SUBMIT
DEADLINES AND SCHEDULE
Submissions Open
February 20, 2024
Early Deadline
April 24, 2024
Regular Deadline
June 15, 2024
Late Deadline
July 19, 2024
Final Deadline
July 26, 2024
Notification Date
October 27, 2024
Awards Ceremony
October 27, 2024
SCRIPT CATEGORY GUIDELINES
FEATURE
– 41-140 pages.
– All narrative genres welcome.
TV PILOT
– Up to 80 pages.
– Half-hour, one-hour or webisode.
– All narrative genres welcome.
– Entries may include a show bible up to 5 page sin length at the end of the script.
HORROR / THRILLER
– 41-140 pages.
– Scripts featuring menacing situations, heightened feelings of suspense, bloodshed, or the imminent threat of death.
SHORT
– Up to 40 pages.
– All narrative genres welcome.
SUBMISSION FEES
| SCRIPT TYPE | PAGE COUNT | EARLY DEADLINE | REGULAR DEADLINE | LATE DEADLINE | FINAL DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURE | 41-110 Pages | $65 | $75 | $85 | $95 |
| FEATURE | 11-140 Pages | $85 | $95 | $105 | $120 |
| TV PILOT | Up to 45 Pages | $50 | $60 | $65 | $70 |
| TV PILOT | 46-80 Pages | $55 | $65 | $75 | $85 |
| SHORT | Up to 10 Pages | $35 | $45 | $50 | $55 |
| SHORT | 11-40 Pages | $50 | $60 | $65 | $70 |
FEEDBACK
Every entrant will receive short feedback from one of our readers. It will include a genre suggestion, a logline, and a paragraph outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your screenplay. The goal of the feedback is to provide you with short & sweet constructive criticism of your work.
ADD-ON COVERAGE
We also offer a full coverage service for an additional fee. Coverage consists of 3-4 pages of feedback featuring:
- Genre suggestion
- Logline
- Brief plot synopsis
- Page-by-page comments
- Recommendations as to what the “next step” could be. This may address media, films, and screenplay sthe writer should be aware of, as well as any words of wisdom from our readers.
By entering the Slamdance Screenplay Competition, you confirm that you agree to the Submission Rules:
Submission Eligibility
- Scripts submitted to the competition must NOT have been previously optioned, purchased or produced.
- If a submitted screenplay becomes optioned or purchased between the time of submission and the end of the judging period, the applicant must notify us and that screenplay will no longer be eligible for an award.
- Scripts submitted to the competition must not have received awards from other competitions over $1,000 at the time of entry.
- Screenwriters who have had previous feature screenplays produced and distributed by non-independent means are ineligible. Screenwriters who earn more than $50,000 annually from screenwriting for film or tv are not eligible.
- No adaptations of other written work, or content based off of an existing IP will be accepted unless the writer owns the rights to the original material, or the original material is in the Public Domain.
- No specs will be accepted for the TV Pilot category. All TV Pilot submissions must be for original series.
Submission Guidelines
- Screenplays must be in English, formatted according to the current industry standards in 12-point courier font.
- Screenplays must have a cover page that includes the script’s title. Other info can be included on the cover page, but is not required. The cover page does not count towards the overall script page count.
- If the script is based on a true story, that should be noted on the cover page.
- Slamdance is not responsible for screenplays or coverage stolen or lost in transit.
- Slamdance only accepts submissions via online submissions platforms FilmFreeway, Coverfly and the Slamdance Direct Form. We no longer accept hard copies of scripts via mail.
- All entries must be uploaded by the appropriate deadline.
- Deadlines close at 11:59 PM PST
- Reader assignment is at our discretion and requests for rereads will not be accepted.
- Scripts cannot be updated with new drafts after they have been submitted.
- Multiple authorship is acceptable. Slamdance divides awards equally among co-writers.
- Slamdance does not accept screenplays written or rewritten by AI. No refunds provided after a submission has been made.
- Writers of all ages are encouraged to enter our competition. Writers under the age of 18 years old must have parent or legal guardian’s permission to participate.
Judging
- The first round of reading is done by individual readers. If your script is advanced to the next round, the script will be read and scored by multiple readers to determine whether it gets into quarterfinals and semifinals.
- If your script makes it to semifinals, it will be discussed at the deliberations where readers will determine finalists and winners.
- If your script did not make it into quarterfinals, it will not advance to further stages of the competition.
- No judging decision will be included with the feedback.
- Slamdance notifies winners only. Entrants are advised to check our website and e-newsletter for judging announcements.
- The Slamdance Screenplay Competition readers’ decisions are final.
While not an official requirement for submission, we strongly suggest you register your screenplay with the Writers Guild of America, West and the US Copyright Office to protect your work.