The Cinequest Screenplay Competition empowers global screenwriters through discovery, recognition, and opportunity. Cinequest loves writers, and we welcome you to submit your screenplay or teleplay to our renowned competition. The Top 10 Finalists receive many empowering benefits including: passes to the Cinequest Film & VR Festival and the exclusive Writers Celebration, plus exposure to leading industry players and inspiring luminaries.
Finalists are presented alongside high profile Maverick Spirit awardees like: J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, Chuck Palahniuk, Neil Gaiman, Philip Kaufman, Michael Arndt, Diablo Cody, Dennis Lehane, Jason Reitman and more at the highly anticipated Writers Celebration during the Cinequest Film & VR Festival.
WRITERS CELEBRATION
Celebrating the Screenplay Competition’s Top 10 Finalists, the electrifying Writers Celebration occurs during the Cinequest Film & VR Festival and includes opportunities for writers to connect with producers and enhance their careers, networks and opportunities. Writers Celebration events will include:
- Business of Writing Forum
- Writer Meets Producer Mixer to connect with industry leaders
- Pitch Training with expert pitch coaches
- Pitch Challenge to a panel of industry powerhouses
- An inspiring Maverick Spirit luminary event.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR SCRIPT
- Submissions accepted May 1 – November 3, 2017.
- Withoutabox submissions accepted May 1 – November 3, 2017 (Extended)
- Cinequest direct submissions accepted May 1 - October 13, 2017
See deadlines and fee schedule on the top.
FEATURE SCREENPLAYS
A $5,000 cash prize will be presented to the winning feature-length script. Finalists will also get their scripts read by industry professionals. Previous industry readers have included: ICM Partners, Lions Gate Films, Happy Madison Productions, Entertainment One, XYZ Films, First Light Films, Lupovitz Productions, Echo Lake Entertainment, Verve, and Popular Films. (Rules and More Information)
SHORT SCREENPLAYS
Our short-film script category continues to attract a diverse international pool with a $1,000 cash prize and a future screening opportunity at Cinequest Film & VR Festival for the winning script. (Rules and More Information)
TELEPLAYS (60 Minutes)
A $2,000 cash prize will be presented to the winning 60 minute teleplay and an opportunity to be read by some of today’s top television studios. (Rules and More Information)
TELEPLAYS (30 Minutes)
Our 30 minute teleplay category offers writers a chance to showcase what could be the next hit series on TV! $1,000 cash prize to the winner. (Rules and More Information)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Top 50 Notified in December 2017.
- Top 10 & Top 3 Announced during Cinequest Media Launch and listed in Website – January 24, 2018.
- Top 10 Finalists notifications sent week of January 23, 2017.
- Winners Announced in March 2018 at Writers Celebration.