Deadline
Friday, May 20, 2016
Categories
Entry Fees
Early Deadline: April 20 (Screenplay $45 Teleplay/Short/Digital Series $35)
Late Deadline: May 20 (Screenplay $55 Teleplay/Short/Digital Series $45)
Prizes
• The Drama and Comedy Award Winners Each Receive: $5,000 cash; reimbursement of round-trip airfare (up to $500 per script, excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement (up to $500 per script); and AFF Bronze Typewriter Award.
• The Short Screenplay Winner Receives: $1,000 cash; reimbursement of roundtrip airfare (up to $500 per script excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement at the Film Festival (up to $500 per script); and the AFF bronze typewriter award.
• Teleplay Winners Receive: $1,000 cash; reimbursement of roundtrip airfare (up to $500 per script excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement at the Film Festival (up to $500 per script); and the AFF bronze typewriter award.
Description
For over two decades, Austin Film Festival has been catapulting writers into life-changing careers. With one of the most noteworthy competitions among Hollywood tastemakers, AFF consistently yanks newcomers from the isolation of their desks and ushers them into the bustling world of film and television. Whether your dream is to sign a contract, land an agent, learn from an industry icon, or take home the coveted Bronze Typewriter Award, it’s simple: you can’t win if you don’t enter.
A HANDCRAFTED COMPETITION
Though AFF is one of the largest and most respected screenplay competitions, every entrant receives personalized attention and multiple reads throughout the process. All entrants receive FREE “Reader Comments” which are a brief, overall summary of their notes. As an added bonus, Second Rounders (the top 10-15% in each category) and above, receive further comments from 2-3 readers. AFF goes the extra mile to send both postal mail and e-mail notifications to ensure everyone knows their placement in the competition.
YOU’LL GET BACK WAY MORE THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR
Not only do all entrants receive registration discounts, but you get larger discounts when you place in the competition. Unlike other screenplay competitions, your experience with AFF doesn’t end after making the first cut. Second Rounders, Semifinalists, and Finalists attend exclusive panels, intimate roundtable discussions, script reading workshops, and are afforded special access to industry professionals.
2015 Second Rounders and above attended workshops about: how to find representation, demystifying the development process, and how successful alumni from the competition made the most of their placement. Additionally, a favorite event of entrants, Second Rounders and above were invited to the Screenwriters’ Happy Hour presented by Nickelodeon where they networked with other writers, Nickelodeon execs, and competition judges.
2015 Semifinalists and Finalists had the opportunity to meet with several agents, managers, and executives, and participate in our Script Reading Workshops where their scripts were read aloud and workshopped in a personalized setting during the Conference. Furthermore, Semifinalists and Finalists’ loglines and contact information are also included in the annual Producer’s Book, distributed to all AFF panelists as well as over 400 agents, managers, producers, and other industry professionals.
At the Semifinalist level and above, judges—including professional writers and representatives from major studios and production companies—actively seek scripts and talent. In past years, these judges have included representatives from Oasis Media Group, Mosaic Media, ABC Studios, Paradigm Agency, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Kopelson Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Escape Artists at Sony, Washington Square Arts, Fourth Floor Productions, Haven Entertainment, Artisan, CAA, Brant Rose Agency, WME, DreamWorks, and Pixar among others.
SIGNING DEALS AND LAUNCHING PROJECTS
AFF’s Screenplay & Teleplay Competition is one of the most acclaimed contests within the industry for establishing the careers of up-and-coming writers. It’s no surprise that past competition entrants have signed with major agencies and have had their scripts optioned, acquired, and produced by signatory production companies. Most recently, Wes Brown, 2014 winner of the AMC One-Hour Pilot Award, has staffed on the upcoming AMC television series Goliath; Troy Miller, the 2013 winner of the Horror Screenplay Award, had his winning script optioned by Frank Darabont’s Darkwoods Productions; at the 2014 Festival, AFF presented the world premiere of Dawn Patrol, a film produced from a 2008 Finalist script written by Rachel Long and Brian Pittman that was acquired by Enderby Entertainment; and Amy Aniobi, 2011 Semifinalist, has been hired to write for HBO’s Silicon Valley.
Contact Information
Matt Dy
Screenplay Competition Director
[email protected]
512-478-4795
Website
https://austinfilmfestival.com/submit/screenplayandteleplay/