The Bentonville Film Festival (“BFF”), in its effort to expand the championing of Women & Diversity to launch ‘The Dernsie’ Feature Film Screenplay Competition, sponsored in part by Kickstart Productions and Bruce Dern.
Coined by Jack Nicholson, a Dernsie is used to describe Bruce Dern’s acting technique when they were filming the movie DRIVE. Nicholson described it as, “anything you want to do, come up with, or embellish that isn’t on the script”
A Dernsie script will be unique. It stands out from among the crowd of similar themes and plots by adding it’s own spin. This can be through diversity in character, invention in story, or anything else that makes the script stand out.
Grand Prize Winner:
The winner will be awarded $1,500 dollars and a custom award, presented by Bruce Dern during the main award ceremony at the Festival, May 5th 2015.
At the discretion of Kickstart Productions, the winner may also receive an additional $1,500 for an 18-month option with Kickstart Productions.
2nd Place Finalists:
Two second place finalists each awarded $500 dollars, and will also be given the option to attend the ceremony.
At the discretion of Kickstart Productions, the winner may also receive an additional $500 for a 12-month option with Kickstart Productions.
*Please note that winners will be given access to the award ceremony but are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and any other expenses.