Screenwriting : Contest season's in full swing, which ones have you entered and why? by Phillip E. Hardy, Prolifique

I entered one of them a few months back, but I don't remember which one! :D (True story.)

C Harris: I guess you'll find out when someone sends you the finalist results.

I get those from about a half-dozen sites already! :D

I'm sure I have the receipt somewhere, I just have to sort through the e-mails. I need to do that anyway for tax purposes. As I said before, writing takes up the least amount of my time usually, which sucks.

Austin because people here remind me it have good notes.

Dear Stage32:

I have entered a few contests including Cannes Screenplay Contest and the Berlin Flash Film Festival.

Cannes Screenplay Contest:

I liked this contest for many reasons, but especially for what they described for judging specifications: "for their storytelling talent", and "on their ability to captivate and entertain through the written word."; Also, they split out categories so specifically; I think it is a really good way to get good critiquing on specific genres and types.

Berlin Flash Film Festival:

They actually had a category for short scripts a minute or less; I found something else where someone was looking for great stories that were no longer than a minute. I took that as a challenge to see If I could, and ended up writing one.

If anyone finds them interesting, by all means, give them a look.

God Bless.

Sincerely,

John German

Entered blue cat and I think Austin (?) and a couple others I can't remember right now. I try to always enter the ones with free feedback.

John: I've done the Cannes Screenplay last year and this year. I won the first one and was a finalist this year.

Jody: I entered my Fargo spec script at Bluecat and Austin

Awesome post! Exactly what I was looking for, comprehensive list of Screenplay Contests at Film Freeway. many are ending today or soon but there are a ton listed! Thanks again!

You can sign-up for their newsletter and they'll notify you of contest info that way, along with helpful articles and so on. :)

Script Pipeline - cuz it's one of the best...

HollyShorts - in LA and RB hangs out there sometimes.

Screencraft (various fests) good competitions, all of them.

Beverly Hills (Runner-Up in 2014), Burbank (won best original screenplay last year) - gotta love going to LA.

A few others I'm keeping under my writer's fedora.

For the usual reasons, I suppose, I entered the Page, Nicholl, and Austin feature contests and entered the openings to two novels in the Launch Pad manuscript contest. Oh, and just entered Redditt's feature contest.

Dear Eric Christopherson:

The Launch Pad manuscript contest seems like a really beneficial contest; The top 75 you still get, as mentioned on their site, "Through the Tracking Board, Launchpad, and Inkshares websites, your project details will be distributed to agents, managers, executives, and producers who are looking for new clients, new projects, or writers to hire for their work".

That kind of benefit is priceless; I am sure many will be happy to read about that contest if they are unaware of it.

God Bless.

Sincerely,

John German

Entering it in the school of hard knocks with a script analyst. What are the best comedy contests, anybody?

Ray: I agree with Aray: Both Screencraft (which you just missed the deadline) and Happy Writer Comedy, which has also passed for this year, most of the big contests and most film festivals have comedy categories.

Bluecat doesn't really factor in too much extra for their feedback. But buyer beware. I just read my friend's Bluecat feedback, which was not only subjective, but way off base on what I think is a gritty piece of work. I'm also competing in Bluecat, Austin, Nicholl and Page. I was quarter-finalist at Page last year. All the big contests are hard nuts to crack, because they receive between five and ten thousand scripts. Screencraft, which offers several fellowships and genre specific contests, receives between 800 to 1200 screenplays for their horror, sci-fi and comedy competition. I've been a finalist at Screencraft seven times and Austin Film festival three times. I believe this will be my last year doing contests.

Best of luck to all of you.

Today's Hollywood vernacular? Heh. :D

AS: "Fucking Duh!" I know feedback is subjective. But feedback should also be constructive and talk about structure and possibly suggestions to improve. But a reader/writer's opinion on what motivated the author to write a screenplay with gritty, unsettling material; and to suggest to that writer that work has no reason to exist or literary merit, is taking it a bit far. At least from where I sit. And having read this author's very accurate portrayal of topical subject matter, I thought the Bluecat feedback was worthless, on a literary level.

Page have just announced their numbers for this year...

Total scripts entered - 6364

By category

Action/Adventure: 846

Comedy: 1218

Drama: 1486

Family Film: 455

Historical Film: 435

Science Fiction: 533

Thriller/Horror: 908

Short Film: 429

TV Drama Pilot: 822

TV Comedy Pilot: 487

Best of luck to all who entered.

Anthony: I just got their email too. Only 6364. I think we got this one mate!

Obvs, one of us ;-)

Somebody's reading a bunch of 100 page scripts, for how much per script $10, $15, $20 tops and they're going to write up feedback. How much time are they going to spend on each script? A half hour, an hour? I doubt much more than that. I just don't see what kind of quality read and write-up you are going to get for that. I can understand entering contests, as a way to get your foot in the door, but I really don't understand paying extra money for feedback.

I'm not big on the contests. To be sure, you can sustain yourself a bit by entering them while still an "amateur," but I would really research it, make a plan, and treat it like a business. There was even a recent article with a bunch of tips on winning contests. Once you get something picked-up, or at least optioned, I think you're disqualified from further entries.

We've entered a few but are still awaiting feedback from most of them. We were a finalist at this year's Stage32 short screenplay contest so that was nice.

About the Cannes contest, is it just us or doesn't the site really tell you what the prizes are? Or have our eyes just skipped that segment entirely?

Do they receive anything, is it to get your script read at a tableread? Below is all we could find.

"AWARDS

The judges will award one First Place Winner from each competition category along with the contest's most coveted award, the Overall Grand Prize Winner, which is selected from among all categories and is regarded as the best overall project entered to the contest.

In addition, 2nd and 3rd place awards are also presented in each of the 14 competition categories.

Finally, 5 Official Finalists will also be bestowed in each of the main competition categories.

Are you ready to take a crack at competing alongside some of the best new voices in screenwriting? Find out how your work stacks up against others from around the world who aim to make a career out of engaging imaginations, provoking thought and pulling heartsrings."

C. few comps have clauses like 'writer cannot have earned more than $20,000 from witing' and some will disqualify a script if it is optioned after it is entered (and most exclude already optioned scripts)... got read that small print ;-)

Yep! If you really grind and follow those rules closely, there are enough of them out there that I could see making a decent amount just entering contests until you finally break through. But you're definitely going to need a copy of Save the Cat and Screenwriter's Bible handy!

The Cannes Screenplay contest looks like a classic screenplay contest scam. It pretty clearly has nothing to do with the Cannes Film Festival, or with the city of Cannes in general. No contact address in Cannes. They take their entry fees in dollars instead of euros. A legit operation in Europe would have their entry fee in euros. A large number of categories and "winners" to try to suck in as many people as possible. They even have a "stage play" category. There's no real prize, other than claiming you won the Cannes Screenplay contest, which will fool nobody in Hollywood, NYC or London.

It's very similar to another dubious contest, The Amsterdam Film Festival. There are probably others using the same format. Probably run by the same person.

You need to watch for these contests that trade on a city's good name in order to lure unsuspecting people to part with their money.

ty, James!

What would you guys say is a good contest for short scripts?

filmfreeway.com/festivals

good luck!

Travis: I think someone mentioned Holly Shorts already and Screencraft has a short contest. But most of the major competitions also have a shorts category. Good luck my friend.

Ive entered 54 since october. With my short film and various screenplays. was selected for Beverly Hills Film Festival and Semi-Finalist for Boston International. Next up is Vancouver Queer Festival and 21st Annual Fade In Awards. Screenplays are doing much better than the short so Im gonna push those instead.

Zero this year. I've went the Happy Writers route for a couple of scripts.

All I write now is shorts (I have a long standing FL in the works). I like Moon dance, DC Shorts. Page, Blue Cat, CWA, The Mix, Sun Dance table read. I like these because I've won or at least been a finalist in them all - good for ego stroking. Some tend to be a bit more disorganized than others. I only have one out there right now (RB suggested CWA) - we'll see.

Doug

You're a former WGA member. How are you eligible to enter contests? Most of em, the contest rules say a Writer can't earn past a salary quota from writing.

ScreenCraft is my favorite mainly because they have their competitions broken into genres and they also give great, constructive feedback (you have to pay extra) and if you win, or place, they connect you to people who can actually help move things forward. Page is supposed to be one of the best as well (also has genres).

Yes, I have only released one script into the wild. If there are more out there, I likely wrote them but they aren't supposed to be out there, and I have never been paid a single, red cent for anything I've written. Someone's up to no good in my name, I think!

I agree with Monique. I usually write my Scripts according to what Screencraft contest I will be entering. It's a great way to try your hand at multiple genres rather than pigeon hole yourself. Whenever I finish a script I send it to Screencraft for feedback and enter in a contest. I was a Quarter Finalist for the Action Thriller contest and Im currently working on a script for next years sci-fi. Great thing about SC is that if you score high they send your script out to reps and studios.

Dan M. I'm no longer a member - haven't been for many years and have no intention of becoming a member in the future. As far as the world knows - I'm just an amateur like most folk in here. Anyway, all I write now is shorts an' nobody seems to care about that.

Hmm interesting, do contests check on a Writer's eligible status.

Nicholls contest clearly states a Writer cannot make more than $25K lifetime from writing. Wonder if any pros use pen names and submit for fun, see where they finish against the field.

Dan M, Interesting how? I have a story to develop FL script in progress right now (for the past 3 years). If/when I finish THE GUARDIAN; it'll go to my agent, not contests. I can't imagine anybody putting the time & effort of writing FL scripts to submit to festivals for fun - if it's any good: Make $$, don't spend $$.

Writing shorts is a different matter. I'm looking for a short to develop into OSCAR bait in the live action category. Very few Americans win that. We got one in '69 and CURFEW won in '13(?).

Anybody out there interested?

Doug, are you saying you are looking for scripts?

Dan M - I've always wondered that too, and the 'can't be optioned/sold' once entered one too, how would they know?

I've entered a spec horror script I wrote called Dead Wake into i-Horror Film Fest (Finalist), Crimson Screen Film Fest (Finalist), Horror Hotel Film Fest (Winning Screenplay) Women In Horror Film Fest (undecided), NOLA Horror Festival (Undecided) and Filmchella (Undecided) Dead Wake's premise came from a suggestion by Johnny Martin when he was working on a film being shot on a battleship and found out they allow scouts to stay overnight on the ship. He liked the script I came up with from his "What if...?" suggestion and does want to direct it, so seeing that this is a spec script, we thought that if it does well in these contests, it might help gain some attention and help get it financing when he wants to add it to his slate.

Anthony - I'm looking for live action short Oscar bait scripts. You Brits had a very good one last year (THE PHONE CALL). I'm looking to write one or corroborate with someone, but I want to produce it here in the US. We haven't done well in that category.

Do you have a showreel Doug?

Anthony - No, I'm a producer and a writer, I can show you pictures of the money. Anyway, you're in the UK and you guys do a bang up job. But I'm trying to bring this home to the US where we don't generally do such a good job.

Doug, that's what I meant, the films you as a producer have made, it's one of the standard questions that I ask when considering working with someone or selling a script. If you haven't got any you can point me at then no worries, just good to know up front.

I have a script that deals with themes that are important and hugely relevant in a post Trump/Brexit world. With some re-writing it would easily work in a US setting and I believe that it's not the writer's country that defines it in terms of Oscar 'country'.

The script itself has just become available again as some UK interest fell through.

Anthony

Produce the script yourself. You got enough experience as a Writer. Put a team together. Good Luck.

Dan, I don't want to... I'm happy writing.

I am con testing myself prior to contesting. That's all!

Dear James Chalker :

I have seen other contests where they have Stage Play's and various categories listed out by genre; FilmFreeway has the option to filter by Stage Play - new stage play's are still being made; So, if there weren't contests or festivals who were accepting those, they wouldn't have it listed. It seems pretty unprofessional to bash something you know nothing about.

If you want to discredit them, than do the due diligence to find out if what you are saying is correct than just baselessly and needlessly bashing them.

It's really counterproductive.

"You need to watch for these contests that trade on a city's good name in order to lure unsuspecting people to part with their money.": It specifies screenplay contest, not the actual Cannes Film Festival.

"which will fool nobody in Hollywood, NYC or London": On their FilmFreeway page it specifies, "The Cannes Screenplay Contest seeks to be included with the industry's most prestigious and relevant script contests contending today". If that's what their true aim is, you don't do it to "fool" people.

"A large number of categories and "winners" to try to suck in as many people as possible": They split them out by genre, which is good, because you get specific critiquing on that specific genre; Plus, the contest is just scripts and nothing else; No films. In terms of winners, they have a first, second, and third place and than an overall grand prize winner. Each category has them almost like Olympic events.

I like how they put it together, because it's a good way to do it, you don't have to like it; But do people a favor, if you want to try and discredit something, do the due diligence to do so instead of just throwing out scare tactic type comments.

God Bless.

Sincerely,

John German

Hey John, what's the prize? Slapping the name "Cannes" on a contest, when you have no connection with the city strikes me as prima facie evidence of bad faith. If you are going to have a stage play contest amongst screenplay contests, then you need readers with that specialized expertise. Similarly when you have writers for all these specific genres you should have people who have specific expertise with those genres as readers. There isn't one name or reputable organization sponsoring or even associated with this contest. Format is very similar to the Amsterdam International Film Festival, which has no connection with Amsterdam, other than stock photos on the contest page. I'm willing to bet the same person is behind both, and probably pulling in a nice bit of money on entrance fees. Also, Film Freeway doesn't vet these contests, and that bit you quote from their web site was written by the contest, not Film Freeway.

Dear James Chalker:

Again, James, you are just throwing out conspiracy theories; That's counterproductive. Other people, even on this thread, have mentioned they submitted to Cannes Screenplay Contest.

Just because they share the same name with Cannes Film Festival in terms of the word "Cannes" doesn't mean they are piggy backing off of them.

The prize is recognition of the script; Contests helping to get your name out there. Not every contest is about prizes in monetary value. There is worth, a lot of worth, in getting recognized for your writing.

"There isn't one name or reputable organization sponsoring or even associated with this contest. ": That's why I mentioned what they said; They are trying to gain that recognition to potentially gain those sponsors; Just as a writer, submits to contests, to gain recognition for themselves.

"If you are going to have a stage play contest amongst screenplay contests, then you need readers with that specialized expertise": Hence why the category is split out from the other genres.

"Also, Film Freeway doesn't vet these contests, and that bit you quote from their web site was written by the contest, not Film Freeway": I never said it was FilmFreeway, I specified it was on their FilmFreeway page.

So, again, if you are skeptical about the contest, than do your due diligence; Spouting off conspiracy theories isn't helping your claim.

Just FYI.

God Bless.

Sincerely,

John German

Sorry John, but I think James is right here.

And I do understand that the recognition and been able to say 'I've placed (or won)', in a screenwriting competition is thrilling... but wouldn't it be better to do it in a real contest that offers real value?

So James is not just spouting a conspiracy, just look at the facts, which are:

1) They call themselves the Cannes Screenplay Contest, which is clearly playing on the Cannes Film Fest, one of, if not the, best known film festivals in the world... and yet they seem to have no actual connection to it - making their use of the name disingenuous, to say the least.

2) There is nothing on their website to indicate where in the world they actually are or who is actually running it, I couldn't find the name of any individual listed on their site.

3) They offer no real prizes at all, though I believe they will email you a pdf certificate to say you have won... if you ask for it.

4) No Laurels, that I can see, most contests do this so you can add them to your own website and show you've won, also great advertising for the contest.

5) They don't even say they are going to send the winners out to producers to check out, so they are not getting your name out there.

6) They don't offer any feedback to writers, paid or otherwise.

7) They don't list any of their judges (they could in all honesty be picking scripts out of a hat).

8) Their Facebook link has expired.

9) Their Twitter account has just one Tweet, sent back in 2015.

10) They don't even allow you to submit to them directly, only via Filmfreeway, so even the e-commerce bit of their service is done my someone else.

My rough guess is that they got approx 300 entrants (I'm just doubling the number of Finalists and Winners they've listed, could be more), each paying on average $35, so approx $10,000 sent to the Cannes Screenplay Contest, and their only outlays appear to be a website and some pdf certificates IF you ask for them... oh and I guess their judges, if they have any.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of contests using the same business model... but...

There are also plenty that offer much better value for your money...

Here's the MovieBytes list of screenplay comps worth entering - https://www.moviebytes.com/best-screenwriting-contests.cfm

Spend your hard earned cash on one of these to get much better value.

A.S. - if that's the case then you might want to tell them to update their website to list you as one... unless you write under a pseudonym or mean a different year?

We won the live action short at Cannes a couple of years back - so what?

Doug, at Cannes the film fest? Or the screenplay contest under discussion?

Congratulations Doug, What was the name of the short?

I also don't think James Chalker is spewing out conspiracy theories. It's true that some contests are taking a lot of money for entry fees and the writers are not getting much in return if they win or place. I think James was just giving a bit of caution that if you're going to spend the money on entry fees, to make sure that if you win or place as a finalist that it will be something that moves your writing career forward. There are well-recognized and respected contests in the industry which can lead to connections to producers, agents, etc. if this is where you want to be headed, such as Script Pipeline, ScreenCraft, Final Draft, Page Awards. If they are broken down into genres, this ups your chances of winning or placing as a finalist. Wishing all of you the best.

all the worthy contests hold events in Los Angeles - Tracking Board, Nicholls, Final Draft big break. Everybody in Show Biz with Industry status is in LA. Even our Stage 32 writing Contest pays airfare to fly the Winners to LA. But I hear Austin & Page are great events. Lots of $$$ there walking the hallways.

Page, Scriptapalooza, the Austin Film Festival, BlueCat, ScreenCraft, and the Academy Nicholl screenwriting competition.

My take is don't get too hung up on who is out there trying to take you for a ride. Everyone who is serious about competing knows who the top ten contests are. If you don't, you've live a sheltered life. I've entered everyone of them and have placed in some of them like Austin, Screencraft and Page and the first two multiple times. However, I also recommend entering some film festivals like Twister Alley, Austin Revolution and several others. There are some good horror contests out there like Shriekfest. Have fun and see how you do. But don't overthink it. It's great to do well at the top ten, but you're also competing against thousands of others and it's easy to get lost in the fray. If you place in the top ten percent of these competitions, you're on the right track.

For review of most contests read Moviebytes.com or filmfreeway has reader reviews.

Phillip, I'm with you on this whole contest thing. Just merrily go your own way and don't over thunk it

And a repeated congratulations to the 2015 Cannes First Place Comedy Winner for Dirty Real, The Bukowski Biopic - Philllllllllllllip E. Hardy!

Hey Doug

Where can folks see your winning Cannes short? It's a short movie, right ?

Bill C, I've been sheered more times than a Sheep.

Phillip: better to be sheered as a sheep than to be banded as a lamb. Ouch!

Dan M, It's titled The Morning After - you may be able to track it down on IMDB.

Doug, there's a gazillion 'The Morning After' shorts on IMDB, can't work out which is your one? And was it full Cannes film fest or the Cannes Short Film Fest?

Anthony - Short film Festival.

Thanks Doug, but still no idea which is yours, do you have a link or who was in it to narrow things down?

I have 2 completed projects but think I would like to get a "recommend" from coverage services before applying.

I applied for that WB thing yesterday. I only sent the one script because I got hung-up dealing with tech issues and never finished the second. However, I started not only the second, but another as well, for a total of three. :D

C Harris: Good luck and let us know how you do.

Phillip, you are actually the one who inspired me to enter my first screenplay contest. The 13Horror.com contest and now I find it to be quite addicting. lol

But, in regard to recently entering, I found the Berlin Flash Film Festival last month on FilmFreeway, whose main objective is to find short screenplays and films. And by short, I mean between 1-5 pages. I thought it would be a good challenge for me to try to adapt one of my short stories into a 5-page screenplay. I did, and just yesterday I found out it won in the Super Short Script category. They have 10 categories, 8 are for film, 2 are for screenplays: Micro Short Script and Super Short Script.

Then, being that I had just finished my horror feature in May also, I thought I would submit it to a smaller horror contest: Frights! Camera! Action! and see how it did. It came in 2nd place. (just found that out yesterday, too) And as Doug says, it's definitely an ego boost. :-) So, right now, I'm adapting more short stories for contest entries, and also submitting my feature to a few more contests before I begin another one. I like adapting the short stories, because it keeps me in the screenplay frame of mind, constantly improving and learning to write concisely, while I'm deciding what to work on next.

Linda H:

I'm glad to hear that. And, the fact that you were a finalist at your first contest is great. The first contest I entered was the Richmond Film festival. I was also a finalist at the contest and it was definitely a boost. Good luck at your upcoming contests my friend.

ScreenCraft. They're the gentle giants of the screenwriting ocean.

This year so far: ISA Fast Track (already over), Page Awards, Scriptapalooza, Austin, Script Pipeline, Blue Cat, Shore Scripts. That's more than enough. Winning or placing in any of these is something I can mention in pitches. If the contests help promote my script, so much the better.

I submitted to Page, mostly because they give the most useful feedback of all the ones I've submitted to in the past. Haven't decided about others yet.

I submitted to something, I don't remember what. lol

Haven't submitted to anything....

Thanks, Phillip! Best of luck to you with your contest entries as well.

You, too, Aray! :-)

I don't care. So that is kind of less than none. Might even win one.

My FL script goes directly to my agent, if he can't/won't sell it; then I'll take it wide on the Nicholl. I've already won a bunch of others (mostly shorts).

Page because they have a comedy category, and I think the script would get some visibility by winning there. Also the Iconic Character Fellowship because it's free and I have a script with an iconic character.

^^^ Yep, those were the two I entered. :)

I've been through so many computers in the last few months, I can't keep up with it all!

Doug - we didn't get to the bottom of which award winning film was yours?

The Guardian, Aces & Eights, Hope & A Wish, One Midsummer Night, Gramma Ott...

Oh and The Game (2013).

Sorry Doug I meant the other one you said had won at Cannes - The Morning After, there's a gazillion with that title.

But are all the ones you listed scripts you've written/won awards for or films you've won awards for (or both)?

And are they all shorts?

I think it might be interesting and useful for newer/aspiring writers to see and be able to read a script and then see the film that someone then makes from it. I'd be happy to do it with a couple of shorts, and the films made from them.

Beth - would that be considered self-promotion or be okay to start a thread like that?

Hey Anthony, if it's for educational purposes I say go for it. Sounds like a great idea! And just for the sake of the post discussion, I would stress that point. ;)

Oh, Anthony, I also kindly suggest to make it clear that the post and thread are not about posting for feedback. But rather an educational discussion about showing a script and how it translated to screen. I hope that helps!

Tx Beth, will do... unfortunately keeping an eye on the news at the mo ;-(

Yeah, saw the news... Just horrible. Absolutely horrible.

Anthony:

Sorry about the troubles over in the UK my friend.

Anthony: When ready—please no rush, no worries—I am more than happy to post for you; share a link to a short film and a link to the corresponding script pdf. My posting of the material would help avoid any possible misinterpretations about self-promotion, etc. Just let me know. :) Anyway, I've been following the news... Devastating events. My heart goes out to everyone in the UK.

Anthony Cawood As a Native New Yorker who was here on OUR DAY OF GREAT LOSS my love, strength and support to you and the Free & Proud citizens of London. UNITED WE STAND! OUR Hearts and prayers will ALWAYS be with you.

Tx Beth, just dropped my son off at the benefit gig in Manchester, now the parental worry for the next few hours, till I get him home safe n sound ;-(

Will sort script link, film etc later tonight.

Hey Beth

Sean Speake was trying to/or is doing that with his feature project, from script to screen. Page him if he wants to share. Also, Philip Sedwick finished a short movie with Stage 32 members.

Watching it on TV Anthony, keep safe out there :)

Here is an inspiring story. This guy is a self-taught screenwriter. spends his free time making short movies.

http://www.tracking-board.com/launch-pad-alum-jai-brandon-signs-with-3-a...

Jai is a Stage 32 Member

MaxXxy: Thanks for posting Tracking-board link.