Entry Fees:

Scripts that are 120 pages or less:

Early submission fee: $50.00 (by Early Deadline, April 9, 2010)

Final submission fee: $60.00 (by Final Deadline, June 11, 2010)

WAB Extended Deadline submission fee: $75.00 (by WAB Extended Deadline, July 30, 2010)

Scripts that are 121-150 pages:

Early submission fee: $65.00 (by Early Deadline, April 9, 2010)

Final submission fee: $75.00 (by Final Deadline, June 11, 2010)

WAB Extended Deadline submission fee: $90.00 (by  WAB Extended Deadline, July 30, 2010)

Coverage Fees:

+$75.00: Standard Online Coverage Service - available within 2 months*

+$115.00: Express Online Coverage - available within 21 days*

*Please note coverage fees are in addition to submission fees*

DEADLINES:

Early Deadline: March 1 - April 9, 2010

Final Deadline: April 10 - June 11, 2010

WAB Extended Deadline: June 12 - July 30, 2010

EXPLANATION OF SERVICES:

Online Feedback:

Everyone who submits a screenplay to Slamdance will receive concise online feedback from our Readers, three to five sentences in length. The object of our Online Feedback Service is to provide you with constructive criticism about your work. The feedback includes a logline, a pitch line, genre suggestion and shows strong and weak parts of your screenplay. Online Feedback is very brief and basic compared to the extensive notes provided with our Online Coverage Service, which is available for an additional fee.

Online Coverage Service:
The object of Slamdance’s Online Coverage Service is to provide you with extensive constructive criticism about your work. The Online Coverage Service includes a brief plot synopsis and then offers an in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your screenplay. The Coverage Service also offers the screenwriter some recommendation as to what "the next step" could be with their screenplay and writing. This may address media, films and screenplays, production companies and agencies the writer should be aware of, as well as any words of wisdom from one of our Readers. Slamdance’s Online Coverage provides you with an insight into the mind of a Reader who reads hundreds of independent screenplays each year. Our Readers' goal is to assist you in crafting your submission into something that can advance in competition and impress agents, managers and producers.

Standard Online Coverage will be available within two months from the time you submit your work. A notice will be sent to the e-mail address you provided in your screenplay application form when your Coverage is available.

Express Online Coverage Service:

Slamdance’s Express Online Coverage is an added benefit for those that would like to receive coverage within 21 days of your screenplay submission arriving at the Slamdance office. 

One on One Screenplay Consultation Services:

As a service separate from the screenplay competition, we also offer year-round, one on one screenplay consultation services. This gives writers a chance to meet with one of our readers to discuss in depth the strengths, weaknesses, and methods for improving ones script.  The sessions last an average of 90 minutes and cost $250.  The majority of this fee will go directly to our reader, who prepares extensively before each consultation.  For writers not located in the Los Angeles area, we could set up a skype meeting for you and a reader.  For further details please call the Slamdance office: 323-466-1786.

Slamdance Readers

Slamdance Readers are industry professionals and all have a combination of the following qualifications: professional coverage background, production and development background, and/or are professional writers, Slamdance alumni, playwrights and journalists. Readers’ Competition decisions are final. 

PRIZES:

• Slamdance Grand Prize: $5,000
  
• The winner of the Feature, Horror/Thriller, and Teleplay categories will receive $2,000 each.  The Grand Prize winner could win as much as $7,000 with the Category and Grand Prize money combined.
  
• Short scripts will have an option to get produced and premiere at Slamdance 2011
  
• Script Accessible Award sponsored by Lonely Seal Releasing for best screenplay involving characters with disabilities and/or written by a person with disabilities – Winner will receive $1,000
  
• The top five screenwriters in each category will receive prize packages that include Festival Passes good for all screenings and parties at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah (January 2011)
  
• The top five screenwriters in each category are eligible for membership in the Writers Guild of America's Independent Writers Caucus
  
• The top five screenwriters in each category will receive merchandise from the Slamdance Shop such as t-shirts and dvd’s.
  
• Production companies, studios, agencies and managers request to read our top scripts.                                    
  

RULES/GUIDELINES:

Rules:

1. Screenplays must not have been previously optioned, purchased or produced.

2. Screenplays must not have received awards from other competitions over $500.00 at the time of entry.

3. Screenwriters who have had previous feature screenplays produced and distributed by non-independent means are ineligible.

4. Screenplays must be in English, formatted in 12-point courier font.

5. Don't cheat in an effort to keep the page count to 120 or less.  We will notice and ask that the extra fee be paid for  screenplays in excess of 120 pages.  

6. To enter the Slamdance Screenplay Competition you must agree to its Terms and Conditions.

7. The Slamdance Screenplay Competition Readers' decisions are final.

8. Teleplays must be original material. We will not accept spec scripts for existing shows, treatments or reality television pilots.

9. Teleplays must be hour or half-hour pilots. Additional material will not be read or considered.

10. Teleplays must not have been previously optioned, purchased or produced.

Guidelines:

1. In the event of multiple writers, list all additional co-writers. Please note Slamdance divides awards equally among co-writers.

2. Slamdance is not responsible for screenplays or coverage stolen or lost in transit

3. For screenplays longer than 120 pages, fifteen dollars is added to the regular entry fees.

SCRIPT REGISTRY:

To protect your script, we strongly suggest you register your work with the Writers Guild of America, (www.wga.org or call 323 782 4500) and the US Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/). 

FINALIST & GENERAL FEEDBACK:

“Winning the Slamdance Short Screenplay Contest was such a great experience because winning the contest, as prestigious as that was, was just the beginning.  Slamdance produced the film and they paired me with a talented, seasoned indie director to bring it to the screen.  And then premiering the film up in Park City on a Saturday night in front of Steven Soderbergh’s new film was icing on the cake.  It was truly an awesome opportunity and experience.” 

-Christopher Hlas, 2009 Short Screenplay winner and writer of HEY VENDOR

“Thank you very much for the one-on-one consultation last week. I've had several script consultations over the past two months from Europe and this was one of the best by far. The hour and half was packed full of information and guidance, especially in regard to structure, continuity and character development.  My reader didn't spare any information she thought would help me refine my script and take it to the next level. She put a lot of work and heart into every aspect of the process. The price was more than reasonable for her experience and all the work she put into it. I've had really bad sessions in the past that cost me way more money!” 

-Haifaa Al Mansour, 2009 entrant who utilized our one-on-one Screenplay Competition Services 

“Without the help of Slamdance and Upload Films I would not have been able to see my hopes come to fruition," 

Nancy Kissam - Writer and director of 2006 Screenplay Competition Winner and 2009 Slamdance Film Festival Special Screening DROOL

"Winning Slamdance was an incredible moral booster and the seal of approval that made the industry stop and take notice."

Nicole Kassell - Slamdance Screenplay winner and director of THE WOODSMAN

"The Slamdance Screenplay Award received by Joshua Marston for MARIA FULL OF GRACE was the first public validation of the project...the publicity surrounding this award helped put the project in the public eye."

Paul Mezey, - Producer, MARIA FULL OF GRACE