What are the best screenplay contests to enter? ?
Question by JoeyO: What are the best screenplay contests to enter? ?
I know of course the Nicholl. What others are considered important, or prestigious…? that can help me re-kickstart my once successful screenwriting career? (had sold a script to a studio, optioned several others but had to move home for family health reasons). I know some contests have certain rules about who can enter… at this point I just want a list of the best. Thank you in advance.
Best answer:
Answer by Maryn Bittner
Paraphrasing what others have said at a screenwriting board I visit: The big three, in terms of legitimacy and prestige for those who win or place high, are Nicholl, Chesterfield, and Disney. The second tier of good contests includes Sundance, FinalDraft, and ASA.
But there are lots more contests, and they’re not all rip-offs. How can you tell the good ones from the bad?
First, check out what it takes to submit. Is the entry fee reasonable ($ 25 to $ 50)? Is the prize money at least 100 times greater than the entry fee? Are there any extra fees for consulting, critique, mailing or delivery beyond the initial submission, editing, photocopying, etc.?
Does the contest promise what no contest can deliver: guaranteed sales or options, connections, internships? (These things *can*come from doing well, but it’s never a sure thing.) Are the judges people who are employed in the film industry and well qualified to judge the screenplays of others? What are their credentials?
Read the terms and conditions for submission all the way through, no matter how fine the print. Compare them to the Nicholl. Is there anything radically different? What might its impact be for the winner? Others who submit? Is there any benefit to you if you don’t win (such as professional coverage for those who place high)?
Beware any contest which does not have a street address (not just a post office box) and a listed telephone number; which exists only online; which does not share the names of past winners and offer proof they received their prizes; which does not share the names and credentials of judges; which feels ‘fishy’ and seems too good to be true.
Remember, too, that there’s some logic in thinking that if your screenplay is good enough to do well in a major contest, it’s probably good enough to be marketing to agents or production companies.
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