NBC Universal’s Short Cuts Film Festival is now accepting submissions for its 2010 edition. Previously known as “Comedy Short Cuts,” the festival, now in its 5th year, has expanded to include drama, horror, and sci-fi. The deadline for submissions is August 13th. Prizes for finalists include an opportunity to pitch NBC Digital Studios, and the winner will receive a pilot script deal with Universal Media Studios. The semi-finals of this bi-coastal fest will take place in New York in September 2010 and the finals will happen in Los Angeles on October 20. Learn how to submit your short here.

GABRIEL BYRNE AND LAURA LINNEY IN RAY LAWRENCE’S JINDABYNE. COURTESY SONY PICTURES CLASSICS. Ray Lawrence pulled one of world cinema’s most surprising disappearing acts. His debut film, Bliss (1985), an adaptation of Peter Carey’s novel co-written by Lawrence and Carey himself, played in competition at Cannes, garnered rave reviews and dominated the Australian film awards. Lawrence joined Peter Weir, Fred Schepisi and Bruce Beresford as an Australian director worthy of global attention – but then did not make another film for 16 years. However, when his sophomore effort, Lantana, finally came out in 2001, it cemented Lawrence as one of […]