Nov 01, 2018
Dec 10, 2018
The universe is an infinite expanse of limitless possibility, teeming with unknown worlds and untold stories. The blank page opens, a white inexhaustible void, punctuated only by the monolithic black cursor. What wonders lie in its indefinable depths?
Other Worlds is dedicated to fostering and promoting creativity in Science Fiction in all its forms during every stage of development, and we are proud to announce our 5th annual screenwriting contest is now currently open and accepting submissions! The contest will run concurrently with the film program, and will include a space for shorts and teleplays, in addition to the feature length category.
We would like to welcome new sponsor The Script Butcher for 2018! Jimmy George has been writing and producing films for over a decade. Along with optioning several screenplays, Jimmy has lent his name as co-writer/co-producer to six award winning feature-length films, garnering rave reviews, and boasting international distribution. Winners in each of our categories will receive a consultation with The Script Butcher to help them hone and refine their scripts.
In addition, we would like to welcome back sponsor Save the Cat! Save the Cat began as an industry renown screenwriting book by Blake Snyder published in 2005, and has since grown into a diverse digital and print screenwriting resource. In addition to online content from industry professionals, Save the Cat has also spawned numerous books, workshops, and even it’s own software and apps to help get your script ready for the Big Time.
This year our winners will receive the newest Save the Cat! script writing software, in addition to the Save the Cat! book of their choosing. All entrants will receive a discount on Save the Cat! books,
MY GOD, IT’S FULL OF STARS
We are looking for original submissions that are character and story driven with a decidedly science fiction angle. The Other Worlds Austin SciFi Screenwriting Contest is all about possibility, story and character We are looking for the most original, interesting and exciting stories with the most compelling and unique characters. Whether you’ve got a solitary cosmonaut contemplating the meaning of linear time as it relates to human perception of the universe, an android realizing that it’s memories have been altered and is struggling with the concept of self, or a wormhole that opened just above the moon and inexplicably showers the surface with VHS copies of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND season 2 every 5 months, we want you to send them our way!
While we do expect scripts to exhibit an understanding of what is possible in the industry, we aren’t interested in whether or not a script can stick within a certain budget, and our winners aren’t selected by small production companies in hopes optioning something financially feasible. Our prizes are meant to keep creative and talented people working to generate fantastic stories within the genre. We also understand that some scripts are written as an exercise or just purely for fun, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy of winning. All script submissions will be read by industry professionals, including screenwriters, producers, filmmakers and programmers, and each will receive unfiltered, constructive written feedback. We believe that every writer that has taken the time to create and submit their work have it taken seriously, and receive assurance that it was read by a professional.
Categories
Shorts: 40 pages or less, must be original material.
Features: 70 pages or more, must be original material.
Television
Pilots: may be sitcom or one-hour, network or cable (anything longer than one-hour should be submitted as a feature, i.e. a made-for-tv movie), must be fully original, no spinoffs. Sitcoms tend to be 22-40 pages depending on formatting, one-hours 45-70 pages.
Specs: should be for an existing show, on air in the US (BBC America or Showcase shows on Syfy are fine) either currently or in the last year.
Retro-Specs: may be for a long-cancelled series (Lost in Space), a spin-off (CSI: Mars), or a television series based on an established property (Dragon Riders of Pern) and should 22-75 pages in length. Recently cancelled series (last ten years) are highly discouraged although not prohibited.
$250 Features / $250 Teleplays / $250 Shorts PLUS an additional $250 for the Grand Prize Winner selected from all three categories.
Grand Prize Winner in each category will receive a free full script consultation from the Script Butcher, including feedback, notes and suggested edits.
Free copies of the latest Save the Cat! Software and a Save the Cat! book of their choosing for all Grand Prize Winners.
All entrants will receive a discount code good for Save the Cat! books via their website.
Winning Scripts will be announced the week after the Other Worlds Austin SciFi Film Festival, December 6-9 2018 with the Audience Awards and the Cthulhies in a national press release. Finalists will be announced in November.
All entries will receive feedback on their scripts at the conclusion of the Other Worlds Austin SciFi Film Festival, December 6-9 2018, if desired. All feedback will be distributed by February of the following year at the latest.
NOTE: there must be at least 50 entries in a category to be awarded a prize. Categories w/ less than 50 entries will be combined w/ other categories when awarding prizes. However, a winning script will still be selected in each category (no matter the total entries).
Notes are complied by Screenplay Director, taken from notes provided by screenplay readers. Notes are general, and do not include edits or suggested changes.
