Cinequest Screenplay Competition Rules & Regulations
FORMAT:
- All genres are accepted.
- All countries are eligible.
- Screenplays must be submitted in English.
- Screenplays should be between 80 (minimum) and 125 (maximum) pages not including the title page.
- Scripts should be properly formatted. Print on white paper using only 12 pt. Courier, or 12 pt. Courier Final Draft fonts.
- Please include ONLY the title and the tracking number on the submitted manuscript to prevent reader biases. Full contact info, writer, title and company information should not be printed on any part of the actual screenplay.
- Printed screenplay submissions should be bound with two or three brass fasteners.
- All submitted submissions become property of the Cinequest Screenwriting Competition and will not be returned. At the end of the competition, Cinequest will destroy all screenplays.
- With the exception of the 10 finalists, rewritten/corrected pages WILL NOT be accepted once the entry has been received.
- Screenplay submissions must be postmarked by deadline dates (Early: July 31, 2008, Final: October 10, 2008).
RESTRICTIONS:
- Script must not have been previously optioned, purchased, in production or produced.
- Any script that becomes purchased, optioned or put into production before the final Jury decision date of February 21, 2009 will be eliminated from competition with no entry fee refund.
- Scripts written as adaptations of other works must have secured rights before being submitted.
ENTRY FEES:
- The entry fee is USD $40 for the regular submission deadline of October 10, 2008. Early submissions will be accepted for the discounted price of USD $35 if submitted by July 31, 2008.
- A Cinequest Coverage option is available with extensive feedback on screenplays for an additional fee of USD $50 through Withoutabox.
- Visa and Mastercard Credit Cards as well as Debit Cards ONLY for submission payment.
- Please DO NOT send cash or checks.
DEADLINES:
- The deadline to submit is October 10, 2008. Early submissions will be accepted for a discounted price if submitted by July 31, 2008.
- The 10 finalists will be notified on January 07, 2009. They will have until January 21, 2009 to rework their screenplay and resend the revised edition to Cinequest. Cinequest MUST receive finalists' revised scripts no later than 5:00PM PST on January 21, 2009. Any finalist missing this deadline will have their originally submitted script entered into the final phase of the competition.
PRIZE CLAIMS:
- Winning scripts by more than one writer will have the cash prize split evenly amongst the team.
PRIZES:
Maverick Prize
- USD $5,000
- A one-on-one consulting session with a top producer at Cinequest Film Festival 19 (CQFF19)
Emerging Maverick Prize
Scholarship seat to the prestigious Lew Hunter Screenwriting Colony (USD $2,500 value)
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ALL Top Ten Finalists will:
- Get their script read by top industry professionals on the finalist panel. Past final jury panelists have included:
- Nate Bolotin, Senior Executive/Lit Manager: Packaging/Financing and New Media, The Collective.
- Joanna Burish, Production, Distribution, Acquisitions, Imageworks Entertainment.
- Steven Haft, Founder and Producer, Haft Entertainment Inc. (Producer, Dead Poets Society, Tigerland, Executive Producer MAD TV).
- Janet Jeffries, Development Executive, Lawrence Bender Productions, A Band Apart Films.
- Eliot Kotek, Editor-in-Chief, Moving Pictures.
- Dana Lambert, Vice President of Creative Affairs, First Look Studios (A multi-faceted media company including First Look International, First Look Pictures, First Look Home Entertainment and First Look Media).
- Eugene Mandelcorn, President, Film Artists Network.
- Bobby Moresco, President, Moresco Productions (Producer / Screenwriter Crash, Co-Producer Million Dollar Baby).
- Lucy Shuttleworth, Co-Founder of Traveller Films, Former Head of Development, Spice Factory.
- Nancy Rae Stone, First Light Films, Independent Producer (former Executive Vice President of Productions, Beacon Pictures).
- Receive two roundtable sessions during CQFF19 with industry producers, agents and experts to discuss the business aspect of writing.
- Be invited to the Screenwriters Appreciation Lunch.
- Be invited to the Screenwriters Networking Reception including world renowned writers—past participants included Academy AwardŽ Winners Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine), David Peoples (Twelve Monkeys), and Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects).
- Receive two Filmmaker Passes with all access to films, forums and parties at CQFF19.
- Receive filmmaker hotel deal during CQFF19.
- Be given exposure and further opportunities to have scripts read by literary agencies, studios and influential producers.
- Receive recognition in two Cinequest press releases.
- Receive recognition on the Cinequest website.
Mail Scripts and Entry Forms to:
Cinequest Screenwriting Competition
22 N. Almaden Ave.
San Jose, CA 95110
E-mail your questions to Cinequest Screenwriting Competition
Disclaimer
DO NOT SEND YOUR ONLY COPY. Submitting to the Cinequest Screenwriting Competition is for competition purposes only. It does not mean that Cinequest Inc., its employees, sponsors or anyone associated with Cinequest will represent, produce, promote or fund any project. Cinequest is not responsible for lost screenplays.