Screenwriting : Does anyone have the link to the list & deadline information for the top 5 screenwriting contests? by Steven Harris Anzelowitz

Claude- Do you have the link?

'Filmfreeway' or 'withoutabox' have nearly every contest in the world listed.

Claude-

Thank you for your experiences on contests I have pretty much been down the same road like the rest of us. Which is why I am leaning more towards DIY. However, My father always said keep your options open. I am going to do both but only focus on the top 5.

Craig-

Thank you for those two sources for lists. They will help. As you can see from my above comments to Claude I will keep both irons in the fire one for an option or sale the other to try to DIY. After all look where I live and at Age 64 not a whole lot of time to wait around.

I enter contests every year. Don't discount some of the smaller ones either. There is often a smaller pool of entrants and many of the smaller contests offer nice prizes.

My advice would be whether it's a large or small contest, go for the ones that offer more than just a nod on their website. I don't enter unless there is $ to be won, contacts to be made, free feedback, or some really good exposure.

In the History of writing contests, how many winning scripts are produced? Maybe less than 3% of the major 5 contests? (nicholls, Page, Austin, Big Break, Tracking Board) Is Stage 32 a big 5 or top 10? Dunno. They're all writing samples to "be discovered". Track the winners of the grand daddy Contest, Nicholls? How many Nicholls Finalist had their specs made into movies?

If you think your spec script is worthy of a movie, fund it yourself or reach Players$$$. How did James Wan fund SAW, or Chazz fund WHIPLASH?

Talk to Stage 32 Max Adams for real-life experience winning a Contest. She won Nicholls & Austin same year, and her spec was made into a movie.

I don't care how many were made into movies. I feel like winning is still worth it, and if even one person had their movie produced, that means it's possible. I don't get discouraged by statistics.

Jody-

Thank you for your feedback. You are right. If it won't move us forward as screenwriters than who needs a nod on a website? Karma points to you!

Dan-

It is ALWAYS good to look at the numbers. And you brought up an important point. If you can't win a contest, than DIY!

Hazel-

Winning is always worth it!

The top 3 are Nicholl, Austin and PAGE

The top three mentioned also supply notes on your work, which is great. I've entered a few with my first script, finalist in the New York. But I do it for the notes. I find them better than most, especially the page.

Nicholl - http://www.oscars.org/nicholl/about

Austin - https://austinfilmfestival.com/submit/screenplay-and-teleplay-submission...

PAGE - https://pageawards.com/

Dan M already mentioned a few others and they're all in the top but everyone has their own opinion as to what order the remaining comps fall in.

Claude I haven't won any as of yet but placed in several. I try to stick to ones that offer free feedback, so even without a win I get something out of it. It's a fun diversion and seems like I get closer to the win every time. Plus I've made some connections, which are the most important thing of all when it comes to this industry.

Pierre-

Thank you for the links. I had a feeling those were the top 3. I am currently entered in PAGE.

Craig-

You are right! When I entered the Nicholl last year got great notes.

moviebytes.com has all the contest listings and deadlines. Top contests are Nicholls, Austin, PAGE, Scriptapalooza, Tracking Board, Final Draft Big Break, Script Pipeline, TrackingB, Sundance/Slamdance, and Screencraft. Id say Fresh Voices, Stage32, Bluecat and a few others are also worthwhile.

https://goodinaroom.com/blog/screenwriting-contests/

Hooray for Desiree!!! Finally the link that I wanted. From one New Yorker to another. Thank you.

With this list I am truly in a New York State of mind. "Don't cry for me Argentina"(couldn't help it sorry about the "EVITA" pun)

Honestly, I entered into one 3 years ago and didn't enter into any more since. You have a better chance getting into an ivy league school than these contests. Better off connecting with the big players yourself or connect with people who know the big players. It may take time, but you'll keep your money in your pocket. If it's the accomplishment your after cool, but agents/managers don't care about if you won a certain contests to be honest. They want to know if you can really write and see if you got that passion in you. if you want this to be your career, can't hinge your bets on screenwriting contests. You gotta connect with Power producers yourself. Be their assistants best friends. Trust me, writers get noticed and repped all the time, every second of the day, in many different ways, including online. Befriend repped writers, learn from them, be a friend to them, and maybe they'll help you get your work in front of a few upcoming hungry managers/agents cuz that's most likely where you'll start. Connections is the best way through.

Sorry Julius but I think your one unsuccessful entry may be clouding your judgement.

If you win and place highly in the competitions Danny Manus mentioned then you may well get attention from Producers and Agents... here's an extract from an interview I did with the 2014 Page Award winner Matias Caruso (who's Argentinian and English isn't his first language!)

"Thanks to Page I met the producer who optioned the script. He had some interesting notes and I did like 10 drafts; the development process was very intense but also very rewarding because we ended up with a much stronger version. He then started sending out the script, another producer came on board and I had representation offers from 5 agencies."

Matias has had continued success with one feature in post-production and he's just successfully pitched a concept to Guy Ritchie.

Stories like that are common for the bigger competitions, and the real truth is that there are many ways to break in, but there's no single right way.

HOOT-HOOT (honking my own horn) -- I have entered 9 contests'. Page, Stage32, Script Pipeline, Fresh Voices, Tracking-Board, Story Pros, Nashville, Bluecat and Finishline. Out of the eight entries, I have hit Quarterfinals, SemiFinals and named a Finalist in Script Pipeline. I have two scripts (right now) that are in three contests as I write this that are in Tracking Board/Finishline/FreshVoices. Every one of the entries were done because I believe in my writing. Period. I have researched successful writers and the contests they have entered and have followed suit. The entry money goes toward judging and prizes. For every contest that didn't charge and I placed in, my reward would be (most likely) reduced because of it. Earl Nightengale said: "Our rewards in life are ALWAYS a direct proportion of our contributions, our service." I believe him and I too believe in my writing. If it's worth it to you, I suggest you find the monetary "contribution" that will inevitably become a proportion of your reward. jus~sayin'

No, it's actually not. But that's exactly what I'm saying. I'm saying the odds of being a finalist are extremely small and you shouldn't put all of your eggs in one basket. Yes spend, 30-100 per entry to the top 10 contests, wait to see if you may get your big break. That could take years. While you're doing that you could've connected with some of the prominent people in the game already. Just because I only entered in once doesn't mean I have anything bad to say about it. I'm just saying it's not the only way in and I'm just saying the easiest way in is to connect with ppl who are very close to the players. I've had better luck connecting with players that are already in the game. The only way I enter a contest is if I'm positively sure that I'm going to win or be a finalist. I got close in the with the Universal feature contest with NBC, was a semi finalist but didn't make that last cut. Money shed out for these contests adds up over time. You have to think financially as well, what can you get with that money you're paying to enter it into all these contests and you fall short. Im just saying, to me, I'd rather attend an industry mixer or networking event. Get a lot more for your money and valuable experiences talking to some of these players.

I just wanted the link to the list to the 5 top screenwriting contests. I had no idea it would start such a vibrant discussion on the very merits of entering these contests. I am just going to sit and watch. Desiree already posted the link. So I'm good.

Try film festivals too. They often have screenwriting competitions. I look for them via FilmFreeway.com and Withoutabox. (I found the i-horror film fest/contest there and boom - finalist ;-)

Moviebytes.com is also a good resource. The top 5 are subjective and depend on who's list you're looking at but the top 3 are pretty much set in stone.

Anthony-

Thank you for the Moviebytes.com link.

I submit to one or two contests a year (for lack of a good provocative hobby) but I'm very disappointed by the lack of uniformity in the judging process. As an example: I won Moondance a few years back - then submitted that same script to another contest where it didn't even make the first cut. I've been a finalist in Page, Blue Cat, won the MIX and yet those same scripts never made the cut in other contests. There is no consistency.

I've long believed that virtually all writing contests are simply ways for the "organisers" to make money. You'd be better off spending the time/money in sending the scripts to agencies etc. There are some very good - and free - writing contests out there. Exploit those and get noticed.

http://www.networkisa.org/contests.php

Has an ongoing list of every contest coming up. I share some of David skepticism with some of the smaller ones and many of the screenwriting analyst/experts that charge for their services but these one are very reputable:

Academy Nicholl Fellowship.

Austin Screenwriting Competition.

BlueCat Screenplay Competition.

PAGE International Screenwriting Awards

I think the Toronto Film festival has one and you can probably trust any big Film Festivals contests. Also Final Draft.

But winning or placing in any of these doesn't guarantee anything.

I want to thank everyone so far for sharing. This is so cool.