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CineStory Foundation
CineStory TV Retreat and Fellowship Competition
2019
Active Since 2014
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About

The CineStory Foundation has always believed in helping writers find their voice. We’re entering a world in which the ways to tell stories are limitless. Those stories always begin with a blank page. Our goal with the TV/Digital Series Retreat is to assist writers, whether they long for the collaborative nature of Television or they dream of going out on their own to create their own web series.

Structured like the CineStory Feature Retreat, the CineStory TV/Digital Series Retreat will take place over three days in the beautiful mountains of Idyllwild, California. Attendees will receive three one-on-one, one and a half hour sessions with CineStory mentors during which they can discuss everything from the project they submitted for feedback to jump starting their writing careers.

Benefits

The Structured like the CineStory Feature Retreat, the CineStory TV/Digital Series Retreat will take place over three days in the beautiful mountains of Idyllwild, California. Attendees will receive three one-on-one, one and a half hour sessions with CineStory mentors during which they can discuss everything from the project they submitted for feedback to jump starting their writing careers.

FELLOWSHIP WINNER

$7,000 in cash and prizes, including:

  • Free tuition and housing at the Retreat
  • 12 month fellowship program with two industry mentors
  • $1,000 cash
  • Assorted gift cards


CATEGORY WINNERS

Each Category will have a designated winner, who receives:

  • Discount on Retreat tuition
  • Assorted gift cards

2024 Semifinalists on Coverfly

See Other Placements

Announcements

Jan 18th
Semifinalist
Feb 8th
Finalists
Feb 22nd
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.

TELEVISION RULES & GUIDELINES

 As author(s) of the submitted material, my/our submission attests to the following:

•  To the accuracy of all information I/we have entered herein.

•  That I/we are 18 or older.

•  That the submitted material is my/our original work, with all rights to said work held by me/us.

•  That I/we will indemnify CineStory, hold it harmless and defend it against all claims, demands, losses, costs, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any stories submitted for the CineStory Television Retreat or on any material developed out of such stories.

•  That I/we understand that CineStory judges, directors, officers, employees or agents may be exposed to or may develop materials and ideas that may be similar to those of the submitted material. I/we understand and acknowledge that I/we will not be entitled to any compensation from such similar material that is independently conceived and created.

•  That I/we agree that I/we will never assert against CineStory (or any of its judges, directors, officers, employees or agents) any claim based on an assertion of plagiarism, idea theft, confidential or fiduciary relationship or any other theory relating to the submitted material.

•  That I/we understand that individual feedback is not provided and that CineStory notifies winners only.

•  That I/we have read, understood and complied with all guidelines and rules herein, and failure to do so may result in disqualification. 


Television Script Guidelines

•  Teleplays must have a CLEAN COVER PAGE. This means the title only on the cover, no author’s name/contact information. If submitting a hardcopy script, please include two cover pages. The first, containing only the title of the entry, should be attached directly to the screenplay. The second including the title, author's name, address and phone number should be submitted unattached to the script. If submitting electronically, please ensure that your name and contact information DO NOT appear on the title page.

•  Teleplays must be (a) from 30 to 75 pages in length; AND (b) original pilots or spec scripts for any network or cable program that was on air during spring 2017 through present.

•  The author's name must not appear anywhere within the body of the script.

•  Body pages must be numbered.

•  No additional materials, artwork, illustrations etc. should be attached to the script.

•  Teleplays must be in English.

• No substituted pages or other revisions will be accepted once you have submitted your teleplay.


Official Rules & Guidelines

•  Entrants must be 18 or older.

• The Grand Prize Television Fellowship winner must attend the Television Retreat in order to receive the cash award and other prizes. If a Fellowship winner cannot attend the Retreat, the person will be disqualified and a new winner will be determined.

•  Any teleplay from any genre will be considered. NO FEATURE SCREENPLAYS WILL BE CONSIDERED. Any feature screenplays submitted will be disqualified without refund of the submission fee. 

•  Entrants must not have sold a project to a network or cable channel in the past 5 years.

•  No substitutions of new drafts or corrected pages for entries will be accepted under any circumstances. However, you may submit a new draft as a separate submission accompanied by a separate submission fee and any other required information.

•  CineStory notifies winners only. Entrants are advised to check CineStory's website and e-newsletter for judging announcements.

•  Entered teleplays may not be optioned, sold or produced at the time of entry.

•  Multiple entries are accepted, provided a signed entry form and appropriate entry fee is attached to each submission.

•  Multiple authorship is acceptable. However, if the teleplay wins an award, only one award will be given and it will be divided equally among the writers.

•  Pilot Teleplays must be the original work of the author. If based on another person's life story, a statement attesting to the rights obtained must be attached.

•  Spec Teleplays must be the work of a show currently being produced.

•  No adaptations of other written work will be accepted unless the writer owns the rights to the original material. PLEASE NOTE: Any adaption of other written work that is in the Public Domain is eligible for submission.

•  There must be no dispute about the ownership of submitted teleplays or the writer's right to submit a teleplay.

•  CineStory recommends registering your screenplays with the WGA or the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress.

•  Judges' decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. Sorry, we cannot provide individual feedback from the judges.

•  Entrants acknowledge that CineStory, its judges, mentors and officers may be exposed to or may develop materials and ideas that may be similar to those of the submitted material. Entrants acknowledge they will not be entitled to any compensation because from such similar material which is independently conceived and created.

•  Entrants agree to never assert against CineStory (or any of its judges, directors, officers, employees or agents) any claim based on an assertion of plagiarism, idea theft, confidential or fiduciary relationship or any other theory relating to the submitted material.

•  Entries that fail to follow competition rules and guidelines will be disqualified.

•  No refunds for entries that do not comply with competition rules and guidelines.

•  Winners will be responsible for their own U.S. income tax withholding.

•  Entering the contest constitutes permission to use the winners' names and likenesses for publicity and promotions with no additional compensation.

•  All entries must be postmarked, emailed or uploaded by the appropriate deadline.

•  CineStory reserves the right to extend the final deadline however an extended deadline is not guaranteed.

•  CineStory is not responsible for entries lost, stolen or damaged in transit.

•  Finalists are required to submit a letter and video as part of the finals judging process.