6th Annual DC Shorts Screenplay Competition
Mid-October, 2011
DC Shorts is proud to present a different kind of screenwriting competition. A panel of judges consisting of filmmakers, screenwriters, and critics will review and provide condensed coverage (feedback) for scripts of 15 pages or less. A set of finalists (5–7) will be selected to be featured during ScriptDC — a weekend of screenwriting events and classes for DC regional writers and filmmakers.
Finalists are invited to attend ScriptDC (all registration fees are waived) and, with the assistance of local directors and agents, cast a live table reading of the script from a bank of actors. Finalists will have ample time to rehearse their table reading with optional guidance from a theater director. The readings will be performed in front of an audience, who will vote on their favorites. These votes, along with the scores of the judges, will determine a competition winner.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The DC Shorts Screenplay Competition awards up to $2,000 to a winning script, and guaranteed acceptance into the 2013 DC Shorts Film Festival.
- We consider screenplays in every genre and subject matter. However, because the finalists are read in front of a live audience, the judging committee looks for material which can be successfully conveyed to a general audience in a table reading.
- Scripts must be under 15 pages (not including a cover page).
- Scripts must not be in production. The purpose of the competition and award money is to foster the creation and successful completion of an independent short film. All film/video shooting must take place after the award presentation in October 2012.
- DC Shorts has been named by MovieMaker Magazine year after year as one of 25 festivals worth the entry fee for our unique feedback system in which EVERY writer is able to review their scores and receive judges’ comments.
Awards
(as of December 1, 2011)
One script will receive $1,000 up front, plus a $1,000 upon completion of the final film. The final film is also guaranteed entry into DC Shorts 2013.
Registration Deadlines
DC Shorts does not extend deadlines. Want to save money on the entry fees? Enter early to pay the lower fee — then send the materials as late as the material deadline below. There are discounts for WAB premium members.
Early Bird
SAT., MARCH 31, 2012 $30 for students $40 for others
Regular Deadline
MON., APRIL 30, 2012 $40 for students $50 for others
Late Deadline
THU., MAY 31, 2012 $65 for students $75 for others
Materials Deadline
We only accept scripts as PDF files which must be uploaded with your online application 12:00pm (EST) by Thursday, May 31, 2012. Materials received after this date will be discarded without notice. Incomplete applications, failure to include payment, or submitting materials we are unable to read will disqualify your entry. For complete details and requirements, check out the Rules and Licenses page before submitting your entry.
Each submission requires a separate entry form and fee. We can only read screenplays in PDF format.
Notification Date
June 30, 2012
All filmmakers will receive notice of acceptance or rejection VIA EMAIL, as well as a complete report with judges’ scores and comments. If you do not receive this email by the notification date, please contact the office.
Waivers
At this time, DC Shorts does not offer a waiver program for the Screenplay Competition. DC Shorts believes that the feedback you receive far exceeds the value of the entry fee. This is one of the reasons Moviemaker Magazine has named DC Shorts as “one of 25 festivals worth the entry fee” year after year!
How Screenplays Are Judged
DC Shorts is proud to be one of a small number of festivals to provide feedback to ALL entrants. We also pride ourselves on our open judging process — we explain how it works before you enter, provide feedback after decisions have been made, and allow you the opportunity to call us for additional feedback and comments.
For the 2012 Festival, we expect to review more than 300 screenplays. Only 5-7 will be selected for the final round of live readings. The competition is very tough.
Please note that DC Shorts only read scripts formatted in the generally-accepted standard format (Here is a good online resource on proper formatting). We highly suggest using a professional screenwriting program such as Final Draft, Screenwriter or the free package, Celtx
- Scripts, submitted as PDFs, are stripped of their cover pages, and sent with 10-12 others to a local screenwriter or film director. Scripts submitted in a format other than a generally recognized industry standard (see above) are disqualified without refund.
- Each script is read in its entirety and scored by each judge for strength of plot, originality, writing proficiency, ability to be produced on a budget of less than $10K, ability to be successfully read, performed, and understood by a live audience, and other values.
- Judges are encouraged to leave a substantial comment (but not complete script coverage.)
- The top 3 scripts from each judge are sent to the second round and reviewed by an additional judge and the festival director who may opt to make programming notes (but not additional scores.)
- At the end of the second round, a final lineup is chosen based on scores and comments.
- We try to include at least one script from a DC-area writer.
DC Shorts encourages writers to become an active part of the process. If you have questions, comments or need more clarification of the judging process, please feel free to contact us.
WE THINK YOU SHOULD READ THESE…
- What did other filmmakers think of the process? The festival? Check out these unedited quotes from filmmakers who both played at DC Shorts — and some who did not make the cut.
- Want to read the experience of a previous judge? This account in the Washington City Paper is not overly flattering, but we stand behind our process. We are proud that inform filmmakers of our systems — No secrecy, no bullshit.
- Want to read recommendations from past festival judges? Download an article on why some films are not accepted. This article has been published in various magazines, and is used by some film schools as a tip sheet for students when creating new works.
The Rules & Screening License Agreement
Please read this agreement carefully before you submit your film. By submitting your film, you expressly acknowledge and agree that you shall be bound by the terms of this agreement.
DC SHORTS SCREENWRITING COMPETITION
GUIDELINES FOR ALL SCRIPTS. (a) Screenplays must have been completed after January 1, 2011. (b) Scripts must not exceed 15 pages in length, excluding cover page. (c) All non-English language screenplays must be translated and submitted in English. (d) A separate entry form and additional entry fee must be submitted for each script.
ENTRY FORM AND PREVIEW MATERIALS FOR ALL FILMS. All entry forms must be submitted and paid for through dcshorts.com. Illegible or incomplete entry forms will not be accepted. Entry forms that do not include full payment of entry fees by May 31, 2012 will not be accepted.
Screenplays must be formatted in standard screenwriting style and exported as an Adobe Acrobat .PDF file and be uploaded with your online application. Incomplete applications, failure to include payment, or submitting materials we are unable to read will disqualify your entry. Submissions may not be withdrawn from the Festival once they have been entered, except at the sole discretion of the Festival directors. There are no refunds for entries with incomplete entry forms, or incorrectly formatted scripts.
REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS. DC Shorts will review scripts in their entirety. Scripts will be read and judged by members of the Selection Committee, a volunteer group of DC-area filmmakers, film enthusiasts and critics. Scripts are numerically scored, and in addition, each script might receive a short critique. After the final submission deadline, the Selection Committee will review the total scores of all the scripts in competition, and select final scripts from a group of the top scorers.
AWARD INFORMATION. Five to seven screenplays will be featured during the festival weekend (exact dates unavailable at this time, but we project the weekend of October 12-14, 2012) in which the screenwriters must attend, and cast a live reading of the script from a bank of actors and directors. DC Shorts will not pay for transportation costs to Washington, DC for the live competition, but does offer free guest housing, passes to the regional ScriptDC Screenplay Conference (of which the live script reading is the highlight event), and various meals. The live readings will be performed in front of an audience who will vote on their favorite, and, along with the scores of the judges, will determine a competition winner. DC Shorts will present $1,000 to the winning screenwriter (awarded immediately at the reading), plus $1,000 if the film is completed and delivered to the DC Shorts offices by May 1, 2013. The film is also guaranteed to screen at the DC Shorts Film Festival 2013. The winning film must contain the final single card, on-screen credit “Produced in association with the DC Shorts Film Festival, dcshorts.com” The purpose of the competition and award money is to foster the creation and successful completion of an independent short film. All film/video shooting must take place after the award presentation. If it is discovered that principal photography was begun before the live reading, the screenplay will be disqualified from the competition. Restitution for associated expenses will be sought from the screenplay submitter. All prizes are subject to change, and updates to the prize package will be posted online at www.dcshorts.com.
PRODUCER RIGHTS. DC Shorts retains the rights as a producer to act as a legal representative of the film to assist the filmmaker develop distribution and marketing deals with other film festivals. In addition, DC Shorts reserves the right to screen the film at DC Shorts or DC Film Alliance sponsored events.
NOTIFICATION OF ADMISSION. Letters of Inclusion or non-inclusion, with a link to a breakdown of their scores and judges’ comments, will be sent to the email address provided on the entry form. DC Shorts does not send physical mail — please ensure that your email address is accurate in your application.
COMMUNICATIONS. DC Shorts does not send physical mail — please make sure the email address in your entry form is accurate. Changes of email address can be sent to info@dcshorts.com. DC Shorts is not liable for emails delayed by spam filters, server rejections or outdated email addresses. DC Shorts staff can be reached by email at info@dcshorts.com, or by mailing DC Shorts, 1317 F Street, NW, Suite 920, Washington, DC 20004 USA. The office phone number is 202-393-4266
PUBLICITY AND MARKETING. All selected films and scripts may be excerpted for publicity purposes. DC Shorts reserves the right to promote any film or script to print, broadcast or internet media as required to market the Festival or our parent organization, the DC Film Alliance.
INTERNET BROADCAST. DC Shorts may make films scripts performed at DC Shorts available for commercial internet broadcast and download. Filmmakers participating in this venture will receive 50% of the profits (total revenues collected minus total expenses to produce and distribute the content) from the licensing for internet broadcast and download. Filmmakers will have the ability to opt out of this program upon acceptance into the festival. This is an optional program in which the filmmaker has the ability to opt-in on acceptance of the Participation Agreement, sent on inclusion into the festival.
CONTROLLING LAW, VENUE AND SEVERABILITY. This License shall be governed by the laws of the United States and the District of Columbia without consideration of conflicts of laws provisions and principles.. All claims between the parties, regardless of legal theory and whenever brought, shall be resolved in the state or federal courts of the District of Columbia, USA, and you stipulate that you expressly submit to the personal jurisdiction of such state and federal courts, and you further agree that any judgment may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision, or portion thereof, of this Agreement to be unenforceable, the remainder of this License shall continue in full force and effect.
COMPLETE AGREEMENT. This License constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the use of films and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter. No amendment to or modification of this License will be binding unless in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the DC Shorts Film Festival. Nothing in this Agreement constitutes a waiver of DC Shorts’ rights under the United States of America patent and copyright laws or any other Federal or State law, nor of any of DC Shorts’ rights under the rules or laws of any country, territory, republic, and/or province.
