Austin Film Festival Script Competition

Rules

2018 SCREENPLAY COMPETITION RULES
GENERAL ELIGIBILTY
All screenplays/teleplays (collectively, “Scripts”) submitted must be in English.
Scripts must not have been optioned or sold prior to October 27, 2018. Applicants must notify Austin Film Festival (“AFF” or the “Festival”) of any changes in status following submission.
Scripts that have reached the Semifinalist level or above in previous years within the Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition or Digital Series Competition are not eligible for resubmission.
Applicants may submit more than one Script in any chosen category. Each entry requires an application, payment, and script (excluding the Enderby Entertainment Award, Horror Award, and Sci-Fi Award, in which only one script is necessary).
All submissions must be accompanied by the appropriate submission fee PER ENTRY and if submitting by mail a completed entry form including authors’ original signatures. Please do not send a photocopy of your signature. Make checks or money orders payable to “Austin Film Festival.” Only US money orders will be accepted.
AFF reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund.
Originality and Permissions; INDEMNITY

Scripts must be the original work of the applicant(s). If based upon another person’s life or upon a book or other underlying work, applicant(s) must secure any necessary rights to make such adaptations. However, it is not necessary to submit the adaptation or rights agreements to the Festival. Neither the Festival nor its jurists investigates or attests to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you are acknowledging that you have secured all necessary rights.
BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, THE APPLICANT HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE FESTIVAL, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AFFILIATES FROM ANY LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION AND FROM ANY FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, THAT ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
Additional Information

If a submission involves two or more writers as applicants, the monetary prize and any reimbursements will be divided equally among them and only one Typewriter Award will be provided.
Once an entry payment has been received we cannot provide a refund. If a payment is disputed by an entrant for any reason, the entrant may be subject to any transaction fees or similar amounts incurred by AFF in connection with the dispute.
No revisions or missing pages will be accepted once an entry has been received.
Awards are based solely on the overall merit of entries. Judges reserve the right not to grant an award.
We strongly suggest that applicants copyright their materials with the U.S. Copyright Office (www.copyright.gov) and/or register their screenplay/teleplay with the Writers Guild of America, East (www.wgaeast.org/script_registration) or Writers Guild of America, West (www.wga.org/registration/index.html). Please consult an attorney regarding any questions about these.
FEATURE SCREENPLAY AWARD RULES

All General Rules listed above apply.
The Feature Screenplay Competition is only open to writers who do not currently earn a living writing for film or television.
If you are entering a feature script into both Comedy AND Drama categories, please include two copies of your script along with two entry fees and two completed entry forms.
SHORT SCREENPLAY AWARD RULES

All General Rules listed above apply.
The Short Screenplay Competition is only open to writers who do not currently earn a living writing for film or television.
Short scripts that have already been produced are ineligible.
Short scripts are open to any narrative short script in all genres but are not eligible to be entered in any of the sponsored award categories.
TELEPLAY AWARD RULES

All General Rules listed above apply.
The Teleplay Competition is only open to writers who do not currently earn a living writing for film or television.
The Teleplay Competition welcomes spec scripts for any currently airing network or cable program AND original pilot scripts. In order for spec scripts to be eligible for consideration, the program must not be canceled prior to the start of the current television season (September 2017). Specs for new programs must have a series premiere date no later than May 2018. Any ineligible spec script will be disqualified and no refund will be provided.
No show bibles, treatments, or reality show formats will be accepted for the teleplay competition.
GENERAL FORMAT RULES

Screenplays/teleplays should be formatted according to current industry standards.
To follow standard guidelines for format, consult any popular screenwriting or teleplay writing text for assistance.
Font size must be 12 point and in Courier type.
Feature Screenplays must be approximately 90-120 pages in length.
Short Screenplays must be 5 – 40 pages in length.
Teleplays should be the appropriate length depending on the format. The recommended length for single camera sitcoms is approximately 22-40 pages and 45-70 pages for single camera one-hour programs. The recommended length for multi-camera sitcom pilots is approximately 52-58 pages.
Pages must be numbered in the top right-hand corner.
NO REVISIONS OR MISSING PAGES WILL BE ACCEPTED ONCE ENTRY HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
MAILED-IN SUBMISSIONS FORMAT:

Pages should be two or three hole punched, bound between cardstock covers and fastened by two or three metal brads.
Pages may be double-sided.
Only the TITLE of the screenplay should appear on the front stock cover (legibly written or typed).
A second title page with all contact information (TITLE, AUTHOR, AUTHOR’S ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL ADDRESS, and a BRIEF SYNOPSIS) should be included but kept separate from the script. The author’s name must not appear elsewhere in the script in order to preserve anonymity in the judging process.
Payments made with a check are subject to our Bounced Check Policy: If we receive a returned check from our bank for a payment you made, you will be invoiced for the original amount of the check plus a $25 bank fee. The payment of the invoiced amount will be due within 30 days of invoice date. We will not re-submit the original check, nor will we accept another check for repayment. Repayment must be made by money order or cashier’s check.
ONLINE SUBMISSIONS FORMAT:

Scripts must be in PDF format and under 5MB.
Only the TITLE of the screenplay should appear on the front cover page.
The author’s name, contact information, or any other information that may reveal the identity of the writer(s) must not appear anywhere in the script in order to preserve anonymity in the judging process.
Selected Scripts and Winners

AFF has no obligation (other than as stated in these rules or on our website) to disclose any of the following information: i) identities of readers or judges; ii) notes, feedback, or information relating to the submitted material; and/or iii) details regarding the submission review or selection process.

Except as explicitly stated, no representations or guarantees are made regarding the feedback or comments provided, or the quality thereof. The opinions of the readers are their own and do not reflect the opinions of AFF. AFF explicitly disclaims any liability or responsibility for any comments, notes, or opinions expressed about a submission, whether by AFF or by its readers, judges, and sponsors.

Winners will be announced on October 27, 2018. The judges’ decision is final.

Winners receiving cash prizes are solely responsible for payment of all applicable local, state, and federal taxes.

RETURNS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Scripts will not be returned under any circumstances.
Please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard for each submission if you wish acknowledgement of the receipt of your screenplay/teleplay (mailed-in entries only).
Online submissions will receive a confirmation email.
Notification letters will be sent by postal mail by mid-September. Semifinalists will be contacted by phone around this time.
QUESTIONS?

For the most up-to-date information about the Screenplay Competition, please visit www.austinfilmfestival.com or please feel free to contact screenplay@austinfilmfestival.com.

COMPETITION IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

FAQs

When are the deadlines?

Early - March 30
Regular - April 20
Late - May 15
Mailed in entries must be postmarked by the deadline date. All deadlines close at 11:59PM PST

 

When will we hear about results?

Letters will be sent by mid September for those in the First Round and also to those that advance to the Second Round (top 20%). Semifinalists will receive a phone call by mid September as well. Finalists are notified by early October. The winners will be announced at the Awards Luncheon at the Conference.

 

How many submissions does AFF receive?

In 2016, AFF received 9,100 individual script submissions across all categories (excluding sponsored award categories.

 

Will I receive notes on my script?

Yes, all entrants will receive brief overall comments from one reader. 

Do you accept International Entries?

Yes, we accept entries from all countries.

 

I’m having issues submitting online. I keep getting an error message. What should I do?

Due to possible high traffic on the website, you may need to wait a few minutes and try again. If you continue to have problems, try another web browser (Firefox or Chrome) or try submitting from a different computer. Double-check that the file is in a .pdf format and under 5MB. If pop-ups are disabled in your browser, you may have trouble accessing the PayPal screen. If this occurs, try enabling pop-ups and restarting your browser. If you still cannot submit, contact the Screenplay Competition Director at matt@austinfilmfestival.com or call the office at 512-478-4795.

 

I am still working on a draft. Can I send it in now and then send in an updated version later?

No. You cannot send a replacement copy of the script. You can resubmit the new version of the script (with a new entry form and another entry fee).

 

I want to submit online but my title page includes my contact information. I know the rules state to not include this but if I do, will I be disqualified?

No. If you include contact info on the title page, we will just black it out. We want to maintain the anonymity of the writer in the judging process.

 

I didn’t receive an e-mail confirmation for my online submission. Did you receive my entry?

As long as you paid through PayPal and have an e-mail receipt, then we have received your online entry form, script PDF, and payment. A separate e-mail confirmation from AFF is sent out within at least 5 business days.

 

Do I need to list all the writers involved on the entry form? OR someone else has a story credit on my script, should I list them as a co-writer on the application?

That is for you to settle with your collaborators. Just know that all writers listed on the application need to sign it and any prize money will be equally split between all writers listed on the application.

 

Do I need to copyright my script or register it with the WGA?

It is not required, but we do encourage it. Non-guild members can register their script with the WGA for a nominal fee, and it is a good way to protect your intellectual property. In order to register your script, visit: http://www.wgawregistry.org/webrss/

 

I don’t think my script is formatted correctly and it’s longer than 120 pages. Will I be disqualified?

We don’t disqualify based on format. This includes length so long as it is feature length for screenplays. We recommend that scripts be between 90-120 pages in length but we won’t penalize a script for not falling in that range.

 

How long should my synopsis be?

It should be a brief summary or logline for your script. Your synopsis is not used for judging purposes.

I used to make a living as a screenwriter. Am I still eligible to submit to the competition?

Writers who do not currently and primarily earn a living writing for TV or film are eligible to enter the Competition.

My script was previously optioned and is now expired, can I submit it in the competition?

As long as your screenplay is not optioned currently, it is eligible. If during the judging process the script goes under option, we will simply pull it from the competition.

 

Can I submit more than one script in a single category?

YES, you can submit as many scripts as you want. Please be sure to complete separate entry forms for each script.

 

My script is a drama, but it has comedic elements. Should I submit to Drama or Comedy?

If your script is not a conventional comedy, it’s probably best to submit to drama. The comedy readers are looking for comedies so if it is primarily a drama, with funny elements, it may not do as well. For a drama reader, the comedy is just a bonus. Bottom line is it’s up to the writer. We don’t disqualify scripts for being entered in the wrong category.

 

Do you accept adaptations?

Yes, we do accept adaptations. By entering the Competition, you acknowledge that you have the rights to adapt the material. Our official policy is that we do not research this ourselves, but if you advance in the competition, we do publicize your name and script so any copyright issues could become problems for you then. Just make sure all the legal issues are settled before submitting.

 

My script made it to the Second Round (or top 20% or Quarterfinals) last year, am I eligible to resubmit?

Yes. Second Round scripts are eligible for resubmission. Semifinalists and higher are not eligible to resubmit the same script, but they are welcome to resubmit different material.

 

Can I submit a spec script for a show that has gone off the air?

The show for which you submit a spec script has to be on air, in production, or on hiatus within the previous year. Scripts for shows that have been officially cancelled aren’t accepted.

 

Can I submit a pilot?

Yes! You may submit a drama or comedy pilot. We do not accept reality show formats or mini-series. Please do not include bibles or treatments with your pilot scripts.

 

Any other specific questions?

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT SCREENPLAY COMPETITION DIRECTOR, MATT DY AT MATT@AUSTINFILMFESTIVAL.COM