ScreenCraft Animation and Family
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About
Whether it's a heartwarming tale that brings families together or an innovative animation that pushes the boundaries of creativity, we're looking for original stories with new voices.
Semifinalists and winners will gain access to an exclusive workshop series with established screenwriters behind some of your favorite animation and family films. Learn from the best in the business to refine your craft, understand the industry, and take your storytelling to the next level.
- - Four quadrant features (FAMILY SWITCH, YES DAY, HOCUS POCUS)
- - Kid’s shows (OCTONAUTS, ADVENTURE TIME)
- - Animated features (INSIDE OUT, NIMONA, TROLLS, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDERVERSE)
- - Family TV Shows (A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, GOOD LUCK CHARLIE, PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS)
- - Adult animation (RICK AND MORTY, BOB’S BURGERS)
- And more!
Benefits
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
The overall grand prize winner in either feature, TV or short category will be welcomed to the Writer Development Program and receive personal introductions and phone calls with one or more top industry professionals who are looking for talented emerging Film & TV screenwriters.
- Personal Introduction to Industry Professionals
- Accepted into the Writer Development Program
- $1,000 Cash
- 1:1 Mentorship meeting with writer/producer David Kirschner
- An Exclusive Invitation to a Finalist+ Workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
RUNNER-UP PRIZES
Feature Winner, TV Pilot Winner, and Short Script Winner
- $500 cash award
- Accepted into the Writer Development Program
- An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
FINALISTS
Each Finalist will receive a guaranteed meeting with an industry professional
- An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
SEMIFINALISTS
Grand Prize Mentor
David Maxwell Kirschner
Screenwriter and Producer
David Maxwell Kirschner's producing credits include Hocus Pocus 1, 2, and the upcoming 3, An American Tail and Titan A.E. animated features as well as the Child's Play horror film series. His credits also include Universal's animated adaptation of the classic Curious George books, starring with producers Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and starring Will Ferrell.
Workshop Series
Jim Capobianco
Writer and Director
Jim Capobianco received the 2008 Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for Ratatouille. Jim started in the story department at Walt Disney Feature Animation on The Lion King, then moved over to Pixar, where he worked on many films including A Bug’s Life and Coco.Jim created and directed the 2D animation sequence for Walt Disney Motion Pictures, Mary Poppins Returns, winning his second Annie Award. He has recently completed and released a feature film called The Inventor.
Brenda Chapman
Writer, Director, and Animator
Brenda Chapman started her career as a story artist at Walt Disney Feature Animation where she worked on The Little Mermaid, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Oscar nominated Beauty and the Beast. Brenda helped launch DreamWorks Animation Studios, and co-directed the 1998 the Oscar winning Prince of Egypt. Joining Pixar Animation Studios in 2003, Brenda created, wrote and directed Brave for which she was the first woman to win an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film.
Mick Garris
Writer, Director, Producer
Mick is most recognized for writing the film HOCUS POCUS which has gone on to be one of the preeminent Halloween movies of all time. He produced the horror anthology film NIGHTMARE CINEMA, and has adapted the work of Stephen King many times, including the miniseries for THE SHINING, SLEEPWALKERS, THE STAND and most recently, BAG OF BONES starring Pierce Brosnan on A&E. Mick has also directed episodes of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, RAVENSWOOD, SHADOWHUNTERS and multiple episodes of DEAD OF SUMMER.
Christopher Jenkins
Screenwriter
Chris Jenkins has animated on such movies as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Lion King, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules & Atlantis. In January 2024 his film 10 Lives premiered at Sundance where it was warmly received and found universally positive reviews. Chris is currently working on Sneaks, and animated film starring Lawrence Fishbourne and Martin Lawrence along with an all star cast and a release date of Fall 24.
Jury
Evan Anglin
Manager & Producer
Zero Gravity Management
Evan is a literary manager and producer at Zero Gravity. Their clients include writers and directors whose credits include Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, American Dad, Quantum Leap, Boy Meets World, Apple's Ghostwriter and many more.
Siobhan Murphy
Manager
Gotham Group
Siobhan Murphy is a literary manager at The Gotham Group, a major management and production company behind blockbuster franchises such as The Maze Runner series, Percy Jackson and The Olympians, and The Spiderwick Chronicles.
Sam Goff
Creative Talent Manager
Fourth Wall Management
Sam Goff is a creative talent manager with Fourth Wall Management, a talent and literary management company whose clients have written, directed, and produced major titles such as Spider Man: Homecoming, Game Night, Toy Story 3, and The Iron Giant.
Jay Thakur
Visual Department
Sony Pictures Animation
Jay Thakur works in visual development for Sony Pictures Animation, the iconic studio behind tentpole animation franchises such as Spider Man: Into the Spiderverse, Hotel Transylvania, Goosebumps, The Smurfs, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Allen Eckhouse
General Manager
Logical Talent Management
Allen Eckhouse is a talent manager with Logical Talent Management. Previously at CAA, Allen has developed project concepts with major companies such as DreamWorks, Amblin Entertainment, Blumhouse, and Illumination Entertainment.
Guaranteed Signing Partner
Anders Lykke
Manager
Locus Entertainment
Anders is the founder and CEO of Locus Entertainment, aimed at nurturing and promoting emerging screenwriters with a global perspective. He founded the Casino Theatre in 2019. This innovative platform is dedicated to showcasing the finest unproduced screenplays, brought to life by skilled actors before a select audience of industry professionals.
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.
- Submissions are accepted via electronic submission only.
- Entry fees are as listed on the site and checkout form. No coupon or discount is applicable on a previous entry.
- Optional feedback from a professional reader may be requested at the time of entry. Requests for feedback can be done through Coverfly.
- Entries may be any length -- the standard 1/2 hour is between 20 - 40 pages, and the standard hour long is between 40 - 70 pages, and the standard feature is between 85 - 120 pages. Any script submission longer than 120 pages will incur a $.50 per page overage fee for each page over 120 if it does not include feedback and $1 per page if the entry does include feedback.
- There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit.
- Entries must be received on or before the deadline dates by 11:59PM Pacific Time, and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. All entry fees are non-refundable.
- All submitted material must be owned by the writer(s), however the material may be based on other works not owned by the writers.
- Material must be submitted by the writer. Material written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with consent of the other(s).
- If a writing team is chosen as a winner, prizes will be given to the person who submits the project. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing any prizes awarded as they deem fair (whether there is a cash value or not).
- Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered material will be allowed for a limited time with a $6 reentry fee through Coverfly. Please proofread your script carefully before submitting.
- It is recommended that original material be registered with the WGA or The Library of Congress before submitting to any competition, however we do not require registration.
- Contact info may be included on the cover page of the screenplay, however it is not required. ScreenCraft uses Coverfly to manage submissions and automatically removes cover pages before scripts are read by the judges.
- ScreenCraft claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remains with the original rights holders.
- The decision of the judges will be final and cannot be contested in any manner. There is no score on a scorecard that guarantees advancement to the next level as advancement will be based on all scores in the competition.
- In the event a juror, partner organization, or prize partner is no longer able to serve in their specified capacity, ScreenCraft will make its best effort to secure a replacement. ScreenCraft is not responsible for the failed delivery of any prize package by a juror, sponsor, or partner organization.
- ScreenCraft reserves the right to change deadline and announcement dates at any time.
- ScreenCraft reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
For a full list of rules and eligibility please visit ScreenCraft.