Competitions
GENERAL LISTINGS
Movie Bytes
General Listings for film and TV script writing contests. Contests are listed in several ways – in alphabetical order, by the date of the deadline and by specialization.
Withoutabox
Contests are listed by the date of the deadline.
SPECIFIC COMPETITIONS, FELLOWSHIPS AND WORKSHOPS
Walt Disney Studios/ABC Writers Fellowship
(TV Specs/Film Scripts)
Up to 15 fellows for TV and film are selected to receive 50,000 and one year’s employment starting in February. Deadline in late June. TV fellowship applicants must submit one comedy or drama spec script. No pilots. Those applying for the film fellowship must submit one screenplay less than 120 pages.
abc.fellowships@abc.com
Directors Guild of America Student Film Awards
(For women and minority directors)
Designed to honor, encourage, and bring attention to outstanding minority and women students in DGA selected film schools in the Eastern and Western region. Projects must be student-produced under the supervision of a faculty member. Categories: drama, comedy, and documentary. Category prizes of $2500. October deadline.
Walt Disney Studios/ABC Daytime Drama Program
Writers must submit an original play, screenplay or teleplay and a log line.
To request an application, e-mail:
daytimewriterprogram@abctv.com
The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting (Film Scripts)
Film scripts should be between 90 and 120 pages. Fellowships open to anyone who has not made $5,000 in TV or film writing. Up to five fellows receive $30,000 during a one-year period. (Six checks of $5,000.) Winners are required to complete one new screenplay during the fellowship year. Students can apply and win -- although they would have to defer the start of the fellowship until after they graduate. Application fee: $30. Early May deadline.
nicholl@oscars.org
Austin Film Festival – Prime Time Teleplay Competition and Screenplay Competition
(TV Specs/Film Scripts)
They offer separate TV writing contests for comedy and drama specs – no pilots. Separate film writing contests for comedy, drama and science fiction and a separate contest sponsored by Latitude Productions. Prizes for both TV comedy and TV drama specs: $1,000 plus $1,000 to cover flight/hotel expenses for the Screenwriters Conference. Prizes for both film comedy and film drama scripts: $5,000 plus $1,000 to cover flight/hotel expenses for the Screenwriters Conference. Sci-Fi and Latitude winners receive $2,500. Fees: $30 for TV scripts and $40 for film scripts. Deadline for TV: June. Deadline for Film: May
alex@austinfilmfestival.com
Scriptapalooza
(TV Specs/Pilots/Film Scripts)
TV: four separate contests for comedy and drama specs, pilots and reality shows. Film: any genre, scripts could be up to 140 pages. TV prizes: $100-$500. Film prizes: First place $10,000 & software. Runners up get software from Write Brothers. Application fee: $45-$50. Deadlines in March and April.
info@scriptapalooza.com
Writers Network Screenplay Competition
(TV Specs/Film Scripts)
Applicants include TV writers, screenwriters and prose writers. Sponsored by top literary agencies like ICM and William Morris. Up to 10 winners selected for $1,000 prizes and a series of meetings with agents and producers. Application fee: $45. You may submit two samples of your work – two TV specs, two screenplays or one TV spec and one screenplay. Deadlines in May or June.
writersnet@aol.com
Warner Brothers Writers Workshops
(TV Specs)
Separate contests for comedy and drama specs – no pilots. Prize: Admittance to highly coveted comedy or drama workshops. These workshops usually cost $495. Application fee: $30 for drama; $25 for comedy. Deadline in July.
Slamdance
(Shorts and TV Pilots)
Separate contests for shorts and TV pilots with separate categories for comedy, drama and reality pilots. Deadlines in February and March. Application fees $20-$40. Varying cash prizes. Online submissions only.
screenplay@slamdance.com
Duke City Shootout
(Shorts)
Seven winners will be flown to Albuquerque to film their shorts. Winners will be given film equipment, cast, crew and a producer to film and edit the short in seven days. All seven will be screened at the festival in August. Ten finalists will be announced in June. All ten will be given notes and five days to rewrite. Judges will choose the final seven scripts to be produced at the shootout. Deadlines and Applications Fees: April 15, 2009 ($30); May 15, 2009 ($35).
info@shootdfi.net
Acclaim Film & TV
(TV Specs/Pilots/Film Scripts)
$500 prize. Deadlines in February, March and April.
acclaimfilms@go.com
aTalent Scout
(TV Specs/Pilots)
$1,000 for top script selected from spec comedies, spec dramas, pilots, TV movies and reality show treatments. Deadlines in April and May. Online submissions only.
author@atalentscout.com
Ivy Film Festival Competition
(Shorts/Film Scripts)
Deadlines in January and February. Prizes: Possible cash prize plus a reading at the festival. Application fees: $20 (early), $30 (late). Contest open only to college students. On-line submissions only through Withoutabox. Winner announced at festival, held at Brown University.
screenplay@ivyfilmfestival.com
