Screenwriting Competitions « Screenwriter-to-Screenwriter.com

The Script Reader’s Top 10 Screenplay “Dos”

The following is a very basic list of items that get my attention as a script reader. If your script addresses each of these points, you’re probably doing a good job. I will be excited to read your script.

So, here we go, a list of my top 10 screenplay “dos” when reading:

DO keep your page [...]

The Script Reader’s Top 5 Screenplay “Do Nots”

The following is a very basic list of items that do not impress me as a script reader and, more often than not, will get your script a resounding pass. If your script contains any of these points, consider rewriting before sending out.

So, here we go, a list of my top 5 screenplay peeves when [...]

Introduce Your Character to the Reader

Now that we’re heading back into competition season for 2010, I am going to revisit the most important aspects of the screenplay, and in some cases I will try to link to examples of how they’re done correctly.

I just read a pile of scripts and only one of the writers bothered to introduce me to [...]

CALL FOR SCREENPLAY ENTRIES 17th Annual Austin Film Festival

FYI From the Austin Film Festival:

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL IS ACCEPTING 2010 SCREENPLAY/TELEPLAY ENTRIES!

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING SCREENPLAY SUBMISSIONS ONLINE!

{SCREENPLAY COMPETITION}
Screenplay Categories:

DRAMA (Historical, Western, Drama, Family, Romance, Horror, Thriller, etc.)

COMEDY (Dark, Satirical, Slapstick, yadda, yadda, yadda)

There are also TWO additional categories to enter. To be considered for either the Latitude Productions Award or the Sci-Fi [...]

Jeffrey B. Palmer Interviewed on “The Sleeping Deep”

“The Sleeping Deep” was one of the absolute favorite scripts that I read last season. It’s well crafted, well written, fresh, imaginative, and just all-around fantastic.

It’s an effects-driven, dual-reality horror set in New England.

Read Jeff’s interview with the Innsmouth Free Press.

Congratulations, Jeff!

Nantucket Film Festival
Now Accepting Applications

Nantucket features:
SHOWTIME’S TONY COX AWARDS SCREENPLAY COMPETITION.

Deadlines March 1 to March 19

For more information, visit:

http://www.nantucketfilmfestival.org/ScreenplayApplication.php

Page International Screenwriting Awards
Now Accepting Applications

The Page International Screenwriting Awards is now accepting applications.

Regular deadline: March 1

Late deadline: April 1

For more information, click here:

http://pageawards.com/the-contest/how-to-enter/

Good luck!!!

Austin Heart of Film Now Accepting Applications

The Austin Heart of Film Festival is now accepting applications for the Screenplay and Teleplay screenwriting competition.

Deadline: May 15 – June 1

Click here for more information:

http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/new/screenplay

Free Screenplay Story Notes Giveaway to Oscar Picks Winner

I’m offering a free basic story notes package on a screenplay to any reader who can correctly predict the Oscar winners in the following categories:

1. Best Picture
2. Actor in a Leading Role
3. Actor in a Supporting Role
4. Actress in a Leading Role
5. Actress in a Supporting Role
6. Cinematography
7. Directing
8. Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
9. Writing (Original Screenplay) [...]

Screenplay Competition Advice
From the Reader: With Multiple Submissions,
Request Different Readers

It can be advantageous to submit several scripts to competitions as once, particularly if you get a discount with several submissions. Why not? If you have two or three strong submissions and think the more, the merrier, then go ahead.

With one BIG caveat.

If you submit three scripts at the same time, in all [...]

Scriptapalooza Screenplay
Competition Now Open

12th Annual Scriptapalooza International Screenplay Competition

Regular Deadline is March 5th

www.scriptapalooza.com

Why should you submit your script to Scriptapalooza?

-Grand Prize: $10,000
-All the reading is done by 90 production companies
-Entertainment Weekly Magazine calls us ‘One of the Best’
-We promote the winners, runners-up, finalists and semifinalists for a full year
-We are considered one of the best screenplay competitions by [...]

Screenplay Competition Advice
From the Reader: Enter Early

My advice for entering any sort of screenplay competition is send your script in early. The earlier, the better.

Why is this important?

Generally, screenplay competition readers are designated scripts as they roll in. If you get your script in early, you will likely be read in a smaller batch and that reader will have more [...]

Final Draft’s Big Break International
Screenwriting Contest Now Open

Final Draft’s Big Break International Screenwriting Contest for 2010 is now open for submissions.

Good luck!

CineStory Screenwriting Awards
Submission Deadline 1/31/2010

Okay, so I know I’m guilty of the hard sell as regards CineStory and their mentorship programs, but it really is an amazing opportunity to get involved with a fantastic group of industry professionals as well as an amazing network of peer writers. You still have another week to submit those scripts, so get to [...]

On the Horizon: The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting

Just a head’s up that the Nicholl, sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is rolling up in April.

The deadline for 2010 is May 1.

External goals are great, and this should give you enough time to get something in.