Slamdance Screenplay Competition
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The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging writing talent. We welcome screenplays in every genre, on any topic, from anywhere in the world.
We provide constructive feedback for every entrant. We also offer a more intensive coverage service for an additional fee.
Since 1995, the competition has established a strong track record for introducing writers to members of the entertainment industry who have gone onto to produce, option and represent submitted work. Like the Film Festival, the Screenplay Competition is a place for new, bold, and raw voices. We are looking for scripts that take risks, refuse compromises, and go places where Hollywood hacks fear to tread.
In addition to awarding the best screenplays submitted to Slamdance, our readers nominate unique scripts that, with a little more development and support, could turn into production-ready ventures. From these nominations, Slamdance selects one Mentorship Award-winner each year who will receive personal mentorship through Slamdance’s alumni network and screenwriting consultants. The competition is about much more than awards. Every entry to the Slamdance Screenplay Competition receives short constructive feedback from one of our readers.
Our competition consists of four categories. Awards are given to the top three scripts in each category. In addition to that, Slamdance will present the Grand Prize for the best screenplay, regardless of category.
• Feature
• Horror/Thriller
• TV Pilot
• Short
We look forward to reading your work!
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Rules
- Scripts submitted to the competition must NOT have been previously optioned, purchased or produced at the time of entry.
- If a submitted screenplay becomes optioned or purchased between the time of submission and the end of the judging period, the applicant must notify us and that screenplay will no longer be eligible for an award.
- Scripts submitted to the competition must not have received awards from other competitions over $1,000 at the time of entry.
- Screenwriters who have had previous feature screenplays produced and distributed by non-independent means are ineligible.
- Screenwriters who earn more than $50,000 annually from screenwriting for TV or film are not eligible.
- No adaptations of other written work will be accepted unless the writer owns the rights to the original material or the original material is in the Public Domain.
- No specs will be accepted for the TV Pilot category. All TV Pilot entries must be for new original series.
- All scripts must be in PDF format.
- Screenplays must be in English, formatted according to the current industry standards in 12-point courier font.
- Cover page does not count towards overall page count
- If the script is based on a true story, that should be noted on the cover page
- No substituted pages or other revisions will be accepted once you have submitted your script. New versions of scripts will only be considered if resubmitted as new and separate entries.
- All entries must be uploaded by the appropriate deadline.
- We do not offer refunds for submission fees.
- The first round of reading is done by individual readers. If your script is advanced to the next round, the script will be read and scored by multiple readers to determine whether it gets into quarterfinals and semifinals.
- If your script makes it to semifinals, it will be discussed at the deliberations where readers will determine finalists and winners.
- If your script did not make it into quarterfinals, it will not advance to further stages of the competition.
- No judging decision will be included with the feedback.
- Slamdance notifies winners only. Entrants are advised to check our website and e-newsletter for judging announcements.
- The Slamdance Screenplay Competition readers’ decisions are final.
- Multiple authorship is acceptable. Slamdance divides awards equally among co-writers.
