2017’s Screenwriting Contest is Open
Why Enter?
HELPING GET SCRIPTS MADE
Shore Scripts has the highest calibre of industry judges of any screenwriter contest in the world. Our winning feature scripts will be read by 37 of our Oscar, Bafta, Emmy, Golden Globe & Cannes award winning judges.
The top scripts entered will be sent to our roster of 79 production companies and agents from around the world.
Our writers have gained representation, optioned, sold, and had their scripts made directly through entering Shore Scripts. Take a look at our Oscar winning Alumni.
PRIZES
We are giving away over $10,000 (£7950) in cash and prizes to our 5 winners.
PRESTIGE
Because of our affiliation with a number of award winning judges and production companies, not to mention our success stories, Shore Scripts is known throughout the industry. Placing highly will help open doors and get your work read by the people who can make a difference.
Rules
Shore Scripts only accepts electronic entries.
Screenwriters from all countries are welcome to enter. All scripts must be written in English.
The script must be the writer’s original work. Adaptations are accepted but the writer must own all copyright. At no point will Shore Scripts ever have any rights over your work.
All ages are welcome.
We accept animations.
Each writer, or writing team, may not have earned more than $30,000 (£24,000 approx) in screenwriting fees since 2010. Previous screenwriting cash awards do not count towards this total.
You may enter a newer draft of an already submitted script. There is a small additional fee. You may re-enter you script through the Resubmission page.
A writer can enter as many scripts in as many categories as they wish.
If a script is optioned or purchased during the competition, then it will no longer be eligible for the contest.
Scripts should be formatted at size 12 Courier.
The script file formats we accept are: PDF (preferred) Celtx, Final Draft, MovieMagic, RTF, DOC & TXT.
Please ensure your script is as close to the standard 80-120 pages as possible. Email us if you have any questions over the length of your script.
We accept all genres.
The winners consent to Shore Scripts using their name, script title, and any other relevant information for promotional purposes on their website. This will be used to inform other contestants and the media of the results.
If Shore Scripts helps a writer gain representation, option, sell, or have his/her screenplay produced, then we are entitled to state this on our website, and on any other platform whenever we see fit.
Shore Scripts staff and associates are unable to enter.
The decision of the judging panel is final. All judges, staff, and sponsors are immune from any competition disputes.
If we see fit, we can extend the final deadline of the competition.
FAQ’S
Feature
QUARTER-FINALISTS ANNOUNCED – 25th OCTOBER 2017
SEMI-FINALISTS ANNOUNCED – 6th NOVEMBER 2017
5 WINNERS ANNOUNCED – 10th NOVEMBER 2017
ORDER OF 5 WINNERS ANNOUNCED – 30th NOVEMBER 2017
Absolutely.
You can enter as many competitions as you like.
Yes.
Yes – as long as it wasn’t one of our feature or short winners.
If it’s your own book, play, etc, that you want to adapt, and you own the rights, then send away. Also, it’s fine if you own the copyright.
Yes. You can submit as many scripts as you wish. You will just need to go through the same process that you did with the first.
You can submit a short synopsis and the genre. This helps us send each script to a reader who is most interested in that genre. This is not essential though.
We do. Click Here for all the info.
Fill out the form information on your chosen Contest page. Upload your script, confirm your details and click ‘Complete Submission’. Once we have received your script and payment, you will receive a confirmation email.
You will need to repeat this process to enter more than one script.
Entering a number of screenplays? Email us at contact @ shorescripts.com for a discount.
We will pay your winnings straight into your bank account using PayPal or Bank Transfer. It doesn’t matter where in the world you live, you will get exactly what the exchange rate is.
Once your script has been submitted, we will log it on our system and send you a confirmation email to let you know we’ve received it.
Each script is read twice: once by one of our industry script readers, and then by one of our internal staff members. Feedback is collated and discussed as we decide on which scripts are to progress to the next round.
All applicants will be informed via email of the Quarter, Semi, Finalists and Winners. These will also be on our website.
You will receive an email from us once you have completed your submission. Your will also receive a receipt from Stripe or Paypal. Once the competition has closed, we will email everyone who has entered with all the announcement dates. We will keep informed throughout the year. It’s also worth signing up to our Mailing List.
Yes. Anyone can enter from anywhere in the world. However, the script must be in English.
No. If it’s under or over by a long way then it may be the case that we get in touch with you to let you know whether we can or cannot accept it. If it is a long way over, then there may be an additional fee which we will discuss with you.
It doesn’t need to be. But if you feel more comfortable doing so, you can do it here.
We accept all major credit cards. Our online payment systems, Stripe & Paypal, handle millions of sites worldwide, so it’s completely secure.
Script Title, Your Name and Email Address. Your postal address, phone number and script registration number are optional.
We prefer to receive scripts as a PDF format. However, we do accept: Final Draft, MovieMagic, .doc, .rtf and .txt files.
Great news! However, you will no longer be eligible for the competition or be entitled to get your entry fee refunded.
It can be about anything! It’s all about the quality of the writing. Some of the things we take into account when reviewing a screenplay are: premise, structure, characterisation, dialogue, tone and originality.
We have a select few script readers. They have read for the likes of: Lionsgate, Paramount, Universal, BBC, Vertigo Films, Working Title, Anchor Bay and many others. Each reader is given a fifteen page document that covers all aspects of the script reading process and what is expected of them. Shore Scripts internal staff members also review the screenplays. Each submitted script is read by two separate readers.
The scripts that make it through to the Semi Final stage are solely read by the Shore Scripts team. Our internal team choose the winning scripts. These are then sent to our Judges who decide on the order of our winners.
Because the competition is all about helping upcoming screenwriters break in and establish themselves in the industry.
Previous prizes won in other screenwriting competitions do not count towards this total.
The main purpose of Shore Scripts is to get the best scripts made. Monetary prizes are really secondary to this goal. Over 100 Production Companies, Agents, Managers and Judges have all signed up to read the top submitted scripts.
At any point during the competition, if we feel the script and time is right, we will send it with our full backing to a producer or production company that we have a relationship with. We will contact the writer to ensure their consent before doing so.
The writer’s information will be passed onto said party and all further correspondence will be made between them and the writer. This has happened with a number of writers who have entered Shore Scripts. Check out our Success Stories.
The money helps the writer continue writing, but ultimately what every writer wants is to see their words spoken on the big screen.
No. You wrote it, it’s yours! We will never have any rights over your work.
Prizes
Our Judges
