Our aim is to forge an independent screenwriting competition that will launch the careers of cinema's next generation of great writers and artists. We want our competition to be a bridge between up and coming artists and the talent agents and managers that will ultimately put them in front of studio executives in both Canada and the US. We are also passionate about introducing them to the various producers and production teams that call our city their home.

Our city has a long history of nurturing and showcasing the most talented filmmakers in the entertainment industry. We want to give screenwriters the same level of exposure. We want to develop writers to work on studio films as well as high end independents. We are an independent screenwriting competition that wants to inspire, support, and develop writers at all levels to make great films that leave others touched, moved and inspired. And we love all kinds of scripts and stories from studio blockbusters to art house fare. No two paths are the same and no two stories are either. We accept scripts from all over the world not just the US and Canada and from artists of all shapes and sizes from anywhere in the world as well.

The Toronto Metropolitan Int'l Screenwriting Competition is a Cinema Public House production.

Our aim is to open doors for aspiring writers in all genres the same way Sundance, Edinburgh, and Cannes opens doors for filmmakers.

Awards & Prizes

We reward our grand prize winning screenwriter with various prizes including introductions to at least three top industry executives in New York, LA, or Toronto. Our top two finalists will also receive at least one personal introduction/consultation as well. These introductions can be invaluable to writers.

In 2017, Brian Andrews, one of our finalists signed with Management 360, one of Beverly Hills most prestigious talent management companies as a result of our personal introduction. Our grand prize winner is also given one hour worth of script notes from a top Hollywood development executive and or talent manager. In 2020 our grand prize winner was introduced to talent managers and executives at Empirical Evidence, the Cartel, and Artistic Vision Productions. Our finalists were introduced to managers at Kersey Management and Storyline.

2019's grand prize winner was personally introduced to six talent managers and producers and was given a one hour consultation with the top manager at Fictional Entity.

Please note that we do not advertise who we will be introducing our grand prize winner to as we prefer to tailor the introduction to the individual writer's style so as to get them the most benefit. For example, if our winner wrote a drama, we wouldn't be connecting them with people who specialize in comedy.

Only the Grand Prize Winner and top two Finalists receive industry distribution and prizes while Semi-Finalists are only rewarded with laurels and online recognition like in most screenwriting competitions. Prizes and recognition will not be given to any other entrants.

Rules & Terms

Writers retain all rights to their work.

Submissions are accepted via electronic submission only.

There is no limit to the length of the projects you submit. Projects can be in script or treatment form.

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

Scripts must be written in English, but can be in any film or television genre.

Entry fees for screenplay entries are posted on our partner websites and are non refundable.

Employees and family members of the film festival are not eligible.

Entries must be received on or before the deadlines and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. All entry fees are non-refundable

All submitted material must be original, and all rights must be wholly owned by the writer(s).

All entries must be the original, and unpublished, un-produced, un-optioned work of the entrant. The entrant ensures that he or she is the sole author of the work and that it does not infringe on any existing copyright.

All winners are responsible for their own U.S. income tax withholding.

The competition, its judges, and its officers accept no liability whatsoever for any claims of damages, real or perceived, by any entrant(s) as a result of their participation in this contest.

Industry distribution should in no way be in interpreted as a guarantee of future representation or success. Whether or not industry partners choose to work with finalists, is done so at the sole discretion of each and every individual company. We can not force our industry partners to option your property and or sign you as a client.

Past prizes listed in winner reviews should not be construed as current prizes. All current prizes are spelled out on our website. We also do not reveal the names of recipients on our industry distribution list.

Entrants must be 18 years or older to enter the contest. Misrepresentation of age, upon discovery, will forfeit entry and fees to the contest. Contest is void where prohibited by law.

All persons from anywhere in the world are eligible; however the material submitted must be in English.

All material submitted to other competitions or contests are eligible.

Professional writers, journalists, poets, and previous contest winners are eligible.

There are no requirements as to when the material was written.

Material must be your original work.

The material submitted must not be encumbered by any obligation to, or option held by, a third party prior to entering the competition. It can be based on existing IP, if that IP is in the public domain and or you also own the rights to that stage play, short film, etc.

We do not provide feedback, notes, grades, or rankings of any kind unless paid for with your entry at the time of entry. We assume you already know how to write at a professional level and that is why you are entering this contest.

By submitting your material you agree to be added to our email list, but can remove yourself by unsubscribing at anytime.

Please note that the Toronto Metropolitan International Screenwriting Competition is in no way affiliated with any other film festival, screenwriting competition, film school, or film related enterprise or organization including, but not limited to TSC, TCA, TWA, Tisch, and or TIFF.

TISC reserves the right to revoke recognitions status at any time with or without cause.

All judging is done at our sole discretion. We may have outside input, but all judging and all decisions are made at our sole discretion. Furthermore, we do not use "celebrity" judges or "industry" judges and we do not advertise that we use "celebrity" judges. We use experienced readers with a background in writing and a passion for cinema. We distribute our winners' scripts to industry executives, but those executives do not judge our contests. To prevent tampering we do not reveal the identities of our judges. Entrants are prohibited from contacting the judges during the competition. Any entrant who attempts to contact a judge will be disqualified and their entry fee forfeited. The decision of the judges is final.

We do not offer script notes and or script advice. We are looking to reward professional level writers that we can help get to the next level by recognizing their work. If these are services you desire, we recommend hiring a script consultant. These services can be found via a simple google search.

By entering the competition you hereby accept these competition rules.  
20 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Colin Caccamise

    It's a good festival to start out with, I would appreciate more contact with the participants, feedback is most beneficial. It's a great festival!

    April 2020
    Helpful
  • Stephen Don

    This is a very important competition. It works in a subtle and subterranean fashion. The networking isn't clear to a winner such as myself but scripts are being shown far and wide. Then it's up to producers and production companies to get in touch -if they so desire. Alas, that's the way it works everywhere.

    March 2020
    Helpful
  • Paul Grammatico

    I am so honored and excited to have been selected as the Grand Prize Winner for my screenplay, "Six Bullets at Sundown". I have gotten 6 contacts within a week and have an hour long consultation with a literary agent. I couldn't be more pleased by the incredible orchestration and efficiency of how this has been handled. This competition is a must for all emerging screenwriters.

    March 2020
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the kind words. We hope to see your story on the silver screen very soon.

  • Michael Marceau

    Thank you guys. See you next year. MM :)

    March 2020
    Helpful
  • Rachana Suri

    Amazing, Kind, helpful and passionate.

    May 2019
    Helpful