Calendar 2009/2010

Like the millions of school children buying Pee-Chee folders at Walmart, like the leaves beginning to turn, like the fog moving under the Golden Gate Bridge and the gray whales migrating to Mexico for the winter, we are shifting into a new Hollywood season.

That's a long way of saying that this is the beginning of the Hollywood school year - when it comes to writers. Here is the latest Hollywood Calendar for 2009/2010, which my intrepid assistant arduously compiled for your writing benefit. These are the events, festivals and holidays that I think you should be aware of.

Make sure you pay yourself first and set aside some family monies so you can attend the CS Expo this year - it is honestly one of the best annual events for screenwriters out there. Besides, I'll be teaching a class this year so yowza that. Many of you will notice the Expo is one day shorter this year, which is probably a good thing. Jam all of that intensity into a shorter time span.

Some items you may ask why I am specifically noting the Jewish High Holidays. That's because a fair number of people in Los Angeles and in Hollywood (including me) observe these holidays; it's respectful to be informed of a holiday - especially one that means some will not be doing business during this time.

Get out your red pens and your blank calendars out and jot this stuff down:

Fall/Winter 2009:

Toronto Film Festival
September 10-19, 2009

Rosh Hashana
September 18-20

Emmy Awards
September 20

Yom Kippur
September 27-28

Creative Screenwriting Expo
October 16-18

Austin Film Festival
October 22-29

2010

Sundance
January 21-31

Academy Awards
March 7

Tribeca Film Festival
May

Silver Screenwriting Competition
May

BlueCat Screenwriting Competition
May

Cannes Film Festival
May 12-23

Disney/ABC Television Writing Fellowship deadline
May

Great American Pitch Fest
June

Nicholl Fellowship deadline
tbd

Warner Bros Television Writers' Workshop
July

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