Slamdance Screenplay Competition
INFO: The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is dedicated to discovering and nurturing emerging screenwriters. Since 1995, the competition has established a strong track record for introducing writers to members of the entertainment industry who have gone on to produce, option and represent submitted work. Like the Film Festival, the Screenplay Competition is a place for new, bold, and raw voices. We are looking for scripts that take risks, refuse compromise, and go places where Hollywood hacks fear to tread.
This year, in addition to our regular prizes, we are introducing the inaugural Slamdance Screenplay Mentorship Award. Slamdance loves finding diamonds in the rough. We read many amazing scripts that— with some polish and finishing—could be finalist contenders and stand a better chance of getting produced. We think it's time to step up and take action on often-heard reader comments like "if only the writer made another pass, cut down 10 pages, fixed a few holes...it'd be a script to die for!" That's why we have decided to launch the Slamdance Screenplay Mentorship Award. In addition to awarding the best screenplays submitted to Slamdance, our readers will nominate unique scripts that, with a little more development and support from a team of alumni, could turn into production ready ventures. From these nominations, we will select the inaugural 2020 Mentorship Award winner who will receive personal mentorship through Slamdance's alumni network and screenwriting consultants.
AWARD:
A total of $16,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the winners this year.
The Grand Prize winner will receive $8,000 in cash.
The winners of the Feature, Horror, TV Pilot, and Short categories will each receive $2,000 in cash.
The top three screenwriters in each category will receive prize packages that include Festival Passes good for all screenings and parties at the next Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah
The top three screenwriters in the Feature and Horror category are eligible for membership in the Writers Guild of America’s Independent Writers Caucus.
The winning Horror and Feature screenplays will receive $2,500 in legal services from Pierce Law Group, LLP.
The top three screenwriters in each category will be included in the upcoming Slamdance Film Festival program which is distributed to industry professionals in Park City and year round.
One entry from the competition will be awarded the Slamdance Screenplay Mentorship Award, consisting of personal mentorship through Slamdance's alumni network and screenwriting consultants. Including: An in-depth coverage report, an action plan for next draft development, further review of subsequent drafts, support in preparing a pitch deck, and best efforts in helping get the finished work produced through Slamdance's alumni network.
Production companies, studios, top agencies and managers request to read our top scripts each year.
DEADLINES:
Regular - June 8, 2020
Late - July 20, 2020
Final - July 27, 2020
https://slamdance.com/screenplay/#about
LAUNCH PAD FEATURE COMPETITION
INFO: The Launch Pad Competitions have led to more signings, success stories and careers than any other screenwriting competition. With nearly a decade of experience in promoting up-and-coming writers, The Launch Pad Competition has firmly established itself as the premier hub for Hollywood to discover fresh voices and new ideas. We advocate for all of our Top 100 finalists, working with them to develop compelling bios and loglines, and sharing their work with the right industry members to advance their career.
Our prestigious juries of industry members include managers, agents, producers and executives at companies across Hollywood. We also offer exclusive partnerships with management and production companies to give writers an extra leg up. Through these partnerships, as well as our exclusive mentorship opportunities, we seek to provide as many avenues towards success as possible. No competition will do more to help all of their finalists take the next steps in their careers, and no competition has had as much success in helping writers break into the industry. Enter now for a chance to join this tradition of Launch Pad success.
DEADLINES / FEES:
Regular - June 12, 2020 ($65)
Late - July 10, 2020 ($75)
Final - August 14, 2020 ($85)
https://tblaunchpad.com/feature/
REEL SISTERS OF THE DIASPORA FILM FESTIVAL & LECTURE SERIES
INFO: The Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series is a two-day annual film festival founded by African Voices magazine and LIU's Media Arts Dept., Brooklyn Campus. Reel Sisters has expanded to include a six week season with a kick off in Harlem and awards ceremony. Established in 1997, Reel Sisters (www.reelsisters.org) is dedicated to providing opportunities for women of color to advance their careers in the film industry. Reel Sisters accepts films written, directed, or produced by women/non-binary filmmakers of color. Reel Sisters is the first Academy Qualifying Film Festival devoted to women of color across the globe.
Reel Sisters 23 Anniversary event will take place from Oct. 24-25, 2020 in NYC. Reel Sisters is a competitive festival and films are selected by an independent jury. Please submit films early as deadlines are final. The festival provides quality customer service and does not offer fee waivers. The fee helps pay for a small fraction of the administrative costs for running a professional film festival.
Reel Sisters accepts all genres and formats with a special interest in submissions from animated and web series producers. Send us films that will make our audience “cry, dance, laugh, sing and explore." Reel Sisters is an Academy Qualifying Film Festival for Short Narratives. The festival curates events throughout the year so all entries will be considered for Reel Sisters Tea & Cinema series. Join our worldwide community of film professionals in celebrating stories produced, directed and written by women of color!
REEL SISTERS HIGHLIGHTS
• Listed in Film Daily's Top 10 Women Centered Film Festivals (2018)
https://filmdaily.co/news/female-focused-film-festivals/
• Profiled in Bushwick Daily, Shadow & Act, Film Daily, the Washington Post and Black Enterprise for presenting outstanding films by women of color from across the globe!
• Reel Sisters is a top tier film festival that provides a chance for women to gain distribution, network and access to opportunities in the film industry.
Awards & Prizes
Reel Sisters screens original films by women across the globe each year — the festival has screened over 5,000 films since its inception. Awards for Best Director, Best Documentary, Best Screenplay, Best Experimental, Best Animation, Best Feature, Best Short, Best Narrative, Best Web Series, Best Original Soundtrack and the Reel Sisters Spirit Award are selected by an independent jury composed of filmmakers, community leaders and artists. In 2016, Reel Sisters presented the Reel Sisters/Centric Awards, which includes a distribution deal with Centric/BET Networks. The cash awards depend on our funding level. It was a pleasure to bring back our scholarship awards to the film festival and with your support we can continue this tradition.
CASH AWARDS FOR 2020
Best Narrative Short - $1,000
Best Director - $500
Best Screenplay - $300
Best Animation - $200
DEADLINE: June 15, 2020
https://filmfreeway.com/ReelSistersoftheDiasporaFilmFestival
WESCREENPLAY SHORTS SCREENWRITING COMPETITION
INFO: The WeScreenplay Shorts Competition is dedicated to connecting talented short film writers with Oscar-nominated short film directors and creators for advice on how to create emotionally impactful storytelling in short-form content.
WeScreenplay believes that every entrant of a contest should benefit from entering – whether the writer wins or not. That is why we offer one page of feedback on every short script that is entered.
PRIZES + BENEFITS:
The focus of short scripts is to get them produced to highlight the writer’s skill. As such, the prize is particularly focused on the Oscar contenders in the jury.
The top scripts will receive:
Notes from the Oscar-nominated filmmakers in the WeScreenplay Shorts Jury!
Plus, the Grand Prize Winner receives up to $3,000 in crowdsource matching funding for your short screenplay.
DEADLINE:
Late: June 15, 2020
Final: July 15, 2020
2021 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Filmmaking
Vilcek Foundation
INFO: The Vilcek Foundation will award three Creative Promise Prizes of $50,000 each to young foreign-born filmmakers who demonstrate outstanding early achievement. Eligible genres include narrative, animation, documentary, and experimental filmmaking.
Why Should You Apply?
3 Filmmaking prizes will be awarded this year
Unrestricted cash prize of $50,000 is awarded to each prizewinner
Reflect on how your experience as an immigrant has shaped your success
Receive an invaluable endorsement from leaders in your field
Receive a comprehensive public relations campaign to promote you and your work
Who Should Apply?
You were born outside the United States and are a naturalized citizen or a green card holder, or currently hold a valid H1B or O-1 visa and have been living or working in the United States for at least five years, or have been granted DACA relief
You are not more than 38 years old (born after January 1, 1982)
You are a director, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, or producer who has completed at least one short film that has been awarded a prize or selected for film festivals or one full-length film
DEADLINE: Extended to June 17, 2020
https://vilcek.org/prizes/vilcek-prizes-for-creative-promise/creative-promise-prizes-arts/