We’re celebrating true stories, biographies, and adaptations of stories & characters in the public domain.

We welcome Doug Miro (creator of NARCOS) as our Grand Juror who will meet virtually in a private session with our finalists.

This unique ScreenCraft competition focuses on true stories, biographies and works in the public domain (published before 1927). Plus, we're excited to present two new offerings this year designed to deliver career boosting opportunities!

In partnership with Buffalo 8 and BondIt Media Capital (Executive Producer behind Netflix global hit THE JEFFREY DAHMER TAPES) we've added a new prize category and entry type focused on discovering the next great true crime project. There are two ways to be considered for this opportunity:

1. Writers who submit a script to this year's competition will automatically be considered.

2. Alternatively, if you have a true crime book, article, podcast, or even unique footage, information, access, or recordings, you can submit using the new Treatment entry type. You'll submit a 1-2 page cover letter that describes your project and expresses your vision for it. One winner will be selected by Buffalo 8 and BondIt Media Capital to receive an exclusive development opportunity with shopping to streamer, studio, and network buyers!

Awards & Prizes

THE JURY

The top scripts are considered by our incredible industry jury looking for true story & public domain projects.

KYLE CASTELLANET
Director of Development, Echo Lake Entertainment

After receiving his BFA in Film Production from Chapman University, Kyle started his career at Paradigm Talent Agency. Kyle joined Echo Lake in 2016 and has worked in both the talent and production departments. As the Director of Development and Production, Kyle manages the company's development and production efforts in both film and television. He also works directly with clients including Forbes Magazine and Spycraft Entertainment to help develop and produce projects.

SAM BROMELL
Screenwriter & Co-Producer ELVIS and THE GET DOWN

Sam Bromell is a writer, producer, and longtime collaborator of Baz Luhrmann, whose creative experience spans film, television, musicals, biopics, fashion shorts, art exhibits, literary adaptations and historical dramas. He was a Co-Producer on the Netflix series THE GET DOWN, and wrote the screenplay for Luhrmann’s most recent feature film, ELVIS, starring Tom Hanks and Austin Butler. Currently, Sam’s developing a spy series with Ethan Hawke for Showtime. He is also developing a pilot, AGENTS OF HONESTY, with Barry Levinson attached to produce and direct.

MATTHEW HELDERMAN
CEO & Co-founder

BondIt Media Capital is a world renowned film, television and media financier founded in 2013. Based in Santa Monica, BondIt has completed over 400+ film and television financing transactions resulting in $210M+ of invested capital, resulting in over $1B+ of aggregate production spending, and generating $500M+ of global box office revenues. Credits include the Oscar nominated LOVING VINCENT, the Netflix docuseries THE JEFFREY DAHMER TAPES, the Netflix original film RODNEY KING directed by Spike Lee, true crime narrative film BANDIT starring Mel Gibson which opened #1 globally on digital release, the Roland Emmerich directed and Bondit co-financed true story epic MIDWAY and countless others.

CHRIS BELLANT
Literary Manager & Producer, Waldorf Entertainment

Chris Bellant is a Literary Manager and Producer who, after years of developing film, TV, theater, commercials and digital content, recently launched Waldorf Entertainment.

CHRISTIAN TAYLOR
Principal and CEO, Taylor Lane Productions

Christian Taylor is an independent producer and founder of Taylor Lane Productions. Christian has spent over a decade in the entertainment industry, working in talent and literary management at Industry Entertainment and Lighthouse Entertainment and in development at Imagine Entertainment. Recent credits include the Lionsgate supernatural thriller DREAMKATCHER (2020), MEASURE OF A MAN (2018), and HICK (2012) starring Chloe Moretz, Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne, Blake Lively, and Juliette Lewis.

MJ GROGAN
Director of Development, ACE Content

MJ is the Director of Development at Ace Content. ACE Content develops and produces premium original content for studios, distributors, media networks and brands including feature film, episodic television, such as THE WAY I SEE IT.

THE PRIZES

Grand Prize Winner
The overall grand prize winner in either feature or TV category will be welcomed to the ScreenCraft Writer Development Program and receive personal introductions and phone calls with one or more top Hollywood literary manager(s) who are looking for talented emerging Film & TV screenwriters.

ScreenCraft's genre specific relationships include companies like MGM, Lionsgate, HBO Max, and over 150 other Hollywood managers, agents, producers, and development executives.

ScreenCraft has a proven track record for getting writers signed with managers, agents, and staffed in writing rooms.

They'll receive:

- Personal Introduction to top literary managers
- Accepted into the ScreenCraft Development Program
- $1,000 cash award
- Participate in an exclusive Finalist session with writer and producer Doug Miro.
- An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ only workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry

Feature & TV Winners
- $500 cash award
- Accepted into the ScreenCraft Development Program
- Participate in an exclusive Finalist session with writer and producer Doug Miro.
- An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ only workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry

Finalists
- Participate in an exclusive Finalist session with writer and producer Doug Miro.
- An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ only workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry

TRUE CRIME PRIZE

Presented by BondIt, this new category & entry type are focused on discovering the next great true crime project.

There are two ways to be considered for this opportunity.

1. Any writer who submits a script to this year's competition will automatically be considered.

2. Alternatively, if you have a true crime book, article, podcast, or even unique footage or recordings, you can submit using the new Treatment entry type.

You'll submit a 1-2 page cover letter that describes your project and expresses your vision for it. One winner will be selected by Bondit to receive an exclusive development opportunity.

BONDIT MEDIA CAPITAL
BondIt Media Capital is a world renowned film, television and media financier founded in 2013. Based in Santa Monica, BondIt has completed over 400+ film and television financing transactions resulting in $210M+ of invested capital, resulting in over $1B+ of aggregate production spending, and generating $500M+ of global box office revenues. Credits include the Oscar nominated LOVING VINCENT, the Netflix docuseries THE JEFFREY DAHMER TAPES, the Netflix original film RODNEY KING directed by Spike Lee, true crime narrative film BANDIT starring Mel Gibson which opened #1 globally on digital release, the Roland Emmerich directed and Bondit co-financed true story epic MIDWAY and countless others.

Rules & Terms

For full rules, terms, and conditions, please visit -- https://screencraft.org/truestory/

Rules:
1. Submissions are accepted via electronic submission only.

2. Entry fees are as listed on the site and checkout form. No coupon or discount is applicable on a previous entry.

3. Optional feedback from a professional reader may be requested at the time of entry. Requests for feedback can be done through Coverfly.

4. Entries may be any length -- the standard 1/2 hour is between 20 - 40 pages, and the standard hour long is between 40 - 70 pages, and the standard feature is between 85 - 120 pages. Any script submission longer than 120 pages will incur a $.50 per page overage fee for each page over 120 if it does not include feedback and $1 per page if the entry does include feedback.

5. There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit.

6. Entries must be received on or before the deadline dates by 11:59PM Pacific Time, and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. All entry fees are non-refundable.

7. All submitted material must be owned by the writer(s), however the material may be based on other works not owned by the writers.

8. Material must be submitted by the writer. Material written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with consent of the other(s).

9. If a writing team is chosen as a winner, prizes will be given to the person who submits the project. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing any prizes awarded as they deem fair (whether there is a cash value or not).

10.Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered material will be allowed for a limited time with a $5 reentry fee through Coverfly. Please proofread your script carefully before submitting.

11. It is recommended that original material be registered with the WGA or The Library of Congress before submitting to any competition, however we do not require registration.

12. Contact info may be included on the cover page of the screenplay, however it is not required. ScreenCraft uses Coverfly to manage submissions and automatically removes cover pages before scripts are read by the judges.

13. ScreenCraft claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remains with the original rights holders.

14. The decision of the judges will be final and cannot be contested in any manner. There is no score on a scorecard that guarantees advancement to the next level as advancement will be based on all scores in the competition.

15. ScreenCraft reserves the right to change deadline and announcement dates at any time.

16. ScreenCraft reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.

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  • Eddie Clay Thompkins III

    Thank you for welcoming Bloodlines The Mogadishu Diaries in your wonderful Festival. Great communication from the start. I highly recommend this Festival. Great opportunities for artists to compete and win!

    July 2022
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