Cinequest Screenwriting Competition
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Cinequest
Cinequest Screenwriting Competition
2020
Active Since 2004
Renowned as the “future of the filmed arts," Cinequest provides a bastion of discovery that launches careers and empowers writers to take flight.
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Currently Closed. Subscribe to receive a notification when the next season opens.
About
All submissions receive three lines of consolidated reader feedback upon request.
"I've been submitting to Cinequest since 2013. The Cinequest judges' feedback has always been top notch. I had a fantastic experience attending this year. The producers and staff do an amazing job. It's incredible...I'm over the moon to be working with The Solution and with the crew at CAA." — Jeremy Rush, Cinequest Feature Winner, WHEELMAN (Sold to Netflix )
Welcome to the 15th Annual Cinequest Screenwriting Competition, presenting screenwriters with virtually countless networking opportunities, increased industry visibility, and the chance to win extraordinary acclaim and prizes. The Competition welcomes screenplays and teleplays of all genres and lengths and provides unique opportunities for writers to be discovered, have their work produced, and further inspire their creative fervor.
"I think the most important thing about Cinequest is it's definitely the first time I've ever come to a festival where my immediate reaction is, 'What do I have to do to be invited back?' and that's not normally my reaction. It's a perfect film festival in a glorious place."— Neil Gaiman, Maverick Spirit Award Winner
Cinequest is dedicated to launching new screenwriters’ careers and providing a platform from which their work can take flight. Cinequest was voted Best Film Festival by USA Today Readers. Set in the home of the world’s most influential media technology companies (Netflix, YouTube, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.), Cinequest showcases premier films, renowned and emerging artists, and breakthrough technology—empowering global connectivity between creators, innovators and audiences. Cinequest Film & VR Festival occurs March 3 – 15, 2020 in San Jose & Redwood City, California.
Past Competition writer Matthew Dixon, with his script, THE GLASS HOTEL (optioned by HBO), recalls his experience: “Writers need all the support they can get and Cinequest gave it in abundance. Not only at the festival, with conferences and events for the writers, but long afterwards, when you’re back at the desk and find an email from one of the devoted people at Cinequest in your box. When they get behind you, they stay behind you and continue to do everything they can to help push your project forward.”
Amidst the energy and excitement of the festival, the Cinequest Screenwriting Competition empowers creative and innovative writers with the opportunity to interact with producers and industry professionals from around the world. Finalists will be honored during the Cinequest Writers Celebration, a day filled with a dynamic collection of Writer Meet Producer events, Business of Writing forums, Pitch Training, VIP Writers Lunch, and an awards ceremony announcing the winners of the competition.
Benefits
FEATURE-LENGTH SCRIPTS:
1st Place
- Receives $5000 USD cash prize.
- Presented with an inscribed Crystal Award during Cinequest Film & VR Festival.
- Amenities listed in Finalist sections.
Top Three Finalists
- Opportunity to have script read by top level industry producers and writers (Jury will be announced in July 2019)
- All of the amenities of the Top 10 Finalists
Top Ten Finalists
- Recognition (script title, genre and tagline) on Writers Celebration event page on Cinequest Film & VR Festival website.
- Recognition (script title, genre and tagline) in printed Cinequest Film & VR Festival Guide
- Invitation to Cinequest Film & VR Festival with two Artist festival passes (passes valued at $1,000).
- Exclusive invitation to Writers Celebration (March 2020), which includes a BUSINESS OF WRITING FORUM, WRITER MEETS PRODUCER MIXER to connect with industry leaders, PITCH TRAINING & CHALLENGE to a panel of industry powerhouses, and an inspiring MAVERICK SPIRIT luminary event.
- Special discounts and rates on accommodations during Cinequest Film & VR Festival.
SHORT FILM SCRIPTS:
1st Place
- Receives $1000 USD cash prize.
- Presented with an inscribed Crystal Award during Cinequest Film & VR Festival.
- Invitation to screen winning short at a future Cinequest Film & VR Festival. Film is limited to a 20-minute run time (maximum). Cinequest is not responsible for the production of the film.
- Amenities listed in Finalist sections.
Top Three Finalists
- Opportunity to have script read by top level industry producers and writers (Jury will be announced in July 2019)
- All of the amenities of the Top 10 Finalists
Top Ten Finalists
- Recognition (script title, genre and tagline) on Writers Celebration event page on Cinequest Film & VR Festival website.
- Recognition (script title, genre and tagline) in printed Cinequest Film & VR Festival Guide
- Invitation to 2020 Cinequest Film & VR Festival with two Artist festival passes (passes valued at $1,000).
- Exclusive invitation to Writers Celebration (March 2020), which includes a BUSINESS OF WRITING FORUM, WRITER MEETS PRODUCER MIXER to connect with industry leaders, PITCH TRAINING & CHALLENGE to a panel of industry powerhouses, and an inspiring MAVERICK SPIRIT luminary event.
- Special discounts and rates on accommodations during Cinequest Film & VR Festival.
TELEPLAYS (60 MINUTES):
1st Place
- Receives $1,000 USD cash prize.
- Presented with an inscribed Crystal Award during Cinequest Film & VR Festival.
- Amenities listed in Finalist sections.
Top Three Finalists
- Opportunity to have script read by top level industry producers and writers (Jury will be announced in July 2019)
- All of the amenities of the Top 10 Finalists
Top Ten Finalists
- Recognition (script title, genre and tagline) on Writers Celebration event page on Cinequest Film & VR Festival website.
- Recognition (script title, genre and tagline) in printed Cinequest Film & VR Festival Guide
- Invitation to 2020 Cinequest Film & VR Festival with two Artist festival passes (passes valued at $1,000).
- Exclusive invitation to Writers Celebration (March 2020), which includes a BUSINESS OF WRITING FORUM, WRITER MEETS PRODUCER MIXER to connect with industry leaders, PITCH TRAINING & CHALLENGE to a panel of industry powerhouses, and an inspiring MAVERICK SPIRIT luminary event.
- Special discounts and rates on accommodations during Cinequest Film & VR Festival.
TELEPLAYS (30 MINUTES):
1st Place
- Receives $1000 USD cash prize.
- Presented with an inscribed Crystal Award during Cinequest Film & VR Festival.
- Amenities listed in Finalist sections.
Top 3 Finalists
- Opportunity to have script read by top level industry producers and writers (Jury will be announced in July 2019)
- All of the amenities of the Top 10 Finalists
Top 10 Finalists
- Recognition (script title, genre and tagline) on Writers Celebration event page on Cinequest Film & VR Festival website.
- Recognition (script title, genre and tagline) in printed Cinequest Film & VR Festival Guide
- Invitation to 2019 Cinequest Film & VR Festival with two Artist festival passes (passes valued at $1,000).
- Exclusive invitation to Writers Celebration (March 2020), which includes a BUSINESS OF WRITING FORUM, WRITER MEETS PRODUCER MIXER to connect with industry leaders, PITCH TRAINING & CHALLENGE to a panel of industry powerhouses, and an inspiriting MAVERICK SPIRIT luminary event.
- Special discounts and rates on accommodations during Cinequest Film & VR Festival.
Writer Success
Announcements
Dec 31st
Top 50s
Jan 22nd
Top 10s
Mar 15th
Top 3s
Mar 15th
Winners
Rules
At the program's request, Coverfly will automatically remove your title page for you if you include one when submitting to this program.
SCRIPT FORMAT
All genres accepted. Especially seeking drama, comedy, thriller/mystery, sci-fi, action, bio-pic, rom-com, horror, and highly original material.
Script must be submitted in English and must be properly formatted according to industry standards.
Length (not including title page):
• Feature-Length Scripts must be between 70 -125 pages
• Short Film Scripts must be 40 pages or fewer
• Teleplays (60 minute) must be between 45-70 pages
• Teleplays (30 minute) must be 45 pages or fewer
Only PDFs will be accepted for submission. Printed scripts are not accepted.
Script must be properly formatted according to industry standards.
Please include ONLY your script’s title on the cover page so that readers may remain unbiased in their decisions. Your FilmFreeway tracking number will automatically be assigned to your uploaded script.
Maintain your full contact information in your FilmFreeway registration. Do not include any contact information on your submitted script.
RESTRICTIONS
Once the entry is received no rewritten/corrected pages will be accepted.
Submission fees are collected by FilmFreeway. Cinequest does not accept payment by cash, check, or money order. There is no entry fee refund for any scripts submitted.
Winning scripts by more than one writer will have the prize split evenly between members of the writing team.
Any script that becomes purchased, optioned, goes into production, or is produced before the final Jury decision on February 19, 2020, 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.
FEEDBACK & NOTIFICATIONS
Contestants will receive 3 lines of consolidated reader feedback on their script if requested.
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 and Top 10 notified in December 2019.
• Top 10 Finalists listed on Website end of January, 2020.
• Top 3 and Winners Announced in the March 2020 Festival Awards Press Release.
Authorization:
As the authorized representative for the above-mentioned script, I accept the conditions and rules described on this entry form. I attest to the fact that this screenplay submission has not been optioned or purchased, and is not in current production or post-production. Should the optioning, purchasing, or production status of the script change, I will contact Cinequest immediately in writing to have the script removed from competition.
If this script is selected as a finalist and / or prize winner of the Cinequest Screenwriting Competition, I grant Cinequest the right to use all writers' names and likenesses in conjunction with the promotion of the Cinequest Screenwriting Competition without additional / any competition. This includes, but not limited to, listing of finalists and prize winners on the Cinequest website; in Cinequest press releases and media coverage surrounding the screenwriting competition; and Cinequest Film & VR Festival occurring March 3-15, 2020 in San Jose, California.
Disclaimer:
Submitting to the Cinequest Film & VR Festival Screenwriting Competition is for competition purposes only and does not mean that Cinequest Inc., its employees, sponsors, or anyone associated with Cinequest will represent, produce, promote, or fund any project whatsoever. Cinequest is not responsible for lost screenplays