New York International Screenplay Awards - NYISA
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About
The New York International Screenplay Awards (NYISA) is a global screenplay competition dedicated to assisting emerging screenwriters worldwide in entering the U.S. industry, supported by esteemed sponsors.
Our offerings include advanced screenwriting courses, consultations, query letter preparation, pitching to production companies, copyright protection, audio production packages, self-promotion opportunities, and significant discounts from a production company.
Winners, finalists, semi-finalists, and even each submitter enjoy some of the benefits!
Our annual NYISA award ceremony cocktail event in NYC hosts an effective networking platform where hundreds of attendees connect with fellow filmmakers.
What sets NYISA apart is our diverse and filmmaker-heavy jury panel, primarily based in New York. We are approachable and actively engaged in the industry, providing friendly advice and writing feedback to nurture talent.
Benefits
Golden Package - For the 1st Place Winners:
(1/9)
An InkTip prize package includes a 4-month InkTip Pro Membership. As an InkTip Pro Member, thousands of filmmakers can find and read your scripts, and you'll be able to pitch directly to production companies weekly. With over 3,000 options and 400 movies made, InkTip is the place for independent film.
Every InkTip producer has been vetted via resumes and references and demonstrated the ability to get movies made. Companies that are InkTip members include ABC, Anonymous Content, APA, CBS Films, HBO Films, ICM, Paradigm, Paramount Pictures, Hallmark Channel, FX, Universal, WME, Echo Lake, Zero Gravity, Bad Robot, and 20th Century Fox.
(2/9)
Final Draft Screenwriting Software, digital certificates for free! Final Draft 13 is the most customizable version of the world’s bestselling screenwriting software. Take your idea to script with easy-to-use tools so you can get more done with your writing sessions and achieve your goals faster.
Final Draft is used by 95% of film, television, and multimedia productions to get from page to screen. From enhanced productivity tools to new options to organize your script to additional display modes, Final Draft 13 helps you build the perfect workspace for you, then gets out of your way so you can focus on what you love best.
(3/9)
16 years of free registration from the CreatorsVault. CreatorsVault.com is an online Intellectual Property Registry for Copyright Protection and archival system providing Writers and Creators time-archived third-party proof-of-creation of their written materials and other intellectual properties preparing to market in the Entertainment industry. Writers can register scripts, screenplays, manuscripts, or other creative properties for protective archival with term options of 12 years, 8 years, or 4 years.
Creators Vault is a global service (Berne Convention). Additional features include options to register New Drafts of an original project and the renewal of projects about to expire at discounted rates. Protect your property before going to the market.
(4/9)
Online Screenwriting Course from the Script Reader Pro. An Online Screenwriting course built on practical exercises and hacks that will supercharge your writing.
Script Reader Pro is the only script consultancy that lets you choose a professional screenwriter to work on your script according to its genre. (retail price $299)
(5/9)
10 Free pitching! to the production companies you choose! via Virtual Pitch Fest! VPF is a trusted industry source that connects screenwriters to film producers and reps. To date, site connections have led to success stories including “Midnight in the Switchgrass” starring Bruce Willis, “Hot Seat” starring Mel Gibson, and numerous film &TV deals!
(6/9)
Email blasts will be given to the 1050+ agents and producers via the Script Mailer! Script Mailer was founded in 2011 by agents and producers working in LA. The reason Script Mailer was started was simple—to help talented screenwriters connect with Hollywood.
(7/9)
Free Audio Production Packages by Sounds Of Script!
Transform your story into an immersive and entertaining audio experience.
Sound of Scripts; is a bespoke production service that transforms screenplays, stage plays, podcasts, and books, into audio plays.
(8/9)
30-minute consultation, and feedback! for the winners! by The Film Deck! and % a 30 discount for all the winners and Finalists! and % a 15 discount for all the submitters! by The Film Deck! - ” At The Film Deck, we specialize in crafting pitch decks that open doors and seal deals for filmmakers worldwide. Our team of experienced film creators and designers understands the challenges of transforming ideas into captivating pitch decks that secure financing to make your project move forward.”
(9/9)
$500 voucher for the 'Film Festival Strategy" Packages, and 30-minute consultations! by the 16th Street Productions!
It is an award-winning independent production house specializing in creating content - short form, long form, digital and social media, format development for TV shows, series, documentaries, short films, corporate films, ads, sizzles, podcasts, and CSR.
The company motto is “being the change” and it specializes in social stories and subjects that need a voice.
Silver and Bronze Packages - For the 2nd and 3rd place winners:
An InkTip prize package includes a 4-month InkTip Pro Membership. As an InkTip Pro Member, thousands of filmmakers can find and read your scripts, and you'll be able to pitch directly to production companies weekly. With over 3,000 options and 400 movies made, InkTip is the place for independent film. Every InkTip producer has been vetted via resumes and references and demonstrated the ability to get movies made. Companies that are InkTip members include ABC, Anonymous Content, APA, CBS Films, HBO Films, ICM, Paradigm, Paramount Pictures, Hallmark Channel, FX, Universal, WME, Echo Lake, Zero Gravity, Bad Robot, and 20th Century Fox.
Final Draft Screenwriting Software, digital certificates for free! Final Draft 13 is the most customizable version of the world’s bestselling screenwriting software. Take your idea to script with easy-to-use tools so you can get more done with your writing sessions and achieve your goals faster. Final Draft is used by 95% of film, television, and multimedia productions to get from page to screen. From enhanced productivity tools to new options to organize your script to additional display modes, Final Draft 13 helps you build the perfect workspace for you, then gets out of your way so you can focus on what you love best.
Online Screenwriting Course from the Script Reader Pro. An Online Screenwriting course built on practical exercises and hacks that will supercharge your writing. Script Reader Pro is the only script consultancy that lets you choose a professional screenwriter to work on your script according to its genre. (retail price $299)
5 Free pitching! to the production companies you choose! via Virtual Pitch Fest!VPF is a trusted industry source that connects screenwriters to film Producers, and Reps. To date, site connections have led to success stories including “Midnight in the Switchgrass” starring Bruce Willis, “Hot Seat” starring Mel Gibson, and numerous film &TV deals!
Email blasts will be given to the 1050+ agents and producers via the Script Mailer! Script Mailer was founded in 2011 by a group of agents and producers working in LA. The reason Script Mailer was started was simple—to help talented screenwriters connect with Hollywood.
10 years of free registration from the CreatorsVault! CreatorsVault.com is an online Intellectual Property Registry for Copyright Protection and archival system providing Writers and Creators time-archived third-party proof-of-creation of their written materials and other intellectual properties preparing to market in the Entertainment industry. Writers can register scripts, screenplays, manuscripts, or other creative properties for protective archival with term options of 12 years, 8 years, or 4 years. Creators Vault is a global service (Berne Convention). Additional features include options to register New Drafts of an original project and the renewal of projects about to expire at discounted rates. Protect your property before going to the market.
Free Audio Production Packages by Sound Of Scripts!
Transform your story into an immersive and entertaining audio experience.
Sound of Scripts; is a bespoke production service that transforms screenplays, stage plays, podcasts, and books, into audio plays.
30-minute consultation, and feedback! for the winners! by The Film Deck! and % a 30 discount for all the winners and Finalists! and % a 15 discount for all the submitters! by The Film Deck! ” At The Film Deck, we specialize in crafting pitch decks that open doors and seal deals for filmmakers worldwide. Our team of experienced film creators and designers understands the challenges of transforming ideas into captivating pitch decks that secure financing to make your project move forward.”
$500 voucher for the 'Film Festival Strategy" Packages, and 30-minute consultations! by the 16th Street Productions!
It is an award-winning independent production house specializing in creating content - short form, long form, digital and social media, format development for TV shows, series, documentaries, short films, corporate films, ads, sizzles, podcasts, and CSR.
The company motto is “being the change” and it specializes in social stories and subjects that need a voice.
Other Perks:
Not just the winners will have the prizes! - THE FINALISTS will have;
Free Final Draft 13 – Screenwriting Software Certificates!,
1 pitching! to the production companies you choose! by the Virtual Pitch Fest- VPF!
4 years of free registration by CreatorsVault!
The finalists’ query letters will be sent to more than 1050 agents and producers via the Script Mailer!
%20 discount for the Audio Production Packages! via Sound Of Scripts!
%30 discount for The Film Deck services!
Also, The Semi-Finalists will have free pitching to the production companies you choose! by the Virtual Pitch Fest- VPF!
And, a %10 discount for the Audio Production Packages via Sound Of Scripts!
%15 discount for The Film Deck services!
And EVERYONE who SUBMITTED, will have;
- %50 off for copyrighting by the Creators Vault
- %15 discount for The Film Deck services!
At the Red Carpet Award Ceremony/Cocktail reception on May 9th, 10 select attendees will be granted exclusive 30-minute consultations with 16th Street Productions!
Judges
Hannah Reeves
Hannah has over 11 years experience writing screenplays. She is an Associate Producer for Love, Gilda which has its world premiere opening night of the Tribeca Film Festival 2018. She wrote The Maestro, a feature-length film based on the life of the composer Ludwig van Beethoven, which garnered international acclaim and won the Wildsound Winter Screenplay Award. She is co-creator and producer of the feature film Operation: Deep Water, an action thriller.
Taylor Ré Lynn
Taylor Ré, a New York native, is best known for her stage and film work. She has been a producer for numerous prestigious films, including the Golden Globe nominated The Fencer and Love Gilda, which premiered opening night of Tribeca Film Festival and on CNN. Taylor Ré is the owner of global beauty and fashion enterprises, and an avid supporter of global humanitarian causes. Ms. Lynn is currently working on film, music, and theatre projects in New York, Dubai, and Europe.
Eric Whitten
As an actor, Eric will be seen in the upcoming feature film Till (MGM), and has also had roles in shows such as Long Slow Exhale, The Jim Gaffigan Show, and The Tick. Eric is an NYCDA graduate, and former Kelly Kimball Studio & Anthony Abeson Studio member. He has produced 7 projects, and he was awarded a finishing grant from FilmInk Magazine for his film Chalk, which played at the Academy Award Qualifying LA Shorts Film Fest. His project Daybreak won awards at NYLIFF & Chelsea Film Festival.
Samantha Merrick
Samantha Merrick is an actress and writer, known for Death of a Good Man, Lapse (2011), and The Anniversary (2008).
Efsane Karayilanoglu Toka
Efsane is a published author, screenwriter, and script consultant with years of experience in the media and entertainment industry. She has worked with writers and production companies in Hollywood including Eclectic Pictures and Fabrik Entertainment. Her works are published on various platforms including Fil’m Hafizasi, Pera Sinema, Drizzle Review, and Kayip Rihtim. She is the Founder and the Managing Director of the Uplift Script, and she currently works as a film/TV critic and lecturer.
Maureen Dowdell
Maureen holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism, and a Bachelor of Arts in music. She studied acting at the Alliance Theatre School in Atlanta. She has worked on CBS and NBC prime-time television shows, written and produced a show that aired on PBS, worked as a consultant in the public relations field, and most recently, worked as a correspondent for The Montclair Times. Maureen is known for In the Heat of the Night (1988), Partners (2016), and Lady Beware (1987).
Emine Dursun
Emine is a screenwriter, creative consultant, and festival director with over two decades of experience in the field. Her New York-based media company, Mae Media House, has been providing creative solutions, festivals, and workshops since 2015. She was the first person to win an international screenplay award in 2011, in Turkey, followed by her Sundance win in 2013. She has served as a jury member for The Writers Lab, funded by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, since 2019.
Vijaykumar Mirchandani
His projects have received more than 135 film festival selections, including Academy Award®, BAFTA, and Canadian Screen Awards. He has over 45 awards to his credit in documentaries, short films, marketing, and promotions. His films have been inspired by true events and broadcast in Germany, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, UK, Australia, US and are also available on Amazon Prime. He is also a consultant on short films, film festival strategist, and jury member for many film festivals.
Victoria Britton
Victoria is a film producer and writer-director with six years of combined experience creating narrative fiction, documentary, and news. Her work has been shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, and on the Atlantic. She recently lent her producing skills to 3 narrative short films and 2 feature films, including Matt Berman’s The Baby Pact starring Haylie Duff. She is a pre-screener for the Academy-Award qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival, and part of the Hobnobben Film Festival team.
Christopher Ortiz
Chistopher has been a screenwriting and script consultant since college, where he also started doing freelance film criticism for websites such as The Script Lab. He graduated from Brooklyn College with a degree in Film Studies and a minor in Philosophy. Since 2016, he has written and directed 3 short films, and co-written a mobile stealth action game for iOS. Christopher is known for Arson (2018), RedSin: Martyrs of Dissent (2024), and Tug (2016).
Victoria Prima
Victoria is a New York based TV producer.
Jennifer Phillips
Jennifer is Director/CEO/Fight Choreographer/Producer/Playwright/Screenwriter at J Phillips Creative Management/360 Productions. JPCM is an internationally recognized company that provides artistic expertise to major Hollywood studios, production houses, and independent film companies, and 360 Productions handles “live” stage events at renowned entertainment centers and creative consultancy. Both companies have offices in the USA, Canada, and Singapore. Jennifer studied at Columbia University.
Melissa Azizi
Melissa Azizi is a Development Executive and Producers Assistant, having worked for the past decade with Gail Mutrux on THE DANISH GIRL, NEWS OF THE WORLD, iBOY, and SHOW ME A HERO. She was responsible for sourcing the crime-book series SLOW HORSES which currently airs on Apple TV+.
Dakota Reinike
Dakota pursued her B.A. in TV/Film at DeSales University, and while attending, she completed an internship with ASR Media Productions. She is currently a Digital Producer based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Dakota frequently collaborates on filmmaking and writing projects. She has a love for writing comedy, but enjoys the creative spark and energy from any genre when writers come together. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, playing piano, and volunteering at the local humane society.
Michael Matasci
Michael Matasci is a Brooklyn based writer and composer. Having scored music for an independent film, Michael continues to produce instrumental and pop songs. Michael is also a screenwriter specializing in comedy and drama. An avid bicyclist, Michael enjoys touring the back roads of New York.
Fred Ireland
Fred has been a judge for several national screenplay competitions for the past seven years, and he's been a screener for the Atlanta Film Festival shorts program since 2016. Fred has written and directed several short films that have been screened at various film festivals. He has provided script consultation to writers, and is currently involved with the Wilmington Filmmakers group, a co-operative for all aspects of filmmaking.
Greg Phillip Davies
Greg studied Animation for Film and TV, as well as Acting for Camera, at City Varsity in Cape Town. He worked as an actor on the feature film “The Mauritanian” produced by Benedict Cumberbatch, STX films, and BBC films. He joined Make The Difference (MTD) in promotional work and concept design. Greg has performed monologues and duped voice acting for both stage vocal work and ADR for film.
Announcements
Rules
At the program's request, Coverfly will automatically remove your title page for you if you include one when submitting to this program.
RULES, TERMS AND CONDITIONSIf you have a question that is not answered here, please email us at info@nyisa.com
All scripts must be submitted in English, formatted in 12-point courier font.
Entry fees must be paid in U.S. dollars. Entry into the competition is void where prohibited by law.
Screenplays written by up to four people may be entered in the contest. Only one entry fee is required for such entries. All writers’ names should be listed on the online entry. All writers must authorize the submission of the entry. By submitting online to the NYISA, all writers authorize the submission.
All entries must be uploaded in PDF format. (www.freepdfconcert.com)
Entrants to the NYISA retain all rights to their screenplays.
You may submit your entry and payment through FilmFreeway or Coverfly.
Entries must be received by the applicable Entry Deadline.
Once a script has been entered into competition, we will not accept substitutions or revised drafts. If you wish to submit a revised draft of your script, you must enter it as a new submission.
NYISA will not share your screenplay with anyone except the official judges of the competition.
By entering the NYISA, you represent that your entry is your original work, and does not infringe on the copyright or other rights of other people.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
We do not accept hardcopy submissions by mail.
The decisions of the judges are final.
NYISA reserves the right to make any necessary changes, postponements, or cancellations to event scheduling at our discretion.
Notification of winners and official finalists will be sent by email and posted on our website. It is the responsibility of the winners to redeem any prizes allotted to them by the NYISA or our sponsors. Applicants will be responsible for providing current contact information and mailing addresses for prize redemption purposes.
There is no limit to the number of screenplays you may submit.
Under absolutely no circumstances will substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entry screenplay(s) be made. Screenplays will not be returned.
Screenplay titles cannot be changed upon resubmission under any circumstances.
To enter the NYISA, you must agree to its Terms and Conditions.
To protect your script, we strongly suggest you register your work with the Writers Guild of America, West (www.wga.org or call 323.782.4500) and the US Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov).