Objective

Discovering screenwriting talent from around the world.

The Shore Scripts Short Film Fund offers an opportunity for emerging screenwriters and filmmakers to have their short film financed and produced.

2019’s Fund will award production financing for at least one short film with an allocated budget of up to $15,000 per project, with a minimum budget of $9000. Plus, our sponsor ARRI Rental will provide free production equipment rental for the duration of the production.

The Fund welcomes submissions from screenwriters and filmmakers from around the world. We accept short scripts, animations, and proof of concept shorts for TV pilots and features. Screenplays must be in English and cannot exceed 30 Pages. The production can be filmed in any country.

We will support the winner(s) at whatever level they wish to be engaged in the project. We are just as open to producing the project, and finding the right director, as we are to writers who wish to direct their own project. We will offer end-to-end support from script development to post-production services and promotion.

Our previous two Fund winners have had their films screened at Tribeca, BFI London Film Festival, Austin, Edinburgh, Encounters and LSFF.

Please contact us at contact@shorescripts.com if you have any questions. Thanks

Deadline/Entry Fees

Rules

• Scripts must be within 2-30 pages
• Writers from all countries are welcome to enter. All scripts must be in English.
• The winning script(s) can be produced in any country.
• We accept short scripts, animations, web series, and proof of concept TV pilots and features.
• All ages can enter.
• All genres welcome.
• You may submit as many scripts as you wish.
• All screenplays submitted must be the writer's original work, or they own the copyright.
• Shore Scripts and the filmmaking team will share equal responsibility for sending the film to festivals.
• If a writing team enters, then all the writers must consent.
• The filmmaking team will have the final call on cast, crew, and edit.
• You may enter the same screenplay into both the Short Contest and Short Film Fund. There will be a discount for entering both contests.
• To help the environment, Shore Scripts only accepts electronic entries.
• The writer must not have earned more than $30,000 (£23,000 approx.) in screenwriting fees in the last five years. This clause is in place to help us support emerging talent. Screenwriting contest awards do not count toward this total.
• Shore Scripts staff and associates are unable to enter the fund.
• You may enter a newer draft of an already submitted script. There will be a small fee involved. You may re-enter your script through our Resubmission page or via our industry partner’s platforms.
• Scripts must be submitted in PDF format.
• The winner(s) consent to Shore Scripts using their name, script title, and any other relevant information for promotional purposes on their website. This will be used to inform other contestants and the media of the results.
• If Shore Scripts helps a writer gain representation, option, sell, or have his/her screenplay produced, then we are entitled to state this on our website and on any other platforms that we see fit.
• Shore Scripts will be able to promote the winning film(s) in any way we see fit.
• If the writer wishes to direct his or her own script, then it will be given serious consideration. A previous portfolio of work will help in making this decision.
• We are open to working with filmmakers known to the winner(s). We will also open to co-productions and additional funding from outside sources.
• Shore Scripts will be one of the production companies credited on the project. David Beazley will also be credited as ‘Executive Producer’.
• The budget will either go through Shore Scripts or be transferred to a producer working with the filmmakers.
• The decision of Shore Scripts is final. By applying to this fund each participant agrees to hold Shore Scripts, our judges and sponsors immune from any competition disputes, claims, liabilities, and expenses.
• By entering Shore Scripts, you authorize us to use any trusted third-party online and cloud-based services and databases for hosting, managing, and/or transmitting your submission file(s).
• Shore Scripts are flexible as to the production dates of the winning project(s). However, if said projects haven’t been filmed within 18 months of our winner’s announcement, Shore has the discretion to transfer the funds to another submitted project.

Awards

AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A PRODUCED SCREENWRITER

Our winner(s) will receive a production budget of up to $15,000, with a minimum of $9000, plus free rental equipment from ARRI Rental.

A CALLING CARD - SHORTS OPEN DOORS!

All our Judges, Production Companies, Agents & Managers will be sent your final film. That’s over a 150 of the best people working in the industry who will see your work.