INDUSTRY 101 EVENT SERIES

Contests & Awards 101: Stepping Stones Not Silver Bullets
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 | 5-6:30 PM PT | Online

As an organization that runs a variety of awards for writers at the earliest stages of forging a writing career in film and television, we are aware of “The Discourse” around screenwriting contests. Some demystification and honest conversation is in order. 

Talent identification in Hollywood is imperfect. It relies very heavily on social bonds not everyone has access to for any number of reasons. If you’re outside those networks, screenplay contests have existed, in one form or another, for over a hundred years, and are a niche served by studio fellowships, film festivals, and–ahem–non-profit programs. 

If you’re reading this, you’re no doubt aware of the genuine criticisms of contests. They are subjective, selective, anonymous. The veneer of impersonality makes the sting of rejection hurt more than maybe it should. And entry fees? They add up. 

You want people to say yes to you as a writer, and it can be easy to forget you’re able to say no to them as well. Not every opportunity is one you have to pursue. It is important to set budgets, goals, expectations, to understand what contests and awards can and can’t do for you, and how to plan accordingly.