ScreenCraft Feature Competition
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About
Modern cinema has made room for lots of new voices across the globe and across different platforms whether theatrical, independent, or streaming. Audiences are receptive to these new voices and original stories that resonate with them. The demand for great storytellers is stronger than ever. ScreenCraft Feature Screenplay competition features industry judges and will help winners set up their projects.
A GUARANTEED OPTION Presented By FLYING RHINO PRODUCTIONS
ScreenCraft Feature Screenplay Competition is excited to bring you the opportunity to win a $10,000 Guaranteed Option presented by Flying Rhino Productions in addition to an invaluable mentorship with John Hilary Shepherd. All screenwriters who submit their feature scripts to the competition will be considered eligible for this opportunity.
John Hilary Shepherd is the founder of Flying Rhino Productions, the Co-Executive Producer of Academy Award-winner 1917, and an experienced film executive for over 10 years with development oversight of major theatrical releases grossing over $2 billion worldwide, including Oscar winners and nominees BLACK SWAN, HACKSAW RIDGE, THE IDES OF MARCH, and ROCKETMAN. He is currently producing UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY with New Republic Pictures (NRP), based on the bestselling comic book by Scott Snyder and Charles Strouse. He is also producing HORRORSTORY with NRP, an adaptation of bestselling author Grady Hendrix’s novel about a haunted big-box furniture store, and will also produce DUSTED by Guy Douall for NRP, a small town thriller with a supernatural twist in the vein of Stephen King.
Benefits
THE JUDGES
Whether it's a blockbuster that thrills, an indie that inspires, or a comedy that delights an audience, our Hollywood judges are excited to connect with your voice as a writer!
Will Berson
Oscar-Nominated Screenwriter and Playwright
Will Berson got his start writing comedy for shows like SCRUBS before transitioning to drama, working with David Milch and Edward James Olmos to produce Amazon dramedy pilot SEA OAK, starring Glenn Close. In 2014, Berson was a WGAW Writers Access Project Honoree and in 2020 was named one of Variety’s 10 Screenwriters to Watch. He was nominated for an Academy Award for co-writing JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH.
David Branson Smith
Independent Spirit and Waldo Salt Award-winning Screenwriter
David Branson Smith wrote the popular independent film INGRID GOES WEST, a subversive dark comedy, which won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. He also co-wrote ADRIFT, starring Shailene Woodley.
Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning Screenwriter
Krysty Wilson-Cairns was nominated for an Academy Award and won a BAFTA for 1917, which she co-wrote with director Sam Mendes. LAST NIGHT IN SOHO which she co-wrote with director Edgar Wright, will release October 2021. She is currently in production on thriller THE GOOD NURSE produced by Netflix, FilmNation and Darren Aronofsky.
Elizabeth Martin & Lauren Hynek
Screenwriting Team
Writing team and long-term friends Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin co-wrote Disney’s live-action MULAN and are currently working on a biopic on computer pioneer Grace Hopper, as well as SPELLBOUND for Skydance Animation. Currently, Lauren co-chairs the Committee of Women Writers at the WGAW.
Mark Perez
Screenwriter
A first-generation Cuban-American screenwriter, Mark Perez’s films include New Line hit GAME NIGHT, and cult classic ACCEPTED. Upcoming projects include MOVIE NIGHT for Netflix with John Cena and Jason Bateman, the Warner Bros. feature SUPERWORLD, and adapting upcoming graphic novel STRAY DOGS for Paramount Animation.
Adam Kolbrenner
Literary Manager; Producer and Founder, Lit Entertainment
Adam Kolbrenner is a producer of Disney/Fox’s upcoming FREE GUY starring Ryan Reynolds and Amazon/Skydance’s upcoming THE TOMORROW WAR, starring Chris Pratt and is an Executive Producer on the HBO Max series RAISED BY WOLVES with Ridley Scott, an original series from Lit client Aaron Guzikowski (PRISONERS, etc) As a Manager he represents the writers of SAFE HOUSE, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, MORTAL KOMBAT and more.
THE PRIZES
On top of all top scripts being read by this incredible jury, the winners will receive prizes and industry outreach. Dozens of ScreenCraft winners have signed with managers, sold their scripts, option projects, been staffed, or been hired for open writing assignments. Check out some of the success stories here.
Grand Prize Winner
The Grand Prize Winner will receive a guaranteed option with Flying Rhino Productions. This includes
- $10,000 option
- Mentorship with John Hilary Shepherd
- Development Notes
- A shot at getting your script made!
The Grand Prize Winner will also be welcomed to the ScreenCraft Development Program for personalized mentorship and introductions to literary managers and more.
- $10,000 Guaranteed Option with Flying Rhino Productions
- Accepted into the ScreenCraft Development Program
- Complimentary Badge for the 2021 ScreenCraft Summit
- Lifetime subscription to Arc Studio Pro
Top 25 Finalists
- Will be read by Top Literary Managers
- An exclusive virtual Masterclass with John Hilary Shepherd
First Runner-Up Winner
$500 cash award
Accepted into ScreenCraft Writer Development Program
50% off 2022 ScreenCraft Virtual Summit
Lifetime subscription to Arc Studio Pro
Second Runner-Up Winner
$500 cash award
Accepted into ScreenCraft Writer Development Program
50% off 2022 ScreenCraft Virtual Summit
Lifetime subscription to Arc Studio Pro
Writer Success
2024 Winners on Coverfly
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, between May 31, 2021 and August 31, 2021.
- Entry fees and deadlines:
- $49.50 until the early deadline on June 30, 2021
- $69.50 until the regular deadline on July 31, 2021
- $79.50 until the final deadline on August 31, 2021
- Optional feedback from a professional reader may be requested at the time of entry. Requests for feedback after an entry is submitted will not be accepted.
- Only Feature screenplays are eligible for submission. Any submission longer than 120 pages will incur a $1 per page overage fee for each page over 120. Maximum page limit is 150 pages.
- 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 original, and all rights must be wholly owned by the writer(s).
- 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). All writers must be credited on the title page.
- 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 the prize money.
- Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered material will be allowed for a limited time with a $5 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 claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remain with the original rights holders.