Nantucket Film Festival & Screenplay Competition

FILM SUBMISSION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
* Films must be available for exhibition on DCP in the case of physical screenings, or must be uploaded to NFF's online screening platform in the case of online screenings;
* Entries must be completed - including providing submission fee payment and a Vimeo link or FilmFreeway online screener for films - by the deadline date;
* NFF will only consider previously submitted films if the new version has changed significantly. Do not send the same cut - the film should be a distinct reworking of the previously submitted version. If you are in doubt, it probably hasn’t changed enough.
* To be considered for NFF, submitted films should not have had their world premiere before March 1, 2025;
* Feature films may not have been released theatrically or on DVD/VOD, appeared online, or aired on television in the US before the festival;
* Short films may not have been released theatrically, on DVD/VOD, or on television in the US before the festival. If the film has screened online, the filmmaker is required to include this information in the submission cover letter or by writing to submissions@nantucketfilmfestival.org;
* If you are submitting a work-in-progress, your screener must be clearly marked as a work-in-progress or rough cut. It's a good idea to include an initial card in your screener with concise bullet points indicating what is not complete (ie, no color correction, temp sound mix, etc);
* NFF will NOT screen a work-in-progress at the festival - accepted films must be completed by early June;
*A cut of your film must be available to view at the time of submission.
**Note: Due to limited time and internal deadlines, NFF will only guarantee that one cut of a film will be viewed. If you send an updated cut after the initial cut has been evaluated, it is unlikely that the replacement cut will be viewed.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:
* Film title must be on all files and links;
* All submissions must be made via FilmFreeway, with a linked Vimeo link or video uploaded to FilmFreeway's online screener system at the time of submission;
* Keep a copy of your completed application for reference;
* Applicants may check the status of submission directly on FilmFreeway - NFF does not send out submission confirmations;
* Applicants will be notified of the festival's decision by the stated Notification Date.
ENTRY FEE:
* Entry fees may only be paid via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) through FilmFreeway's payment system;
* Entry fees will not be returned.
IF SELECTED:
* Photographs and a press kit will be needed immediately;
* Exhibition copies are due on Nantucket by early June;
* Filmmaker agrees that s/he will be solely responsible for the delivery of his/her exhibition copy to and from the festival.

ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY NFF BY THEIR RESPECTIVE DEADLINE. TO BE CONSIDERED COMPLETE, A VIMEO LINK OR FFW ONLINE SCREENER MUST BE AVAILABLE AND THE SUBMISSION FEE PAID BY THE RESPECTIVE DEADLINE.

FEATURE SCREENPLAY COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
* Screenplays must be standard feature length (80-125 pages) and standard US format only; an additional $1 per page fee applies for scripts over 125 pages; entrants will be contacted by Festival staff to arrange for payment for page overage fees;
* Screenplays may not already have been produced or currently be in active production;
* While it is not required that screenplays have an official copyright, NFF strongly encourages writers to register for a copyright. NFF also strongly suggests writers register their script(s) with the Writers Guild of America. Visit www.wgawregistry.org for information on how to do so.
* Screenplays must be in English;
* Adaptations of previously published or produced material are accepted, but official documentation of rights to adapt the material must be available upon request;
* Collaborations are accepted, but please note that ALL PRIZES ARE AWARDED TO A SINGLE WRITER ONLY - ie, NFF would provide a single check made out to one writer; and only a single space is provided in the Almanack Screenwriters writing retreat, even if the winning screenplay was written by a team.
* Screenplays must be completed and uploaded, with entry fee paid, by the entry deadline.
* The Feature Screenplay winner is expected to participate in the Almanack Screenwriters retreat in October 2026; co-written scripts are not eligible for consideration.

FEATURE SCREENPLAY + SCRIPT ANALYSIS OPTION:
*Same rules listed in the Feature Screenplay Category above apply to this category.
* Analysis will be sent to the entrant approximately within 4-6 weeks after confirmation of your submission;
* Our Script Analysis readers come from our Screenplay Competition readers committee and are selected for their breadth of knowledge and experience in reading screenplays (at least five years professionally). The author of each analysis is kept anonymous and is therefore not available to speak by phone regarding your analysis. You may reach out to our programming staff at submissions@nantucketfilmfestival.org to discuss any questions you may have regarding your analysis after its receipt;
* All submissions received for the Script Analysis Option will be considered alongside all other submissions for the Tony Cox Feature Screenplay Competition.

SHORT SCREENPLAY COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
* Short screenplays must be 40 pages or shorter; an additional $1 per page fee applies for scripts over 40 pages; entrants will be contacted by Festival staff to make payment arrangements.
* Screenplays may not already have been produced or currently be in active production;
*While it is not required that screenplays have an official copyright, NFF strongly encourages writers to register for a copyright. NFF also strongly suggests writers register their script(s) with the Writers Guild of America. Visit www.wgawregistry.org for information on how to do so.
* Screenplays must be in English;
* Adaptations of previously published or produced material are accepted, but official documentation of rights to adapt the material must be available upon request;
* Collaborations are accepted, but please note that all prizes are awarded to a single writer only - ie, NFF would provide a single check made out to one writer, even if the winning screenplay is written by a team;
* Screenplays must be completed and uploaded, with entry fee paid, by the entry deadline.

EPISODIC SCREENPLAY (60 MIN) COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
* Must be an original pilot script. We do not accept spec scripts for spinoffs of existing shows. Must be the FIRST EPISODE ONLY;
* Electronic copy of your submissions MUST INCLUDE a season and/or series synopsis. One paragraph total summary is preferred; one page total summary is the maximum.
* Scripts must be standard episodic television length (45-62 pages for 60 Min category); an additional $1 per page fee applies for scripts over 62 pages; entrants will be contacted by Festival staff to arrange for payment for page overage fees;
* We do not accept scripts/treatments for reality TV shows;
* Screenplays may not already have been produced or currently be in active production;
* While it is not required that screenplays have an official copyright, NFF strongly encourages writers to register for a copyright. NFF also strongly suggests writers register their script(s) with the Writers Guild of America. Visit www.wgawregistry.org for information on how to do so.
* Screenplays must be in English;
* Adaptations of previously published or produced material are accepted, but official documentation of rights to adapt the material must be available upon request.
* Collaborations are accepted, but please note that all prizes are awarded to a single writer only - ie, NFF would provide a single check made out to one writer, even if the winning pilot was written by a team;
* Screenplays must be completed and uploaded, with entry fee paid, by the entry deadline.

EPISODIC SCREENPLAY (30 MIN) COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
* Episodic pilot scripts of any genre may be submitted;
* Must be an original pilot script. We do not accept spec scripts for spinoffs of existing shows. Must be the FIRST EPISODE ONLY;
* Electronic copy of your submissions MUST INCLUDE a series and/or season synopsis. One paragraph total summary is preferred; one page total summary is the maximum.
* Scripts must be standard episodic television length (25-42 pages for 30 Min category); an additional $1 per page fee applies for scripts over 42 pages; entrants will be contacted by Festival staff to arrange for payment for page overage fees;
* We do not accept scripts/treatments for reality TV shows;
* Screenplays may not already have been produced or currently be in active production;
* While copyrights are not mandatory for submitted screenplays, NFF strongly encourages writers to register for a copyright. NFF also strongly suggests writers register their script(s) with the Writers Guild of America. Visit www.wgawregistry.org for information on how to do so.
* Screenplays must be in English;
* Adaptations of previously published or produced material are accepted, but official documentation of rights to adapt the material must be available upon request;
* Collaborations are accepted, but please note that all prizes are awarded to a single writer only - ie, NFF would provide a single check made out to one writer, etc, even if the winning screenplay was written by a team;
* Screenplays must be completed and uploaded, with the submission fee paid, by the entry deadline.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE FOR ALL SCREENPLAYS:
* Screenplays must be uploaded through FilmFreeway
* Screenplays must have a title page that includes only the project title. The applicant’s name MUST NOT appear on the cover or any other pages of the screenplay; all documents must be anonymous for the submission committee. Screenplays with names on the cover or any other pages of the screenplay will be DISQUALIFIED;
* Keep records of your entry for reference;
* There is no limit to the number of submissions per entrant, provided that separate entries and fees accompany each submission.
**Note: Due to limited time and internal deadlines, NFF will only guarantee that one version of a screenplay will be read. If you send an updated cut after the initial entry has been evaluated, we cannot guarantee that the updated entry will be read.

ENTRY FEE:
* We accept payment via FilmFreeway's payment system;
* Entry fees will not be returned;
* An additional $1 per page fee applies for scripts over 125 pages; Festival staff will be in contact to make payment arrangements.
* The Festival reserves the right to impose a $20 surcharge for returned checks for overages.

NOTIFICATION:
* Entrants will be notified by May 22, 2026.

IMPORTANT:
* If a screenplay wins the Tony Cox Screenplay Competition Award and is produced, we require the following credit to be included within the completed film's credits: “Winner, Nantucket Film Festival: Tony Cox Feature Screenplay Competition.”

TERMS:
I acknowledge and agree as follows:
1. I have read, understood, and complied with all eligibility requirements of the categories for which I would like this film/screenplay to be considered;
2. To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements in this document are true;
3. This film/screenplay is not subject to litigation nor is threatened by any litigation;
4. I am duly authorized to submit this film/screenplay to the Festival and its Competition;
5. By entering your work in the Nantucket Film Festival, you authorize us to use any trusted third-party online and cloud-based services and databases for hosting, managing, and/or transmitting your submission file(s) for our internal review;
6. I hold the Nantucket Film Festival harmless from damage to or loss of my film print to or from the Festival or otherwise during the Festival's possession of the film. I certify that I hold all necessary rights for this submission and accept the regulations of the Nantucket Film Festival.
7. The Nantucket Film Festival has the right to change any information contained in this document (including Festival dates, venues, events, presentation format, awards, and eligibility requirements) without further notice.