For 30 years, the Nantucket Film Festival has celebrated screenwriters and helped give life to thousands of stories that have impacted countless audiences around the world.

Our Tony Cox Screenplay Competitions recognize emerging writers in four unique categories: Feature Screenplay, Short Screenplay, Episodic 60 Minute, and Episodic 30 Minute.

Finalists in each category are considered by accomplished jury members, receive wide industry recognition, and are invited to attend Nantucket Film Festival which provides cash prizes for winners and hosts events with prominent industry guests.

Tony Cox Screenplay Competitions:
These four awards total $5,000 in cash, in addition to several other prizes. The winner of the Feature Screenplay Competition is invited to participate in a month-long writer's retreat on Nantucket in October through our sister organization, Almanack Screenwriters.

Feature Screenplay Competition:
This prize recognizes an emerging feature screenwriter with a unique voice and a compelling story who demonstrates a commitment to writing for the screen. The winner will be selected by a jury led by Almanack Screenwriters.

Winner Receives:
* A position in the October Colony, Almanack Screenwriters’ month-long, all-expenses-covered writer's retreat on Nantucket;
* $2,500 cash prize from the Nantucket Film Festival;
* VIP Festival Pass to all events;
* An awards reception during the Festival in the winners’ honor;
* Custom-bound copy of the script;
* Name inclusion in a press release and on the Festival website as a competition winner and finalist.

Our finalists are recognized as one of the top three screenplays from the pool of submissions each year. The top three finalists are selected from a pool of 10 semi-finalists and determined by the programmers and executive staff of the Nantucket Film Festival, in conjunction with our partner, Almanack Screenwriters.

FINALISTS RECEIVE:
* An awards reception during the Festival;
* Festival Pass;
* Name inclusion on the Festival website as a competition finalist.

Our semi-finalists are recognized as one of the top 10 screenplays from the pool of submissions each year. The top 10 semi-finalists are narrowed down from all submissions by our reader committee, comprised of industry professionals, alongside the programmers and executive staff of the Nantucket Film Festival.

SEMI-FINALISTS RECEIVE:
* Name inclusion on the Festival website as a competition semi-finalist.

QUARTER-FINALISTS:

*All initial submissions undergo a blind review process conducted by a committee of experienced readers. Quarter-finalist scripts and complete applications are then evaluated in an open review by a selection committee comprised of Nantucket Film Festival and Almanack Screenwriters staff. Finalists will be judged by a jury of industry professionals.

Feature Screenplay Submission Requirements:

• Full screenplay

  • Standard feature length (80-125 pages); additional page fees apply over 125 pages.

  • Screenplay must be in English using standard US format only

  • Screenplays may not have already been produced or be in active production

• Title and Logline

• Bio (up to 300 words)

• Personal Statement (up to 500 words):

  • This is an opportunity for us to get to know you, your voice, and the state of your writing career. 

• The retreat nature of the October Colony does not allow us to consider co-written screenplays. 

• Adaptations are accepted, but official documentation of rights to the material must be available upon request.

• While it is not mandatory that screenplays have an official copyright, NFF strongly encourages writers to register their script(s) with the Writers Guild of America. Visit www.wgawregistry.org for information.

  
  

Short Screenplay Competition:
This jury prize recognizes an emerging short screenplay as the best from the pool of submissions each year. The jury, which reviews the top three finalists to determine a winner, is composed of professional filmmakers and film industry professionals with original and diverse points of view.

WINNER RECEIVES:
* $500 cash prize from the Nantucket Film Festival;
* Festival Pass;
* An awards reception during the Festival in the winners’ honor;
* Name inclusion in the press release and on the Festival website as a competition winner and finalist.

Our finalists are recognized as one of the top three screenplays from the pool of submissions each year. The top three finalists are narrowed down from all submissions by our reader committee, comprised of industry professionals, alongside the programmers and executive staff of the Nantucket Film Festival.

FINALISTS RECEIVE:
* An awards reception during the Festival;
* Festival Pass;
* Name inclusion on the Festival website as a competition finalist.

Episodic Screenplay (60 Min) Competition:
This jury prize recognizes an emerging original 60 min episodic pilot as the best from the pool of submissions each year. The jury, which reviews the top three finalists to determine a winner, is composed of writers, producers, actors, or executives from the TV industry with original and diverse points of view.

WINNER RECEIVES:
* $1,000 cash prize from the Nantucket Film Festival;
* Festival Pass;
* An awards reception during the Festival in the winners’ honor;
* Custom-bound copy of the script;
* Name inclusion on the Festival website as a competition finalist and winner.

Our finalists are recognized as one of the top three screenplays from the pool of submissions each year. The top three finalists are narrowed down from all submissions by our reader committee, comprised of industry professionals, alongside the programmers and executive staff of the Nantucket Film Festival.

FINALISTS RECEIVE:
* Festival Pass;
* An awards reception during the Festival;
* Name inclusion on the Festival website as a competition finalist.

Episodic Screenplay (30 Min) Competition:
This jury prize recognizes an emerging original 30 min episodic pilot as the best from the pool of submissions each year. The jury reviews the top three finalists to determine a winner and is composed of writers, producers, actors, and executives from the TV industry with original and diverse points of view.

WINNER RECEIVES:
* $1,000 cash prize from the Nantucket Film Festival;
* Festival Pass;
* An awards reception during the Festival in the winners’ honor;
* Custom-bound copy of the script;
* Name inclusion on the Festival website as a competition finalist and winner.

Our finalists are recognized as one of the top three screenplays from the pool of submissions each year. The top three finalists are narrowed down from all submissions by our reader committee, comprised of industry professionals, alongside the programmers and executive staff of the Nantucket Film Festival.

FINALISTS RECEIVE:
* Festival Pass;
* An awards reception during the Festival;
* Name inclusion on the Festival website as a competition finalist.