Set in Philadelphia
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About
Writers do NOT have to be from Philadelphia and scripts do NOT need to be explicitly set in Philadelphia. They just need to be able to be shot in Philadelphia.
“Set in Philadelphia” Screenwriting Competition (SIP), which is presented by the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, is open to all screenwriters, world-wide, who submit a feature length screenplay OR an original TV pilot length screenplay that can be shot in the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. All genres will be accepted. Scripts will be judged on their overall quality, and the extent to which they project “shootability” in the Greater Philadelphia region. SIP Finalist Judges are high profile Producers, Writers and Actors who have a Philadelphia connection.
The “Set in Philadelphia” Screenwriting Competition (SIP) is proudly presented by the Greater Philadelphia Film Office under its Greater Philadelphia Filmmakers program with awards sponsored by:
- Hallee and David Adelman
- Comcast & NBCUniversal
- Laurie Lo Presti
- VestedIn
Past and Present Incredible Finalist Judges:
Writer-Scripts sold (The Champion Inside, Scar Across My Heart)
Creator/Producer/Director (Blood, Bruises & Broken Bones – Reality TV show)
Screenwriter/Producer/Director (A Sense of Purpose: Fighting For Our Lives, Touch With Your Eyes, A Cup Full of Crazy- in post production)
Writer/Producer (Issues)
Mike Jackson
Benefits
On top of the best scripts being reviewed by the incredible jury, the Grand Prize Winners will also receive the following prizes.
The Grand Prize for Best Screenplay
- $10,000 cash prize
- Notes from Judges
TV Prime Time Award, sponsored by Comcast and NBCUniversal
- $5,000 cash prize
- Notes from Judges
- $5,000 cash prize
- Notes from Judges
- Synopsis published on www.film.org/sip
The Oscar Micheaux Award, sponsored by VestedIn
For the best screenplay penned by a Philadelphia area resident of the African Diaspora
- $2,500 cash prize
- Notes from Judges
The $2,500 Nina Lo Presti Award
For a female screenwriter, over 18, and with ties to the Greater Philadelphia region, sponsored by her daughter Laurie Lo Presti
- $2,500 cash prize
- Notes from Judges
- Synopsis published on www.film.org/sip
Announcements
No announcement dates listed.
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 & Regulations
Screenplay must be able to be produced in the Philadelphia region (includes the surrounding counties).
All genres and story-telling approaches are acceptable unless otherwise specified by Prize requirements.
You can submit any number of feature length or TV pilot scripts but only ONE entry per application.
Feature Length Screenplays must be between 85-130 pages in length and written in standard screenplay format. (i.e. 8.5" x 11" 12 pt courier font, simple front and back cover, with pages numbered.)
Prime Time (TV) scripts should be half-hour or hour long, single-camera pilots, under 70 pages in length written in standard screenplay format. (i.e. 8.5" x 11” 12 pt courier font, simple front and back cover, with pages numbered.)
A title page, with just the title, must accompany the screenplay. No author identification should appear on this page. Screenplays will be numbered for confidentiality.
If there is more than one writer, each must sign the release form for application to be accepted.
Screenplays which are currently in production are ineligible.
Judges' decisions are final.
Entrants can receive notification that their submission was received by emailing a request to joan@film.org after July 17, 2023 for early entries and after August 14, 2023 for final entries.
Entrants can receive notification of their screenplay's status in the final round by emailing a request to joan@film.org after November 30, 2023 but finalists will be posted on our site (https://film.org/greater-philadelphia-filmmakers/sip-screenwriting-competition/) by end of Nov.
Entrants applying for the Nina Lo Presti Award must be female screenwriters who ideally have a connection with the Philadelphia region (resided, worked, matriculated, etc.). Both feature and TV pilot scripts will be considered.
Entrants applying for the Content for Kids Prize must have a connection with the Philadelphia region (resided, worked, matriculated, etc.) and submit content that is appropriate for children 12yrs or under. Both feature length and TV pilot scripts are accepted for consideration for this prize.
Entrants applying for the Oscar Micheaux Award must provide a signed Micheaux eligibility form and a legible photocopy of their driver's license, deed or passport as proof of residency in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware or Montgomery County. Co-author must meet the same requirements.
Submitted screenplays will be considered for all prizes deemed eligible.
Screenplays must be electronically time stamped by 11:59pm EST July 3, 2023 for Early Submission 11:59pm EST ($60, includes processing fee) or August 7, 2023 for Final Deadline ($85, includes processing fee).
Electronic submissions only. Submissions will be processed through the Coverfly platform which will prompt you to include all relevant documents and submission fee. By using our service, 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).
All entrants are encouraged to register their screenplay with the Writers’ Guild of America (www.wga.org).