Online Submission | Austin Film Festival

Script Competition

Information about you

* Required

*First Name:

*Last Name:

Company:

*Email:

*Confirm Email:

*Phone Number:

Alternate Phone:

Address Information

* Required

*Street Address/Apt:

*City:

*State/Province:

*Zip/Postal Code:

*Country:

Survey Information

The following survey will not be used in the evaluation process for your entry.

* Required

*Age:

*Gender:

*Ethnicity:

*Are you a person living with a disability (a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities)?:

*Annual income:

*Highest level of education:

*Are you a student currently enrolled in an accredited college or university?

Screenplay Information

* Required

*Script Title:
For teleplay specs, please include the name of the show followed by the title of the episode (ex: Veep: Election Night). For teleplay pilots, only include the name of the show.

* Writer Name:

2nd Writer Name:
Writer Email:

3rd Writer Name:
Writer Email:

4th Writer Name:
Writer Email:

5th Writer Name:
Writer Email:

* How did you hear about us?

Synopsis (under 50 words - not required or used for judging purposes)

Screenplay and Teleplay Categories

FEATURE SCREENPLAY COMPETITION - $45 thru March 26 (early deadline), $60 thru April 16 (regular deadline) $70 thru May 21 (late deadline)
** If you would like to submit one screenplay in both the Drama and Comedy categories, you will need to submit a separate online form, entry fee, and PDF for each

Drama Screenplay Award
The category is open but not limited to feature drama scripts in genres such as historical, western, family, romance, horror, thriller, etc.

Comedy Screenplay Award
The category is open but not limited to feature comedy scripts in genres such as dark comedy, satire, family, animation, slapstick, horror, etc.

ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION CATEGORIES – requires additional $20 entry fee per award
**To be considered for these awards you must first have your screenplay entered in either the Feature Drama or Comedy categories.

Horror Award:
The Horror Award is open to any feature horror script including dark suspense, thriller, sci-fi and macabre themes.

Sci-Fi Award
Open to science fiction, fantasy, horror, surrealism, myth/legend and fantastical storytelling.

Enderby Entertainment Award:
The Enderby Entertainment Award category is open to feature scripts in all genres with an original concept and distinctive voice that can be independently produced under $10 million. Co-founded by Rick Dugdale and Daniel Petrie, Jr. (Beverly Hills Cop, The Big Easy), the production company acquired the 2008 AFF Finalist script Stranded (now titled Dawn Patrol) which premiered at the 2014 Festival starring Scott Eastwood and Rita Wilson.

SHORT SCREENPLAY - $35 thru March 26 (early deadline), $50 thru April 16 (regular deadline) $60 thru May 21 (late deadline)
Open to any narrative short script in all genres 5 to 40 pages in length.

TELEPLAY COMPETITION - $35 thru March 26 (early deadline), $50 thru April 16 (regular deadline) $60 thru May 21 (late deadline)
Open to spec scripts for any currently airing television program AND original pilot scripts (no bibles or treatments will be accepted)

Drama Teleplay Pilot Award
Open to any pilot script written in the one-hour or half-hour format for an original drama television series.

Comedy Teleplay Pilot Award
Open to any pilot script written in the half-hour or one-hour format for an original comedy television series.

Drama Teleplay Spec Award
Open to any spec script for a current drama television show in the one-hour or half-hour format.

Comedy Teleplay Spec Award
Open to any spec script for a current comedy television show in the half-hour or one-hour format.

DIGITAL SERIES - $35 thru March 26 (early deadline), $40 thru April 16 (regular deadline) $45 thru May 21 (late deadline). Open to short-form episodic scripts intended for the web. Writers can submit 1-3 episodes of their series totaling no more than 30 pages.

PLAYWRITING - $20 thru April 16 (regular deadline) $30 thru May 21 (late deadline). Open to full-length stage plays 60-90 pages or that could reasonably be performed within 90 minutes on stage.

VIRTUAL PITCH - AFF’s Virtual Pitch Competition: Send in a 90 second video pitch, based on the feature script you’re submitting. If it passes our initial judging round, you’ll be invited to the finals where you’ll perform your pitch live (virtually) in front of a panel of industry judges. The winner will receive a one-on-one conversation with an industry professional. All who submit a video pitch will receive written feedback from the first round of judges.

Rules for video pitch submissions:

- All entrants must submit a feature or TV pilot script to the 2021 Script Competition. The pitch must be about the script submitted.
- Video submissions cannot be longer than 90 seconds.
- Pitches must be in English.
- Pitch video should not be edited; but rather, performed as if one is pitching live in front of someone.
- Video must be in .mp4 or .MOV format and less than 300 MB.
- Only allowed to submit one (1) video pitch per script entry.
- The deadline to submit your video pitch is 11:59pm PST, May 21, 2021.

Eligible categories to purchase a virtual pitch ticket:

- Drama Feature
- Comedy Feature
- Family Feature
- Drama Teleplay Pilot
- Comedy Teleplay Pilot

Conference Registration Discounts For Entrants
All entrants receive a discount on Conference Registration. Second Rounders and above receive greater discounts. If you register now and advance (notification letters sent through postal mail by mid-September), we'll gladly refund you the difference.

*Category:

Producers Badge $580 (reg $650)
Conference Badge $365 (reg $425)
For more information about the 2021 Screenwriters Conference, click here
Lunch Ticket $70.00 <-- must purchase a Producers or Conference Badge with a lunch ticket
Film & Food Ticket $95.00
Pitch Ticket $15.00 <-- must purchase a Producers or Conference Badge with a pitch ticket
For more information about the 2021 Festival Pitch Competition, click here

Discount Code:
AFF Members receive $5 off their entry fee.
If you are a member, call our office at 512-478-4795 to receive the discount code.

Category Fee:

Enderby Ent. Award Fee:

Sci-Fi. Award Fee:

Horror Award Fee:

Humanitas Award Fee:

Rooster Teeth Award Fee:

Virtual Pitch:

Total:

With Badge Total:

0.00

REFUND POLICY: Austin Film Festival has the right to refuse a sale or admission for any AFF product or event at its sole discretion. All merchandise, membership, individual film tickets, special events, AFF Presents, Virtual Badges, Virtual Film Passes, or Conversation in Film purchases are non-refundable for any reason. By making a purchase you understand that your email address will be added to AFF�s email list. If you are not interested in receiving emails you can opt out. Refund requests for the upcoming live Austin Film Festival must be in writing and sent by U.S. first class mail or email to refunds@austinfilmfestival.com, postmarked by July 15, 2021, and all refunds will incur a $75 processing fee. After July 15, 2021, all payments are non-refundable for any reason, including but not limited to illness, acts of God, or travel-related problems. All add on purchases are nonrefundable. In the event that Austin Film Festival has to cancel our physical event, Badge and Film Pass Holders (only applicable to live event purchases) will have the following options: A full refund of your 2021 Badge or Film Pass, Apply the purchase price of your registration towards our virtual experience* (Depending on original purchase price, you may owe additional funds for your Virtual transfer), Transfer your registration to 2022�s Austin Film Festival Live event (10/22/22 � 11/2/22), Support our organization as we continue to support the writing community! Austin Film Festival is a year-round 501(c)(3)non-profit organization. In the event that we are not able to host a physical event, we hope you consider contributing the price of your Badge or Pass to our organization. Badges are non-transferable and are the property of Austin Film Festival, Inc. Refunds will be issued either via the original method of payment or other method approved by Austin Film Festival, if such original method is not available. Unused registrations cannot be credited for future year�s attendance. Badges and Film Pass privileges may be revoked at any time for any reason without liability to Austin Film Festival. You hereby release and hold harmless Austin Film Festival, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, successors, assigns, and licensees, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims resulting in attendance of an Austin Film Festival, Inc. event. Special events may require purchase of separate ticket for entry. If you have any questions about the Festival, your membership, badge, or film pass purchase, please contact info@austinfilmfestival.com or call 1-800-FEST (3378). Badge credentials and privileges may be revoked at any time for any reason without liability to Austin Film Festival. You hereby release and hold harmless Austin Film Festival, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, successors, assigns, and licensees, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims resulting in attendance of an Austin Film Festival, Inc. event. Special events may require purchase of separate ticket for entry. If you have any questions about the Festival, your membership or badge purchase, please contact info@austinfilmfestival.com or call 1-800-FEST (3378). AFF may, in its sole discretion and at any time determined by AFF, cancel or refuse from any individual or company the following: Credentials, purchases, and/or hotel reservations made through AFF. AFF will not be responsible for any penalty, fee, loss, or expense that might result from such action. Unused Credentials have no monetary value and cannot be refunded, credited to future years, or events. AFF will not issue refunds or credits due to failure to redeem a discount coupon during the registration process. Discounted prices are based on the date payment is received in the AFF office. Lost or stolen Credentials will not be replaced. In the event Credentials are lost or stolen, new Credentials will need to be purchased for a Participant�s continued access to the Events, including showcases, parties and conference content. AFF reserves the right to revoke a Credential for any reason in AFF�s sole discretion (for example, if anyone other than the authorized individual tries to use a Credential). AFF will not issue refunds for Credentials that have been revoked. You are solely responsible for ensuring AFF receives full payment for any AFF purchases you make. If such payment cannot be charged to your credit card or if a charge is refunded for any reason, including chargeback, you agree that we reserve the right to cancel your order. If you have already received your Badge or merchandise you agree to immediately correct any payment errors upon notice of such error. AFF reserves the right to collect a $100 administrative fee in addition to any unpaid amounts in connection with any bad checks or uncorrected payment problems. Bounced Check Policy� If we receive a returned check from our bank for a payment you made, you will be invoiced for the original amount of the check plus a $25 bank fee. The payment of the invoiced amount will be due within 30 days of invoice date. We will not re-submit the original check, nor will we accept another check for the re-payment. Competition entry fees are not refundable at any time.

Payments are accepted through PayPal by account transfer or credit/debit card. Submissions are not complete until payment is made. Once an entry payment has been processed we cannot provide a refund. If a payment is disputed, the account holder may be subject to any fees

Upload Screenplay file in a PDF format 5mb limit

Before uploading your script, please make sure you include the following in your PDF file:

A cover sheet with only the TITLE of the screenplay

A second title page with contact information is not required for online submissions

The author's name must not appear anywhere in the script in order to preserve anonymity in the judging process.

If you DO NOT wish to receive your reader comments please check this box.

Competition Certification

I/We have read all of the rules & regulations, understand, and have complied with these rules.

I/We warrant the submission of my/our original work and that there are no disputes regarding the ownership of the submission.

I/We also warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead. I/We indemnify the AFF against any claim made for such violations of law.

To the best of my/our knowledge, all the statements herein are true and correct.

I/We understand that failure to adhere to the competition rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

I/We acknowledge that once an entry payment has been processed, AFF will not provide a refund

If a badge was purchased along with the entry fee, I/We acknowledge that I/we have reviewed the Refund Policy.

I/We agree to hold the AFF harmless from and defend them against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any screenplay/film/play submitted to the AFF or on any screenplay/film/play developed out of such submission.

No revisions will be accepted once entry has been received.

I/We understand the Reader Notes that may be provided for my/our script are complimentary, do not require an additional fee, and are not a required part of my/our entry fee in the competition.

By entering the competition, I/we understand my e-mail address will be added to AFF's e-mail list.

The following shall constitute an agreement with respect to the Virtual Pitch Competition:

You understand and acknowledge that the Austin Film Festival and the Virtual Pitch Competition Judges receive many submissions of creative materials from third parties: that they are continually developing in-house ideas, stories, and creative materials and that many such submissions and/or developments may be similar or identical to the Pitch or elements of the Pitch. You understand and agree that the Austin Film Festival’s and Virtual Pitch Competition Judges’ use of materials or properties containing elements similar or identical to the Pitch shall not obligate them to you in any manner if they developed or obtained such materials independently or from sources other than from you. Without limiting the foregoing, you agree that if the Pitch includes materials that are in the public domain or owned by a third party, the Austin Film Festival and Virtual Pitch Competition Judges will have the same rights in such materials as any member of the general public.

You understand that the Austin Film Festival and the Virtual Pitch Competition Judges will not intentionally use the Pitch or any part thereof for any purpose other than as provided herein unless the Austin Film Festival and the Pitch Competition Judges and you hereafter enter into a written agreement for the acquisition or license of rights therein, and that the Austin Film Festival and Pitch Competition Judges shall not be obligated to pay anything in the absence of such written agreement. If the Austin Film Festival or Virtual Pitch Competition Judges desire to use the Pitch or any part thereof for any purpose other than as provided herein, you agree to negotiate in good faith a written agreement for any or all rights in the Pitch that the Austin Film Festival or Virtual Pitch Competition Judges desire to acquire or license.

You have read all the Austin Film Festival Virtual Pitch Competition rules. You understand and have complied with these rules. You understand that the Pitch Competition is open to the public and does not hold the Austin Film Festival, or any of the Pitch Competition Judges, responsible for any similar ideas or stories that may arise independently. You agree to hold the Austin Film Festival harmless from and defend them against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any Pitches presented at the Austin Film Festival, or any Pitches, films, screenplays, teleplays, etc. developed out of the Virtual Pitch Competition.

Enter Initials for Online Signature

*Initials

Conference Registration Discounts For Entrants All entrants receive a discount on Conference Registration. Second Rounders and above receive greater discounts. If you register now and advance (notification letters sent through postal mail by mid-September), we'll gladly refund you the difference.

Conference Registration Discounts For Entrants
All entrants receive a discount on Conference Registration. Second Rounders and above receive greater discounts. If you register now and advance (notification letters sent through postal mail by mid-September), we'll gladly refund you the difference.