Atlanta Film Festival 365

 2009 ATLFF Screenplay Competition Rules

 

• Feature screenplays must be 60 to 140 pages long in standard screenplay format with 12-point courier font.
  
• Screenplays longer than 140 pages will not be accepted.
  
• Entrants must submit one hard copy version of the screenplay or an electronic copy, as a Word Document and/or PDF file, available for judging.
  
• For your own protection, we recommend that you copyright or register your work.
  
• 12 to 15 finalists will be named from which the six winning screenplays will be chosen
• Finalists must be available for a phone interview during the week of October 5th, and please note that the award for winning the competition is a trip to Atlanta for a Screenwriting Retreat the weekend of November 13-15.
  
• Travel (from within the United States) and lodging will be provided for the weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Competition Deadlines and Entry Fee

Students and ATL365 members visit Screenplay Competion's Withoutabox pages to see discounted entry fee listings.

 

		Regular Entry Fee	WAB Entry Fee
Earlybird	June 26, 2009	$40	$35
Regular	July 24, 2009	$45	$40
Late	August, 21, 2009	$55	$50
Extended	September 4, 2009	$80	$65

Entry + Screenplay Coverage

ATL365 offers cost-effective screenplay coverage aimed at helping you make your screenplay market ready.

 

		Regular Entry Fee	WAB Entry Fee
Earlybird	June 26, 2009	$160	$155
Regular	July 24, 2009	$165	$160
Late	August 21, 2009	$175	$170
Extended	September 4, 2009	$195	$180

 

About Screenplay Coverage

 

• Participating readers have analyzed scripts for Turner Network Television, Newline/Fineline, Phoenix Pictures, Independent Film Chanel, Home Box Office, the National Endowment for the Arts and others.
• Areas covered include: professional presentation, the first ten pages, the storyline, character development

 

 

 

 

 

What Past Winners Have to Say About The Retreat

 

"I'm grateful for the Retreat experience! Hearing my script read outloud and receiving thoughtful, articulate feedback was invaluable. So well run--and the other writers, mentors, and generous ATLFF folks were ablast to hang out with. We were able to experience many sides of Atlanta--both before, and...after midnight. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!" - James Ponsoldt, 2008 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winner

 

“Attending the Screenwriters Lab was invigorating and made me feel completely alive asan artist! The staff there is well-organized, smart and passionate about getting new independent projects off the ground. What more can an emerging filmmaker ask for?! The mentors at the lab really understood the challenges and potential for my project and the public reading at the Margaret Mitchell House gave me invaluable first-hand experience of how my story will feel when it plays out on screen. That was thrilling. ATLFF rocks! I love New York but after my weekend in Atlanta I was ready to move south.” - Sean P. McCarthy, 2008 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winner

 

"The experiences and connections I made at the ATLFF Screenplay competition weekend retreat were an invaluable and memorable turning point in my writing career. This competition offers you what very few can, a personal and relaxed atmosphere to meet with professionals who are willing to take the time to not only get to know your writing but you as a person. To have access to the ATLFF staff and mentors for an entire weekend and go home with a fresh set of notes and connections is one of the best prizes any competition anywhere can offer. I would do it again in a heartbeat and hope that every screenwriter takes the opportunity to enter this one!" - Wenonah Wilms, 2008 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winner

 

"Being selected for the Atlanta Film Festival has been a real thrill. The writer's retreat, meeting all of the mentors and the amazing ATLFF staff continues to stand as a highlight in my career as a screenwriter.Other festivals could take a lesson from ATLFF and their incredible approach towards nurturing up-and-coming writers and directors. ATLFF has had a direct impact on my approach to storytelling and I benefit from the experience every day in my writing." - Max Forstater, 2008 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winner

 

"The 2008 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Retreat was a truly great experience for me. Not only did I absolutely have a blast down there, as we were all treated like VIPs for the weekend, but more importantly, the workshop proved to be invaluable, as I received a lot of great notes and feedback that should definitely help me in making this next draft even more compelling. Particularly beneficial were the two individual sessions I had with mentors J.T. Petty and Morgan J. Freeman - each addressed different elements of my story, challenged me to defend the creative choices I had made and provided a ton of insight on how to improve the next draft, as well as advice on moving forward with the project and with my career in general." - Ian Ogden, 2008 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winner

"I'd take the retreat over a cash prize any day and I can use the cash. Having someone who works in the industry read my script and then spend time giving honest objective feedback was incredible. Molly Mayeux, one of my mentors, is a producer so in addition to her very insightful script analysis she was a great resource about the steps I need to take to get Apparition into production. She had a lot of practical real world advice which you can't really find in a book." - Steven Brooks, 2007 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winner

"The weekend went by wicked fast, I felt like I've made some excellent contacts with all [the Atlanta Film Festival Staff] and the writers and mentors. I only wished it could've lasted longer." - Yarrow Wayman, 2007 Atlanta film Festival Screenplay Competition Winner

2009 ATLFF Screenplay Competition Sponsors