ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition
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ScreenCraft
ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition
2023
Reads in Coverfly
Active Since 2018
Author/producer Sara Shepard (PRETTY LITTLE LIARS) joins as VIP mentor! Jury includes Showrunner Charlie Craig,and industry professionals from Appian Way, Verve, & Howland Agency.
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About
Our Jury is looking for great stories with potential to be adapted for the screen. We’re looking for novels, novellas, true stories and biographies.
Official Industry Expert - GILLIAN FLYNN
ScreenCraft is honored to welcome Gillian Flynn as an Official Industry Expert for this year's competition! Gillian is the the author of the New York Times bestseller GONE GIRL, for which she also wrote the Golden Globe-nominated screenplay. Her other bestsellers include SHARP OBJECTS which received eight Emmy-nominations.
Grand Prize Mentorship - RICHARD KAHAN
ScreenCraft is thrilled to include a one-of-a-kind mentorship opportunity with writer/producer Richard Kahan (Starz's OUTLANDER, AMC's upcoming series BEACON 23) as a part of this year's Grand Prize. This will be an invaluable learning experience for any writer with a book or manuscript!
Over 275 ScreenCraft writers have signed with top management companies and agencies like 3 Arts, Anonymous Content, CAA, WME, UTA, Lit Entertainment, and have gone on to sell their scripts to major studios and have been hired by companies like Universal, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, CBS and many more.
NEW: Add feedback notes to your entry, and receive insight into the story, characters, and commercial potential showcased in the first 50 pages and synopsis of your project.
Benefits
JURY
NELSON COLE
Literary Manager, Bellevue Productions
Nelson Cole is a Junior Literary Manager at Bellevue Productions, a management and production company that produced literary adapted films like INFINITE and ELI. Prior to joining Bellevue, Nelson worked for One Community LLC, City of Los Angeles and Energy Entertainment.
KIMBERLEY CAMERON
President, Kimberley Cameron & Associates Literary Agency
Kimberley is the president of Kimberley Cameron & Associates Literary Agency. This agency represents many great authors, some of which have adapted their novels into feature films like THE TOY SOLDIERS and ADAM which was distributed through Searchlight Pictures.
ELIZABETH KRACHT
Literary Agent, Kimberley Cameron & Associates Literary Agency
Elizabeth Kracht is a literary agent with Kimberley Cameron & Associates and the author of The Author’s Checklist: An Agent’s Guide to Developing and Editing Your Manuscript. Elizabeth represents both literary and commercial fiction as well as nonfiction, and brings to the agency experience as a former acquisitions editor, freelance publicist, and writer. In fiction, she represents thrillers, mysteries, literary, commercial, women’s, and historical.
EMILY FORNEY
Literary Agent, BookEnds Literary
Emily Forney is a literary agent at BookEnds Literary, specializing in children's literature and adult fantasy. She has a diverse list of authors who seek to write stories about identity and community, and celebrate joy and messiness in marginalized communities who haven't gotten to see themselves flourish in traditional publishing. She's been on the young leaders council for Feminist Press and was a Publishing fellow for the LA Review of Books.
DREW BRENNANN
Creative Executive, Aggregate Films
Drew Brennann is the creative executive for Aggregate Films, a production company principled by Jason Bateman and most recently produced the multifaceted adaptation UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN on Hulu.
CARLY WATTERS
SVP and Senior Literary Agent, P.S. Literary
Carly Watters is a SVP and Senior Literary Agent at P.S. Literary and the sitting VP of PACLA, the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents. Her clients’ books have been translated into 40 languages, optioned for TV and film, adapted into podcasts, and have been on every bestseller list from coast to coast, including the New York Times, USA Today, the LA Times, the Washington Post, the Toronto Star, and the Globe and Mail.
PRIZES
Grand Prize Winner
The overall Grand Prize winner will receive a mentorship opportunity with writer/producer Richard Kahan (Outlander). They will also be welcomed to the ScreenCraft Writer Development Program and receive personal introductions and phone calls with one or more top industry producers, agents, or managers.
ScreenCraft has a proven track record for getting writers signed with managers, agents, and staffed in writing rooms. Plus:
- Personal Introduction to top industry producers and top agents & managers
- Accepted into the ScreenCraft Writer Development Program
- $1,000 Cash
- An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ only workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
- Virtual workshop with writer/producer Richard Kahan + Q&A
Runner - Up
- $500 cash award
- Accepted into the ScreenCraft Development Program
- Virtual workshop with writer/producer Richard Kahan + Q&A
- Invitation to the Finalist+ Networking and Development Event
Finalists
- Invitation to the Finalist+ Networking and Development Event
- Virtual workshop with writer/producer Richard Kahan + Q&A
- A select number of finalists will receive a 1:1 pitch meeting with Gravity Squared
- Will be considered by producers & agents as part of ScreenCraft's outreach
NEW ADD-ON PRIZE OPPORTUNITY
Guaranteed Signing Prize with Gravity Squared Entertainment
ScreenCraft is excited to present this optional add-on prize category that will grant at least one eligible writer/writing team the opportunity to receive representation by manager and founder of Gravity Squared Entertainment, John W. Beach. This unique add-on benefit is separate from the ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition prizes and placements.
John W. Beach started his career at Paradigm and ACME Talent & Literary, where he helped sell films like Oliver Stone’s WORLD TRADE CENTER starring Nicolas Cage, and YOUTH IN REVOLT starring Michael Cera. After surviving cancer in 2014, John started his own management/production company, Gravity Squared Entertainment, representing writers/producers/directors for all media. Currently, Gravity Squared has over 150 published books/scripts/treatments under their management, including numerous Pulitzer Prize winners and New York Times bestsellers. He has a number of projects set up with companies including ABC Studios, Legendary Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and recently optioned the book BEING HEUMANN to AppleTV + with CODA director Sian Heder attached to write and direct.
Only projects submitted to the ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition AND that select this add-on are eligible for consideration in this category. Additionally, all projects that place in the Finalist round of the competition will automatically be considered.
Writer Success
Announcements
Jan 11th
Quarterfinalists
Feb 1st
Semifinalists
Mar 15th
Finalists
Apr 19th
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.
- 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 for your submission. Please note: feedback will only be provided on the first 50 pages and synopsis of your project.
- Books must be 150,000 words or less - - in early rounds of reading the writing will be judged based on the first few opening sections of the book. Files should be in PDF format when submitted and should be double spaced.
- 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 book carefully before submitting.
- Contact info may be included on the cover page of the book, however it is not required. ScreenCraft uses Coverfly to manage submissions and automatically removes cover pages before books are read by the judges.
- ScreenCraft claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the books 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.
- 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.