2017’s Short Film Contest Winner
A huge congratulations to Ben Gutteridge who has won 2017’s Short Film Fund. Ben will be awarded $9000 to make his winning short screenplay, The Naked Man.
We would again like to say a huge Thank You to our finalists and all those who entered this year’s contest. The standard was incredibly high, making this an extremely difficult decision.
“It means a lot to have a competition like Shore Scripts recognise my writing and of course to get the chance to make my film. THANK YOU!” Ben’s website
READ AN INTERVIEW WITH BEN HERE.
Logline
An Invisible Man’s hopes of being seen again are unleashed by a fascinating blind girl – Without love, are we invisible?
Synopsis
Harry is invisible. Apart from us watching, nobody can see him. He’s invisible and he’s lonely. He can’t wear clothes because he’d look like a terrifying, floating, headless body, so instead, he follows other people’s lives, silently watching them unfold without him.
One of these people is the fascinating Molly, with her no bullshit attitude, despite her blindness. There is something oddly unnerving about his growing obsession. After she bumps into him and treats him like anyone else (unlike anyone else would), Harry resolves to win her affections. He tries orchestrating a date that goes tragically wrong, before things take an unexpected twist.
This is a tragic-comic love story between an invisible man and a blind girl, with a twist of darkness. Dealing with themes of obsession, loneliness and love, this film explores the magical, with it’s heart in reality.
Our Top 10 Short Film Contest Finalists
(in alphabetical order)
DAD’S LAST DAY by MRSANDMRTHOMAS
FOX by Athena Mandis
HOMESTEAD by Ben Watts
SAMMY by Oli Diprose
SCARECROW by Bob Schultz
STOCKER by Dorian Martin
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES by Felix Morgan
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY by Ellen Waddell
THE NAKED MAN by Ben Gutteridge
THE ORGY by Sam Baron
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A PRODUCED SCREENWRITER
We will be commissioning at least one short film with
A budget up to $15,000 (£12,100)
Minimum budget of $6250 (£5000)
A CALLING CARD
All of our Judges, Production Companies & Agents will be sent the final film.
That’s over a 100 of the best people working in the industry who will see your work.
Shorts open doors!
Short Script Contest Rules
* Scripts should approximately be within 3-20 pages
* You are free to set your script anywhere in the world.
* Writers from all countries are welcome to enter. All scripts must be written in English.
* We accept Short Scripts, Animations, Web Series & Proof of Concept Shorts.
* All ages can enter.
* All genres welcome.
* You may submit as many scripts as you wish.
* All screenplays submitted must be the writers original work, or they own the copyright.
* Shore Scripts and the filmmaking team will share equal responsibility for sending the film to festivals.
* If a writing team enters, then all the writers must consent.
* Short Scripts will have final call on cast, crew and edit.
* You may enter the same screenplay into both the Short Contest and Short Film Fund if it fits between both category page counts. There will be a discount for entering both contests.
* To help the environment, Shore Scripts only accepts electronic entries.
* Each writer, or writing team, may not have earned more than $30,000 (£24,000 approx) in screenwriting fees since 2010. Screenwriting cash awards do not count towards this total.
* Shore Scripts staff and associates are unable to enter this fund.
* You may enter a newer draft of an already submitted script. There will be a small fee involved. You may re-enter you script through the Resubmission page.
* Scripts should be formatted at size 12 Courier.
* The script file formats we accept are: PDF (preferred) Celtx, Final Draft, MovieMagic, RTF, DOC & TXT.
* 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. We will also be unrestricted in how and where we promote the finished film.
* 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.
* The decision of Shore Scripts is final. By applying to this fund each participant agrees to hold Shore Scripts, our judges and sponsors immune from any competition disputes, claims, liabilities and expenses.
* If the writer wishes to direct his or her own script, then it will be seriously considered. A previous portfolio of work will help with making this decision.
* Shore Scripts will be one of the production companies on the project.
* The budget will either go through Shore Scripts or be transferred to a freelance producer.
* We are open to working with filmmakers known to the winner. We will also consider co-productions and additional funding from outside sources.
* There is no set shoot date.
FAQ’s
Short Film Fund
Yes.
If your script meets the Rules for both, then you will save £10 ($14) if you enter into both categories. This is a fixed saving price throughout the deadlines.
To do this, click on either the Short or Short Film Fund submission page. There you will see a drop down box that allows you to submit your script to both categories. The price and discount will then automatically be updated.
The best Short Category screenplays are sent out to our roster of production companies, agents and managers. It doesn’t matter if it’s unfeasible to make your script for the allocated Short Film Fund budget, you can still be a winner and get noticed in the industry. Our submission dates run from 1st March – 31st Aug
The Short Film Fund is suited for screenplays that can realistically be made for the minimum grant awarded. Our Short Film Fund submission dates run from 15th Jan – 2nd May
Some scripts will be suited for both. There’s a discount if you enter both categories.
Our top 10 scripts will be announced – 26th May 2017
1 WINNER and film budget to be announced – 6th June 2017
Absolutely.
The Short Film Fund was setup in order to further support writers with helping to build up their body of work. This could be as solely a writer or potentially writer/director.
One of 2013’s Shore Scripts Short Winner, Ben Cleary, has recently been Oscar Nominated for his short film which he also directed. We know there’s many talented writer/directors out there, so we’re completely open to this.
However, we would want to chat with the writer and see any of their previous work before making a final decision.
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.
Absolutely. It can filmed in any country in the world as long as it can be made within the budget.
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.
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.
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.
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.
$6250 (£5000) is what we are putting up here at Shore Scripts. We know that it’s not a huge sum of money in the film world, but as a non-profit it’s quite a bit for us.
We are in the process of looking for a sponsor or partner who will help give us the means to up this budget, and possibly even make more than one short film this year.
Sign up to our Newsletter for all the updates on this.
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.
The Shore Scripts Team will be solely responsible for choosing the winning script that will go into production.
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 way we would like to work it is that we would give the creatives feedback on the cut, but ultimately leave it to their vision to make the film they truly want to make. To allow them to have final cut. However, if something really isn’t working then we need to be in a position to make those changes if we feel that it’s essential. We don’t believe that it will come to that, but we need to cover ourselves as financiers.
Prizes
Exposure
