Objective

Deadline/Entry Fees

WinningScripts Pro $5 Off Coupon

Notification: Finalists will be notified December 2017. Winners revealed at Writers Celebration during Cinequest Film Festival, February 27-March 11, 2018.

Rules

• All genres are accepted. Especially seeking drama, comedy, thriller/mystery, sci-fi, and highly original material.
• Contestants from all countries are eligible.
• Screenplays must be submitted in English.
• Length (not including title page):
  • Feature-length screenplays must be between 70 -125 pages
  • Short Film screenplays must be 20 pages or less
  • Teleplay (60 minute) must be between 45-70 pages (approx. 1 hour show)
  • Teleplay (30 minute) scripts should be 45 pages or less
• Any script over the indicated page limit will have automatic point(s) deducted. Maximum points achievable are 50 per round.
• Script must be properly formatted according to industry standards.
• Digital submissions in PDF format only.
• Title Page Instructions:
  • Withoutabox Submission: Please include ONLY your script title on your title page so that readers may remain unbiased in their decisions. You tracking number will automatically be assigned to your uploaded script.
  • Cinequest Website Submissions: Please include ONLY your script title and tracking number on your title page so that readers may remain unbiased in their decisions. Your tracking number is automatically assigned once you complete the registration and payment process. You will be able to update your script file before submitting.
• Rewritten/corrected pages WILL NOT be accepted once the entry has been received.

• There are no entry fee refunds.
• Script must not have been previously optioned, purchased, in production or produced. Any script that becomes purchased, optioned, or put into production before the Final Jury decision of February 19, 2018 will be eliminated from the competition with no entry fee refund
• Scripts written as adaptations of other works must have secured rights before being submitted.

• ONLY Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit and debit cards accepted for submission payment.
• Please DO NOT send cash or checks.

FEEDBACK & NOTIFICATIONS

All contestants will receive 2-3 lines of generalized feedback for improvement on their script. Full script coverage services are not available at this time.

Writers will be notified on their status in the competition via the email address provided at time of registration. Please include screenplay@cinequest.org in your contact lists to receive these notifications. See below for selection process:

• Top 50 notified in December 2017
• Top 10 notified and Invited to Cinequest Film & VR Festival in December 2017
• Top 10 & Top 3 announced at Cinequest Media Launch and listed on website – January 24, 2018
• Winners announced at Cinequest's Writers Celebration in March 2018

Awards

• Opportunity to have script read by top level industry producer and writers. Jury will be announced in June 2017.

• Recognition (script title, genre and tagline) on Writers Celebration event page on Cinequest Film & VR Festival 2018 Website (live on January 24, 2018).
• Recognition (script title, genre and tagline) in printed Cinequest Film & VR Festival Guide
• Invitation to Cinequest Film & VR Festival with two (2) Artist festival passes (passes valued at $1,000).
• Participate in Writers Celebration (March 2018), which includes:
  • Pitch Sessions
  • Business of Writing Forums
  • Industry Mixer for Finalists, producers, executives, and special guests.
  • Maverick Spirit Event & Competition Awards Ceremony (past Maverick Spirit honorees: J. J. Abrams, Neil Gaiman, Lawrence Kasdan, Denise Lehane, Jason Reitman and more).
  • Special discounts and rates on hotel accommodations.

• $5000 Cash Prize. The winning script by more than one writer will have the prize split evenly among members of the writing team.
• Presentation of an inscribed Crystal Award during Writers Celebration.
• Amenities listed above for Finalists.
• InkTip Prize membership package to help promote your script.

• $1,000 cash prize. A winning script by more than one writer will have the prize split evenly among members of the writing team.
• Presentation of an inscribed Crystal Award during Writers Celebration.
• Option to screen winning short film at future Cinequest Film & VR Festival (runtime no longer than 20 minutes and must be independently produced, Cinequest is not responsible for production).
• Amenities listed above for Finalists.

• $1,000 cash prize. A winning script by more than one writer will have the prize split evenly among members of the writing team.
• Presentation of an inscribed Crystal Award during Writers Celebration.
• Amenities listed above for Finalists.

• $1,000 cash prize. A winning script by more than one writer will have the prize split evenly among members of the writing team.
• Presentation of an inscribed Crystal Award during Writers Celebration.
• Amenities listed above for Finalists.