ShowdownMAX

PLEASE UPLOAD CORRESPONDING ENTRY FORM ALONG WITH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO FILM FREEWAY

FORMS FOUND ON SHOWDOWN WEBSITE www.sunnycoastshowdown.com.au

SHOWDOWNMAX 2025 OFFICIAL RULES AND GUIDELINES

Sunny Coast Showdown is a trading name used by the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective Inc. ShowdownMAX is the name of the Sunny Coast Showdown’s 2025 submission and production stream, designed to support the development and production of commercially viable local projects. For the purposes of these terms all references to ShowdownMAX or Sunny Coast Showdown are references to the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective Inc

1. ELIGIBILITY
(a) ShowdownMAX is open to individuals aged 16 and over who reside in the Sunshine Coast Council or Noosa Shire Council Local Government Areas.
(b) For any collaborative projects, a Sunshine Coast resident must hold at least 50% ownership of a submission by a team and all team members must be Australian residents.
(c) Proof of meaningful contribution, by the Sunshine Coast resident, to the IP development will be required.
(d) Proof of residency (e.g., utility bill, lease, ID) must be provided upon request.
(e) Current ShowdownMAX committee members, executives and employees or any employees of ShowdownMAX financial sponsors are not eligible to enter ShowdownMAX.
(f) Submissions that have previously submitted to the Sunny Coast Showdown are eligible for resubmission, provided they meet current ShowdownMAX submission criteria.

2. SUBMISSIONS
(a) Submissions open at 9:00AM (AEST) on 12 May 2025 and close at 5:00PM (AEST) on 23 May 2025.
(b) A submission to ShowdownMAX can be a scripted or unscripted, commercial half or hour proof-of-concept pilots, feature-length or web series projects (Project).
(c) You can make submit multiple Projects to ShowdownMAX.
(d) A submission to ShowdownMAX must be submitted electronically through the designated portal. Hardcopy submissions will not be accepted.
(e) Submission fees must be paid in full at the time of submitting your Project. If you withdraw your Project, the submission fee is non-refundable.
(f) We reserve the right to refuse submissions (with a refund) in our discretion, for reasons including, but not limited to, inappropriate content or unprofessional conduct.
(g) All submission materials for a Project must be:
(i) in English (For any submission materials originally written in another language, a professional English translation must be provided);
(ii) your original work or you must hold all necessary rights to develop and produce the original work; and
(iii) provided in PDF format. Multiple files (e.g., script, treatment, budget) may be submitted but must be clearly labelled and professionally presented.
(h) Submissions for scripted film projects must include a completed script using industry-standard screenplay formatting (e.g., Courier font, 12pt, standard margin and sluglines);
(i) Scripted submissions may also include a proof of concept that showcases the tone, style and characters for the series, it is also strongly encouraged to include a series bible or series overview that outlines the arc of the season, character development and potential for further episodes;
(j) Submissions for unscripted projects must be submitted in an appropriate industry format. (e.g. 2-3 page creative outline of the project describing narrative approach, story, proposed characters and how it should appeal to the intended audience).
(k) If the unscripted project is talent driven it must include confirmation that principal subjects of the project are aware of the project and their role in the project.
(l) You must be able to provide full chain of title documentation to support your Project, including any collaboration agreements, rights assignments, life rights, or transfer documentation that supports your chain of title for the project and failure to do so may result in the immediate disqualification of the project.
(m) By submitting your Project, you represent, warrant and agree that you hold or will hold all intellectual property rights (including but not limited to copyright) necessary to develop, produce, complete, deliver and exploit all submission materials without infringing any intellectual property or other rights or interests and without contravening applicable law.
(n) If the Project incorporates content of a particular First Nations’ community, you must obtain any permissions, consents or releases from the appropriate representative of the First Nations’ community agreeing that the content may be included as part of the submission materials.
(o) A Project must not be the subject of any contractual or other obligations that conflict with the rights granted to ShowdownMAX.

3. ASSESSMENT
(a) Submissions will be reviewed and assessed by the ShowdownMAX selection committee. The selection process will not be made public, and ShowdownMAX is unable to discuss the selection process.
(b) The ShowdownMAX selection committee will select up to four shortlisted Projects that will be invited to participate in the ShowdownMAX development round (each a Development Project).

4. DEVELOPMENT ROUND
(a) The Development Round will take place between 14 June 2025 to 12 July 2025.
(b) During the Development Round, each Development Project will have the opportunity to consult with a select group of industry mentors regarding development activities for the project. The consultation opportunities for each Development Project are facilitated by ShowdownMAX personnel based on the needs of the Development Project and are limited to a total value of $10,000 per Development Project. These consultation services are not transferrable, exchangeable or redeemable for cash.
(c) The key contact or team (as the case may be) for each Development Project must be available during the Development Period and is required to lead in a live pitch of the Development Project to the ShowdownMAX judging panel on 13-14 July 2025 (Pitch Event).
(d) If for any reason, the key contact or team for a Development Project are not available to attend the Pitch Event, ShowdownMAX must be given at least 48 hours notice along with a proposal for a suitable representative to participate in the Pitch Event. If ShowdownMAX is not satisfied with the proposed representative, Showdown Max may in its discretion, select its own representative for the Live Pitch or withdraw the Development Project from the Live Pitch event.

(e) During the Pitch Event the ShowdownMAX judging panel will select one Development Project as the overall winner of the Live Event (Production Project).

5. PRODUCTION SUPPORT

(a) The Production Project will receive production and post-production support to produce a completed production of the Production Project (Production) up to a total value of $250,000 (Production Support) during the period of 21 July 2025 to 30 September 2025 (Production Period).
(b) You acknowledge that Production Support may include funds from screen funding agencies or other third party sponsors and you agree to do all things and execute all documents necessary to satisfy any funding requirements from any such screen funding agencies or third party sponsors.
(c) ShowdownMAX will facilitate a production partner and post-production partner to provide manage the Production Support for the Production.
(d) The production and post-production of the Production must take place on the Sunshine Coast.
(e) While your input is strongly encouraged, in the event of significant creative differences in relation to the Production, disputes shall first be resolved collaboratively between the disputing parties in good faith, provided that in the event the dispute cannot be resolved, Sunshine Coast Screen Collective Inc. will have the final approval and control over all creative, business and financial decisions in relation to the Production.
(f) If you elect, or are unable to actively participate in the Production, ShowdownMAX may proceed to completion of the Production without your input or involvement, and you may request to be removed from the final credits.
(g) The completed Production must be delivered to ShowdownMAX on or before 28 November 2025.
(h) A teaser/trailer of The Production will premiere at ShowFest on 1 November 2025.

6. PRODUCTION DISTRIBUTION AND FURTHER PRODUCTIONS
(a) ShowdownMAX, as partial or full financier of the Production, retains the right to distribute, the Production for a period of 12 months following final delivery and will receive a 20% commission fee on any such distribution licensing and sales of the Production. After deduction of any production costs and distribution expenses, any commission received by ShowdownMAX will be reinvested into future ShowdownMAX initiatives and related programs.
(b) If this right is not exercised by ShowdownMAX within 12 months of final delivery, entrants may pursue other distribution opportunities.
(c) If the Production leads to the production of any other audio-visual production based on the Production (including a series, feature film, sequel, prequel, remake or spinoff) (Further Production), ShowdownMAX will be entitled to receive 20% of your total share (whether received by you as an individual, via a production entity, directly or indirectly with any third party) of net receipts in the Further Production (as defined in the relevant principal financing agreement for the Further Production), which will be reinvested by ShowdownMAX into future ShowdownMAX initiatives and related programs.

7. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND PROMOTIONAL USE

(a) You grant (and warrant that you hold, all necessary rights to grant) to ShowdownMAX a royalty-free, worldwide, exclusive license to use, copy, alter and develop the submission materials for your Project during the Development Round, and if selected for Production Support, all rights necessary for ShowdownMAX to produce and exploit the Production.
(b) Any intellectual property rights in any new materials for the Project created during the Development Round based on your submission materials (Development Materials) or in and to the Production will also be owned by you.
(c) You grant (and warrant that you hold, all necessary rights to grant) to ShowdownMAX a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, non-exclusive license to use excerpts of the Project (including any submission materials or Development Materials), or the Production to promote the Project and ShowdownMAX.
(d) You Authorise and grant to ShowdownMAX the right to film, photograph and make other recordings of you during the Development Period, Production Period, Live Pitch, Show Fest, and any other related events and the right to use and publish your name, image and biographical material in connection with any development, production, marketing and exploitation of the Project, Production and ShowdownMAX.

8. POSTPONEMENT OR CANCELLATION
(a) ShowdownMAX reserves the right in its sole discretion to postpone or cancel any part or all of the ShowdownMAX program. In the event of cancellation ShowdownMAX will refund any submission fees.

9. WARRANTIES AND LIABILITY
(a) All projects must comply with all applicable Australian laws.
(b) You warrant that:
(i) all representations of fact in your submission materials, Development Materials and in any other information and material you give us are true, complete and not misleading, and any statements as to future matters in your application and other information and material are made in good faith based on reasonable grounds;
(ii) you meet all other submission requirements that apply to ShowdownMAX at the date of your submission, and you will continue to meet these requirements throughout the duration of your Project’s participation in ShowdownMAX.
(iii) you have full capacity, power and authority to enter into and perform your obligations under this Agreement.
(c) By entering your Submission into ShowdownMAX, you hereby release ShowdownMAX, (and its officers, employees, contractors, judges, sponsors and affiliates) from any and all liability for any claims, loss or damage you may suffer (including any claim for loss of publicity or opportunity to enhance your reputation) resulting from your participation in ShowdownMAX;
(d) By entering your Submission into ShowdownMAX, you hereby indemnify ShowdownMAX (and its officers, employees, contractors, judges, sponsors and affiliates) on demand against any loss, liability or expense that ShowdownMAX (or any of them) incurs (including any reasonable legal costs and including any claims by third parties) arising from or in connection with:
(i) any infringement or alleged infringement of intellectual property (including moral rights) as a result of the development, delivery or use of a Project, Development Project, Production or any part of the Submission Materials;
(ii) the exploitation of the Production (or any substantially similar versions of the Project);
(iii) the use by ShowdownMAX of any Submission Materials;
(iv) your representations or warranties being or becoming incorrect; or
(v) any unlawful, wrongful, willful or negligent acts or omissions by you.

10. MODIFICATION AND ACCEPTANCE
(a) ShowdownMAX reserves the right to modify or update these terms at any time and your continued participation after any updates indicates acceptance of the revised terms.
(b) Failure by ShowdownMAX to enforce any of its rights at any stage does not constitute a waiver of those rights.
(c)
(d) A formal Statement of Originality must be submitted alongside each entry (see attached document).
(e) By submitting your project to ShowdownMAX, you confirm you have read, understood, and agreed to the above terms.