New York International Screenplay Awards is an international screenplay competition for screenwriters who aspire to connect with the USA industry workers and explore the US markets.
NYISA winners will be connected to the US film industry by InkTip Magazine, iPitch. tv, and Script Mailer. They’ll be registered for free at CreatersVault, and will receive free screenwriting courses from Script Reader Pro, plus, detailed analysis and free consultations by Coverage Ink…. And much more!
NYISA’s valued jury members are industry professionals such as Producers, Script Doctors, Directors, Actors, and Screenwriters. You can submit via FilmFreeway.
NYISA also offers the workshops “How to write An Award-winning Screenplay” and “Advanced Screenwriting Development Programs”.

Awards & Prizes

Golden Package:
An InkTip prize package includes one InkTip script listing and one InkTip magazine listing, so winners can promote themselves and their scripts to InkTip’s large network of producers and reps.
Every InkTip producer has been vetted via resume and references and demonstrated the ability to get movies made. Companies who are InkTip members include ABC, Anonymous Content, APA, CBS Films, HBO Films, ICM, Paradigm, Paramount Pictures, Hallmark Channel, FX, Universal, WME, Echo Lake, Zero Gravity, Bad Robot, and 20th Century Fox.

Final Draft Screenwriting Software, digital certificates for free! Final Draft 11 automatically paginates and formats your script to industry standards allowing writers to focus on what they do best: writing. Final Draft is used by 95% of film, television, and multimedia productions to get from page to screen. With Final Draft 11, you can brainstorm, visualize, report, tag, collaborate, and customize your writing environment like never before. Limitless space to organize your ideas in a customizable, visual way. Plan set pieces, store character research, and much more. Limitless space to organize your ideas in a customizable, visual way. Plan set pieces, store character research, and much more. Collaborate simultaneously with your writing partners IN REAL TIME - around the corner - or around the world. Use your creative energy to focus on your story and characters — let Final Draft take care of the rest. (retail price $244.99)

12 years of free registration from the CreatorsVault. CreatorsVault.com is an online Intellectual Property Registry for Copyright Protection and archival system providing Writers and Creators time-archived third-party proof-of-creation of their written materials and other intellectual properties preparing to market in the Entertainment industry. Writers can register scripts, screenplays, manuscripts, or other creative properties for protective archival with term options of 12 years, 8 years, or 4 years. Creators Vault is a global service (Berne Convention). Additional features include options to register New Drafts of an original project and Renewal of projects about to expire at discounted rates. Protect your property before going to the market.

Online Screenwriting Course from the Script Reader Pro. (retail price $299)

Email blasts will be given to the 1050+ agents and producers via the Script Mailer!

One Coverage Ink JC Analysis (value $695) for the Feature Screenplay 1st Place Winner + One Coverage Ink JC Analysis for the Short Screenplay Winner (Value $295) – CoverageInk.com founder Jim Cirile will personally read and analyze the winning screenplay as well as mark up and edit it. Jim’s analyses generally run around 18-25 pages and are ridiculously in-depth, with no stone left unturned. He’ll help maximize what’s working and break down what’s not in order to give the material the best possible chance in the marketplace. Also includes detailed marketability analysis and recommendations. As well, Jim will provide one year of free e-mail follow-ups.
HALF-HOUR PHONE/SKYPE CONSULTATION
CoverageInk.com founder Jim Cirile will discuss the winners' career path with them and offer advice as to how best to get the attention of the industry. Jim will share tips and advice from his three-plus decades in the biz (and as agent and management expert for Script and Creative Screenwriting magazines as well as The Wrap.) Empowering and helpful guidance they need from the Industry Experts.
They’ll also receive two PDF e-books, The Coverage Ink Spec Format & Style Guide, 110 pages of tips and tricks to help you bring it on the page, and Agent’s Hot Sheet: Ten Years of Screenwriting Wisdom from Hollywood’s Top Reps, over 240 pages of in-depth interviews with the top literary reps in town, both by CI founder Jim Cirile. Visit https://coverageink.com/coverage-ink-e-books/ for more. Coverage Ink – The Industry Experts.

Silver Package:
An InkTip prize package includes one InkTip script listing and one InkTip magazine listing so winners can promote themselves and their scripts to InkTip’s large network of producers and reps.
Every InkTip producer has been vetted via resume and references and demonstrated the ability to get movies made. Companies who are InkTip members include ABC, Anonymous Content, APA, CBS Films, HBO Films, ICM, Paradigm, Paramount Pictures, Hallmark Channel, FX, Universal, WME, Echo Lake, Zero Gravity, Bad Robot, and 20th Century Fox.

Final Draft Screenwriting Software, digital certificates for free! Final Draft 11 automatically paginates and formats your script to industry standards allowing writers to focus on what they do best: writing. Final Draft is used by 95% of film, television, and multimedia productions to get from page to screen. With Final Draft 11, you can brainstorm, visualize, report, tag, collaborate, and customize your writing environment like never before. Limitless space to organize your ideas in a customizable, visual way. Plan set pieces, store character research, and much more. Limitless space to organize your ideas in a customizable, visual way. Plan set pieces, store character research, and much more. Collaborate simultaneously with your writing partners IN REAL TIME - around the corner - or around the world. Use your creative energy to focus on your story and characters — let Final Draft take care of the rest. (retail price $244.99)

Online Screenwriting course from Script Reader Pro. (retail price $299)

Email blasts will be given to the 1050+ agents and producers via the Script Mailer!

Standard Screenplay Analysis from CoverageInk.com (value $129.) Founded in 2002, Coverage Ink is renowned for their industry-leading, detailed, and helpful screenplay analyses. Our team of 27 of the world’s best story analysts will find what’s working in your screenplay and what isn’t and give you empowering and specific ideas to help get the material into the end zone. Visit www.coverageink.com. Coverage Ink – the Industry Experts.
You’ll also receive our two PDF e-books, The Coverage Ink Spec Format & Style Guide, 110 pages of tips and tricks to help you bring it on the page, and Agent’s Hot Sheet: Ten Years of Screenwriting Wisdom from Hollywood’s Top Reps, over 240 pages of in-depth interviews with the top literary reps in town, both by CI founder Jim Cirile. Visit https://coverageink.com/coverage-ink-e-books/ for more. Coverage Ink – The Industry Experts.

8 years free registration from the CreatorsVault. CreatorsVault.com is an online Intellectual Property Registry for Copyright Protection and archival system providing Writers and Creators time-archived third-party proof-of-creation of their written materials and other intellectual properties preparing to market in the Entertainment industry. Writers can register scripts, screenplays, manuscripts, or other creative properties for protective archival with term options of 12 years, 8 years, or 4 years. Creators Vault is a global service (Berne Convention). Additional features include options to register New Drafts of an original project and Renewal of projects about to expire at discounted rates. Protect your property before going to the market.

Bronze Package:

An InkTip prize package includes one InkTip script listing and one InkTip magazine listing so winners can promote themselves and their scripts to InkTip’s large network of producers and reps.
Every InkTip producer has been vetted via resume and references and demonstrated the ability to get movies made. Companies who are InkTip members include ABC, Anonymous Content, APA, CBS Films, HBO Films, ICM, Paradigm, Paramount Pictures, Hallmark Channel, FX, Universal, WME, Echo

Online Screenwriting course from Script Reader Pro. (retail price $299)

Final Draft Screenwriting Software, digital certificates for free! Final Draft 11 automatically paginates and formats your script to industry standards allowing writers to focus on what they do best: writing. Final Draft is used by 95% of film, television, and multimedia productions to get from page to screen. With Final Draft 11, you can brainstorm, visualize, report, tag, collaborate, and customize your writing environment like never before. Limitless space to organize your ideas in a customizable, visual way. Plan set pieces, store character research, and much more. Limitless space to organize your ideas in a customizable, visual way. Plan set pieces, store character research, and much more. Collaborate simultaneously with your writing partners IN REAL TIME - around the corner - or around the world. Use your creative energy to focus on your story and characters — let Final Draft take care of the rest.(retail price $244.99)

Email blasts will be given to the 1050+ agents and producers via the Script Mailer!

Each receives one Standard Screenplay Analysis from CoverageInk.com (value $129.) Founded in 2002, Coverage Ink is renowned for their industry-leading, detailed, and helpful screenplay analyses. Our team of 27 of the world’s best story analysts will find what’s working in your screenplay and what isn’t and give you empowering and specific ideas to help get the material into the end zone. Visit www.coverageink.com. Coverage Ink – the Industry Experts.
They’ll also receive our two PDF e-books, The Coverage Ink Spec Format & Style Guide, 110 pages of tips and tricks to help you bring it on the page, and Agent’s Hot Sheet: Ten Years of Screenwriting Wisdom from Hollywood’s Top Reps, over 240 pages of in-depth interviews with the top literary reps in town, both by CI founder Jim Cirile. Visit https://coverageink.com/coverage-ink-e-books/ for more. Coverage Ink – The Industry Experts.

  8 years of free registration from the CreatorsVault. CreatorsVault.com is an online Intellectual Property Registry for Copyright Protection and archival system providing Writers and Creators time-archived third-party proof-of-creation of their written materials and other intellectual properties preparing to market in the Entertainment industry. Writers can register scripts, screenplays, manuscripts, or other creative properties for protective archival with term options of 12 years, 8 years, or 4 years. Creators Vault is a global service (Berne Convention). Additional features include options to register New Drafts of an original project and Renewal of projects about to expire at discounted rates. Protect your property before going to the market.

Other Perks:
ALL THE FINALISTS: Final Draft Screenwriting Software digital certificates!
Final Draft Screenwriting Software, digital certificates for free! Final Draft 11 automatically paginates and formats your script to industry standards allowing writers to focus on what they do best: writing. Final Draft is used by 95% of film, television, and multimedia productions to get from page to screen. (retail price $244.99)
All the finalists will have 4 years of free registration from the CreatorsVault. CreatorsVault.com is an online Intellectual Property Registry for Copyright Protection and archival system providing Writers and Creators time-archived third-party proof-of-creation of their written materials and other intellectual properties preparing to market in the Entertainment industry.
EVERYONE WHO ENTERS: Free Query letter Analysis from Coverage Ink. Just email them your query at info@coverageink.com. CI founder Jim Cirile or one of our Senior Story Analysts will review your query and give you concrete feedback to improve/tighten/make it rock. Mention you are an NYISA entrant. One query per person, please!

Rules & Terms

All scripts must be submitted in English, formatted in 12-point courier font.
Entry fees must be paid in U.S. dollars. Entry in the competition is void where prohibited by law.
Judges and employees who work for the NYISA are not eligible to enter the competition, nor are their affiliates or immediate family members.
Screenplays written by up to four people may be entered in the contest. Only one entry fee is required for such entries. All writers' names should be listed on the online entry. All writers must authorize submission of the entry. If a screenplay is written by multiple authors, prizes will be divided at the writers' discretion.
All entries must be uploaded in PDF format. (www.freepdfconcert.com)
Entrants to the NYISA retain all rights to their screenplays.
Entries must be received by the applicable Entry Deadline.
Once a script has been entered into the competition, we will not accept substitutions or revised drafts. If you wish to submit a revised draft of your script, you must enter it as a new submission.
NYISA will not share your screenplay with anyone except the official judges of the competition.
By entering the NYISA, you represent that your entry is your original work, and does not infringe on the copyright or other rights of other people.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
We do not accept hardcopy submissions by mail.
Submissions must be the original work of the applicant. Entries may be adapted from the applicant's own work.
The decisions of the judges are final.
NYISA reserves the right to make any necessary changes, postponements, or cancellations to event scheduling at our discretion.
Notification of winners and official finalists will be sent by email and posted on our website. It is the responsibility of the winners to redeem any prizes allotted to them by the NYISA or our sponsors. Applicants will be responsible for providing current contact information and mailing addresses for prize redemption purposes.
Feature screenplays must be between 41 and 150 pages in length. Absolutely no exceptions.
Short screenplays must be between 1 and 40 pages in length. Absolutely no exceptions. Please email us if you have a longer screenplay that you would like to submit.
There is no limit to the number of screenplays you may submit.
Under absolutely no circumstances will substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entry screenplay(s) be made. Screenplays will not be returned.

Screenplays submitted under a pen name will be immediately disqualified.
Screenplay titles cannot be changed upon resubmission under any circumstances.
To enter the NYISA, you must agree to its Terms and Conditions.

To protect your script, we strongly suggest you register your work with the Writers Guild of America, West (www.wga.org or call 323.782.4500), and the US Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov).
24 Reviews
Overall Rating
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Value
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Networking
  • Hoyt Richards

    I highly recommend this festival for screenwriters. Our screenplay "Away With My Heart" won the 2020 Bronze prize (what a beautiful trophy) for Best Feature screenplay. Emine and his team were very communicative and friendly. The feedback from Coverage Ink was incredibly helpful and constructive. I will definitely be sending them more scripts in the future. This is a competition designed to encourage and support writers. Bravo NYISA. I will do my best to spread the word.

    May 2020
    Helpful
  • Colin Pierce

    N.Y. Intl. Screenplay Awards is a fantastic festival for any level of writer! Their coverage is fantastic and their awards are great. Thanks for such an awesome event!

    May 2020
    Helpful
  • Erik Botelho

    I'm really happy and proud to say I was a semifinalist here, and I wanna thank you all and tell you how grateful I am for having me. You guys are great. Thank you very very much!

    May 2020
    Helpful
  • Lyndal Simpson

    My screenplay "The Farrell Girl" won 1st Prize - Best Feature in the 2020 competition. I can't say enough about how efficient and pleasant the people connected with this competition have been to deal with. So many incredible prizes from a variety of sources and they were all delivered within 24 hours of winning. The feedback notes I received were also top-notch. I highly recommend the New York International Screenplay Awards as a reputable competition that delivers on its promises. Enter!

    May 2020
    Helpful
  • Danielle Lima

    Taking part in the NYISA contest was a wonderful experience. I was a semi-finalist in the Short Script category and that has helped me with networking and featuring my script to people in our industry. I Would definitely recommend NYISA to everyone. Thank you, NYISA.

    May 2020
    Helpful