Screenwriting : Contests by Maria Beigrund

You're asking about competitor screenwriting contests on a website that runs their own contests?

Worth it meaning what?

Nicholls pays winners $35,000 cash, and winners do a year fellowship with an Academy member.

I like contests that get writers meetings with industry pros, Maria Beigrund. Stage 32 has contests like that. www.stage32.com/scriptservices/contests

Dan MaxXx Yeah, well I thought maybe it's okay to have an open discussion? Worth it doesn't mean money for me, more like you get something out of it like lessons or meeting people etc. And Stage 32 have different ones so maybe you had a favorite.

Stage 32, Nicholls and AFF. Most others are a waste of money.

I'm of course biased, but Stage 32 has some great ones! We are currently accepting submissions for our Feature Screenwriting Fellowship. If you're selected by one of the mentors, you get 6 months of one-on-one mentorship, plus 6 roundtable discussions with the other finalists and industry professional guests.

https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/contests/2nd-Annual-Feature-Screen...

I had found success through the Academy Nicholls, Austin Film Fest, and Outstanding Screenplays. Others have recommended the Golden Script or Slamdance. Others have warned against Script Pipeline, Screencraft, or Stage32. I'd recommend doing your research and seeing which best fits you.

Value has to be assessed by the individual.

There are the big one, everyone will tell you those, Nichol and Austin. For me everything else is fun. If they come with free notes, even better.

Contests are what they used to be simply because the contest industry is so packed, it tends to make a win pointless in many people’s eyes. But fun and the notes can have value.

David Abrookin Cool. And how does that work if you are not in the US? I'm Swedish :-)

Career wise? Nicholl, Bloodlist...you can actually get your work filmed by real deal filmmakers...

For show off? Any contest that's free. Script workshops too, people notice good stuff there...

I am about to submit my script to the Sedona International Film Festival. Final deadline is November 1st.

Hi Maria, I want to try a couple myself next year

Maria Beigrund, a big part of our community is international, so these will be virtual mentoring sessions and virtual roundtables to accommodate everyone!

My feature scripts have placed in the majority of the well-known screenplay contests, including being a semifinalist on multiple occasions, including the Los Angeles International Film Awards, the Capital Fund, and as a finalist-nominee in the Paris Film Festival. Yet none of my feature scripts have been made. Perhaps the best way is to attend a film festival and actually meet producers who you believe would be interested in what you write. It's all about who you know. Another way (and you should try every method if you can afford it) is to submit to an agent who handles your kind of scripts. If you know an actor or director, take them to lunch. I have created many promos for my scripts and novels. I send the link to whomever I pitch. If your budget allows it, shoot a short film (proof of concept) and submit it to festivals. Just because producers have money, doesn't mean they have imaginations. Showing is usually better than telling. And never give up on yourself or your scripts, even if you experience failures. You miss one hundred percent of the shots you never take. Good luck to you!

I have been an ISA member for a decade. They list gigs, but frankly, there are a lot of second rate filmmakers, and unscrupulous people in the film business. One time a so called producer in Los Angeles offered me one dollar for a short script. There are many such people out there. Beware!