Screenwriting : Competitions by Eric McKeever

Hello Erik.

I’m still fairly new as a screenwriter. I have sent my script to Blacklist, Nichols, Big Break, Big Apple Film Festival, Santa Barbara Screenplay Award and Wiki Screenplay contest. The Best I got is semi finalist with Santa Barbara and Quarter Finalist in Wiki.

The biggest the contest the harder it is. Reviews are really helpful to improve your script. I found Santa Barbara and Wiki and Palm Spring have among the cheapest and most complete reviews of the contest so it’s a Quick way to know where you stand. Big zbreak review was really valuable (though more expensive). I’ve been very disapointed with Blacklist. it cost a lot to get a three paragraph reviews telling you nothing. And I never got better than 4/10 in spite other contests including Big Break were really high on the emotional depth, the award-potential of the two main role and the fact they really liked the concept.

What I am curious about is how the size of the market for your screenplay influence the results. I’m writting a psychological drama about childhood traumas so the market is thin, yet the potential for Awards are great. I think it affected how I scored. Though I also know I need to improve pace and dialogue to get my script in the finalist.

They don't work. Decades of statistics have proven that they are almost completely ineffective. In thirteen years, I haven't met a single working screenwriter who owes their success to a competition.

The only people who recommend them tend to be new writers who don't know any better. That said, you do get people trying them for years before they give up.

You don't do them for career success, you do them for validation, bolstering your conviction, and maybe the prizes.

The competition runners who try the hardest for their winners is, in no doubt, Stage 32. The others just effectively throw a list of log lines at a mailing list.

Just make sure you read their listings completely. Some of them have requirements that aren't out in the open. Length, age, etc. I remember one that I really got excited about until I read that, to be eligible for an award, you had to attend the festival. As nice as I thought it would be traveling 2,000 miles just because I might make the final round wasn't workable.

Another thing is see what the rewards are and the festival history. The Cedar Rapids film festival was in it's 3rd year, gave laurels, and wanted $500 to enter. No.

I started screenwriting in 2021, and recently finished my 15th feature script. I only entered well respected competitions, and had twenty-two placements. All of that netted me nothing, zip, nada. The one exception, and the jury is still out but messages sent to the judge are encouraging, is the Stage 32 comedy feature script competition, where I was a finalist. So, I agree with CJ. I find the competitions somewhat useful in terms of validating your writing skills if you're getting consistent results with multiple scripts, but they are not likely to have much impact on your career.

I have to somewhat agree with CJ Walley. For the most part, they don't work. Unless you can win one of the top 5: Page, Nicholls, Script Pipeline, Big Break, or (Austin used to be it) ???

Although I did win a small contest where I met an actor, who got me a writing assignment. The film is on hold but I did get that opportunity.

I basically use them to judge if one of my scripts is good. If it places, its good. If I win, its great. If it sells, its awesome. I'm still working on writing awesome.

Hi Eric McKeever , such a good question, do your research I would say, based on the theme and vibe/style of your screenplay, for sure. And, see what is important to you: cash prizes, stuff like software, pitch meetings, and such, or the art/more message value of the competition? Lots of competitions and festivals out there. And, always follow your gut, if something feels awesome, enter. If not, don't question your heart.

I don’t use them.