2014 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition
2014 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition
Screenwriter Moon Molson with Mentor Autumn Canaday
The Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition looks to discover high quality screenplays and then help 3 writers further develop and refine their script through an intensive workshop retreat that will coincide with the 2014 Atlanta Film Festival (March/April 2014) with professional writers and filmmakers.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The Atlanta Film Festival has a 4 decade long history of discovering and nurturing new filmmaking talent, including showing early works by Robert Rodriguez, Spike Lee, and Victor Nuñez. Recognizing that the screenplay is one of the fundamental foundations of filmmaking, the Screenplay Competition was founded in 2008 to expand ATLFF’s tradition of discovery and support. The retreat brings the writers of the winning screenplays together not only with established writers, but also with producers and directors who can provide a different perspective on the script and advice on how to move forward towards getting the project produced.
Past Mentors have included Kent Osborne (HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS), Morgan J. Freeman (HURRICANE), Anne Hubbell (THANKSGIVING), Carly Hugo (PETER AND VANDY, HOT COFFEE), Stephen Israel (SWIMMING WITH SHARKS), J.T. Petty (THE BURROWERS, SPLINTER CELL: CHAOS THEORY), Joel Zwick (MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING) Amy Dotson (Producer & Managing Director for IFP NY), AND Rob Long (CHEERS, GEORGE & LEO).
2013 Mentors
James Ponsoldt (SMASHED, THE SPECTACULAR NOW)
Autumn Canaday, Director of Development, Green Door Pictures
Jamie Babbit (BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER, ITTY BITTY TITTY COMMITTEE)
Kary Dorento (PORTLANDIA, SOUTH PARK)
2014 Mentors
TBA
Comments from participants in the Screenwriter’s Retreat:
“The screenplay retreat was a unique and immersive experience in that it not only provided specific unbiased insight into the world of my script, but also refreshingly candid knowledge about the world of the industry itself. The festival truly does a commendable job of nurturing diverse talent and offering the rare opportunity to workshop your material in a concentrated, safe, and fun environment with mentors who genuinely want you to put your best foot forward, both with your script and the industry at large.” - Melanie Schiele
“The ATLFF was absolutely a career high. I was so honored to be apart of such a prestigious festival. From day 1, the staff and volunteers were professional, courteous and encouraging towards my endeavors in screenwriting. The mentors chosen for the screenplay winners were kind, very knowledgeable of their craft and accessible. I had a blast laughing, creating and viewing all the wonderful talent throughout the festival. Thank you again ATLFF for such an uplifting experience!”- Tonya Holloway
“This competition offers you what very few can, a personal and relaxed atmosphere to meet with professionals who are willing to take the time to not only get to know your writing but you as a person.”
“Not only did I absolutely have a blast down there, as we were all treated like VIPs for the weekend, but more importantly, the workshop proved to be invaluable, as I received a lot of great notes and feedback that should definitely help me in making this next draft even more compelling.”
Screenplay Competition Submission Info
75 to 130 pages
………………………………………Regular Entry Fee…..WAB Members…..Student/ATLFF365 MemberEarlybird Deadline
June 14, 2013………………………………….$30.00…………$25.00…………$25.00
Regular Deadline
September 27, 2013…………………..$40.00…………$35.00…………$35.00
Late Deadline
October 25, 2013……………………$50.00…………$45.00…………$45.00
WAB Extended DeadlineNovember 8, 2013……………$65.00…………$50.00…………$60.00**
Accepting Screenplays Starting: April 22, 2013
12 to 15 Finalists Announced: January 6, 2014Phone Interviews with Finalists: January 13 – January 17, 20143 Winners Announced: January 24, 2014
**If you’re a WAB Member and a Student/ATLFF365 Member the fee is $45.00
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Submission Rules
2013 Screenplay Retreat Group Session
Feature screenplays must be 75 to 130 pages long in standard screenplay format with 12-point courier font. Screenplays longer than 130 pages will not be accepted.
Entrants must submit a PDF file available for judging. (Convert to PDF) Save a tree: No hard (printed) copies will be accepted.
For your own protection, we recommend that you copyright or register your work.
12 to 16 Finalists will be chosen from submitted screenplays. 3 Winners will be chosen from the Finalists.
Finalists must be available for a phone interview during the week of January 13 – January 17, and please note that the award for winning the competition is a trip to Atlanta for a Screenwriting Retreat during the 2014 Atlanta Film Festival. Travel (from within the United States and from Canada) and lodging will be provided for the weekend (Wednesday – Sunday).
Only one writer per winning script will have their travel and lodging covered.
International scripts (in English) will be accepted and are eligible to be a Finalist. International Finalists who will be in the United States or Canada at the time of the retreat will be eligible to be one of the 3 winners. The Atlanta Film Festival will not cover travel from outside the United States or Canada.
Terms & Conditions
Pen Names and Pseudonyms are not allowed. Writers must submit screenplays under their legal name.
It is the sole responsibility of the writer(s) to ensure their screenplay is properly formatted and suitable for submission.
By submitting to the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition you are affirming the following:
1) That the script being entered is the sole work of the writer or writers who in totality contributed 100% of the contents of the screenplay
2) For works written by more than one writer, all writers have agreed to submit the work for consideration
3) For works written by more than one writer, the collaborators no longer involved and not claiming copyright privileges have relinquished their claim to copyright in writing, or electronically, and proof can be provided
4) The screenwriter(s) have permission to use any work included in the screenplay that they have not written themselves
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