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Academy's Screenwriting Competition Now Underway

Beverly Hills, CA - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' annual Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting program is underway and applications are now available. As many as five $25,000 fellowships will be awarded through the program later this year.

The competition is open to any individual who has not sold or optioned a screenplay or teleplay for more than $5,000 or received a fellowship or prize that includes a "first look" clause, an option, or any other quid pro quo involving the writer's work. To enter, writers must submit a completed application form, one copy of their original screenplay, in English, and an entry fee of US$30. Scripts previously entered in the Nicholl competition may be re-submitted. Entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2000.

Fellowships are awarded with the understanding that the recipients will each complete a feature-length screenplay during the fellowship year. The Academy acquires no rights to the works of Nicholl fellows and does not involve itself commercially in any way with their completed scripts.

Last year's competition drew 4,150 entries. Since the program's inception in 1985, a total of 63 fellowships have been presented and there are numerous success stories among the fellows: 1996 Fellow Ehren Kruger wrote "Scream 3," which was released earlier this month, and "Reindeer Games," which is scheduled for release on February 25. Kruger also wrote last year's "Arlington Road." "End of Days," written by 1992 Fellow Andrew Marlowe, was released last year and "The Hollow Man" is slated for release later this year. Susannah Grant, a 1992 Fellow, has two films slated for Spring release: "Erin Brockovich" and "28 Days." Raymond De Felitta, a 1991 Fellow, saw his "Two Family House" receive the dramatic Audience Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival. 1987 Fellow Randall McCormick is the co-writer of Fox's animated epic, "Titan A.E.," which is scheduled to open this summer. Allison Anders ("Sugar Town," "Gas Food Lodging," "Mi Vida Loca" and "Grace of My Heart"), Radha Bharadwaj ("Closet Land," "Basil"), Max Adams ("Excess Baggage") and Myron Goble ("Down in the Delta") are also past Nicholl Fellows. Numerous other winners have sold their Nicholl entry screenplays and other work.

Additional information about the Nicholl Fellowships can be found at the Academy's Web site. The address is . The site also has a down-loadable version of the competition application form. Interested parties who do not have access to the Internet can receive entry rules and an application form by sending a business-size (#10), self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

The Nicholl Fellowships
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
8949 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211-1972

Updated: 02/18/2000

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