On a mission to discover high quality screen plays, the Atlanta Film Festival group is sponsoring a script competition for all amatuer screenplay writers.

The Atlanta Film Festival has a 4 decade long history of discovering and nurturing new filmmaking talent, including showing early works by Robert Rodriguez, Spike Lee, and Victor Nunez. The Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition offers the winners the opportunity to workshop their script with industry professionals at a weekend retreat. Past Mentors have included Kent Osborne (HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS), Morgan J. Freeman (HURRICANE), Anne Hubbell (THANKSGIVING), Carly Hugo (PETER AND VANDY, HOT COFFEE), Stephen Israel (SWIMMING WITH SHARKS), J.T. Petty (THE BURROWERS, SPLINTER CELL: CHAOS THEORY), Joel Zwick (MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING) Amy Dotson (Producer & Managing Director for IFP NY), and Rob Long (CHEERS, GEORGE & LEO). The retreat brings the writers of the winning screenplays together not only with established writers, but also with producers and directors who can provide a different perspective on the script and advice on how to move forward towards getting the project produced.

The contest will give writers the opportunity to attend a 3-day workshop (December 9-11, 2011). The retreat will bring professional writers, filmmakers, and the contest winners together in order to further develop and refine the chosen screenplays.

The deadline to submit your application is September 19, 2011. To enter the contest, you must provide the following:

  • 60 to 140 page screenplay, standard screenplay format, 12-point courier font
  • Submit ONE hard copy of screenplay, or electronic copy (in PDF and/or Word file); copyrighting your work before submittal is highly suggested
  • Must be available for phone interview during the week of October 17

 

For more information regarding the competition, go to www.atlantafilmfestival.com. Good luck!