FilmColumbia's First Screenwriters' Contest

FilmColumbia, is excited to announce its first ever screenwriters contest. Rose Ross, board member of The Chatham Film Club, explains, “The festival’s annual script reading event has always been extremely popular and sells out every year. As a way to make a great event even better, we decided to add a twist and turn it into a competition.”

The competition is being coordinated by Mark Dickerman, a Columbia County resident and area head of the Goldberg Department of Writing and Screenwriting at New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. Dickerman has set up a rigorous panel of readers comprised of a team of locally-based film and theater professionals, including Elizabeth Diggs, area Head of Playwriting at NYU’s Tisch School, and noted author Peter Biskind.

The grand prize is $750 and the winning script will be performed at the 2008 FilmColumbia’s script reading event, held in Chatham’s Morris Memorial building and directed and performed by local professionals. Second prize in the competition is $500, third prize is $250, and there will also be an honorable mention.

Script entries must be character based and can be a comedy or drama. The scripts can’t have been previously sold or optioned and winning writers will be required to work with the reader’s edits to ensure the script fits the format of a 90 minute reading. There is a $25 entry fee. Click here for a full list of contest rules and entry form.

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RULES & REGULATIONS

Entry must be accompanied by the following:

1. Completed official entry form.

2. Entry fee of $25.00, payable by check only, made out to The Chatham Film Club, P.O. Box, 181, East Chatham, NY, 12060

3. Scripts should be industry standard format, three hole bunched with two or three brass brads.

4. Front and back covers should be card stock.

5. Submit two copies. Do not send original, material will not be returned.

6. Do not put any of your contact information on the script, only the title of the script.

7. Screenwriter must be willing to take comments and rewrite to fit format of a 90 minute reading.

8. Deadline April 15, 2008.