Australian writers, this one is for you! As part of Truant Pictures’ continued efforts to encourage and mentor new Australian voices working in the genre(s) of horror, science-fiction and/or thriller we are offering a $5,000 AUD cash prize to the winner of our Truant Screenplay Competition.

Enter your feature screenplay now for the opportunity to be selected by our judges as the grand prize winner and receive $5,000 AUD cash, a hot desk at Truant Pictures’ offices on the Fox Studios lot in Sydney for one week, written feedback from an established Australian filmmaker along with feedback from Truant Pictures' Development Executives Greg Schmidt and Toby Nalbandian.

The two ‘runner-up’ finalists will each receive $1,000 AUD cash prize, and written feedback from an established Aussie filmmaker.

We are committed to discovering and helping to develop the next generation of Aussie genre talent. If that sounds like you, get that psychological thriller, supernatural horror or science fiction adventure into shape, and enter now. We can't wait to read your work.

All screenplays will be judged in accordance with set judging criteria. Judges will be looking for unique voices, originality, command of screenwriting craft and entertainment value. The decision of judges is final.

Terms and conditions apply.

One Grand Prize Winner will receive:
- $5,000 AUD cash.
- A desk at Truant Pictures’ offices in Sydney for 1 week (5 business days) (to be used at a mutually convenient time within 12 months of the ‘Grand Prize Winner’ announcement date, being 25 November 2019) (No travel, accommodation or per diems included).
- Creative feedback from Truant Pictures’ Development Executives Greg Schmidt and Toby Nalbandian.
- Written feedback from an established Aussie writer.
- A free script consultation with highly respected Los Angeles-based script consultant (and expat Australian) Tim Schildberger who will read your script, deliver up to a page of written feedback focused on structure, character development and emotional connection, followed by a phone/skype call to discuss the notes, and offer advice on ways to make your work as attractive as possible to ‘Hollywood’ readers (valued at $340 USD).
- A trophy.
- Special Announcement and coverage via a Truant Pictures’ media release and exposure on related social media.
- A 10% discount to all LiveRead/LA competition entries and script consulting services for 12 months from the ‘Grand Prize Winner’ announcement date, being 25 November 2019.

Two Runner-up Finalists will each receive:
- $1,000 AUD cash.
- Written feedback from an established Aussie writer.
- Up to half a page of written feedback from script consultant Tim Schildberger.
- A Special 'Finalist' Certificate of Achievement.
- Special Announcement and coverage via a Truant Pictures’ media release and exposure on related social media.
- A 10% discount in respect of all LiveRead/LA competition entries and script consulting services for 12 months from the ‘Grand Prize Winner’ announcement date, being 25 November 2019.

Semi-finalists (up to the top 10% of entries) will receive:
- A Certificate of Achievement.
- A 10% discount in respect of all LiveRead/LA competition entries and script consulting services for 12 months from the ‘Grand Prize Winner’ announcement date, being 25 November 2019.

• Entrants must be citizens or permanent residents of Australia.
• Entrants must be 18 years or older at the time of entry.
• An entrant’s total earnings for motion picture and television fiction writing must not have exceeded $30,000 AUD in the 12 months prior to entering the competition. This limit applies to compensation for motion picture and television fiction writing services as well as for the sale of (or sale of an option on) fictional screenplays, teleplays and treatments. This limit also applies to any government financed or other development funding.
• Current employees of Truant Pictures and ‘Truant Screenplay Competition’ administrator LiveRead/LA (and their affiliated entities) and ‘Truant Screenplay Competition’ readers and judges, as well as the immediate family members of all such individuals, are not eligible for the competition.

• All entries must be electronically submitted and entry fees paid via the FilmFreeway.com website by midnight Australian Eastern Standard time on or before the respective deadline.
• The entry fee for each screenplay submitted is $35 USD if submitted by 22 July 2019 (the Earlybird Submission deadline), $45 USD if submitted by 12 August 2019 (the Regular Submission deadline), and $52 USD if submitted by 2 September 2019 (the Extended Submission deadline).
• Entrants may submit multiple entries. Each submission must include its own unique screenplay and entry fee.

• Entries must be in the genre of horror, science-fiction or thriller or any sub-genre thereof. No genre will be given preference.
• An entry must consist of an original feature film screenplay, with a maximum length of 120 pages, written in English, in industry standard screenplay format (12-point Courier font) and submitted as a pdf file via the FilmFreeway.com website. Any screenplay that does not adhere to all of these requirements is NOT eligible and entry fees will not be refunded.
• The title page should only include the title of the screenplay. The entrant’s name, address, phone number, or any other identifying information must not appear on the title page or any other page of the screenplay.
• Entries should not include resumes, pitches, synopses, casting suggestions, letters or other supporting documentation. Judges will not receive these materials.

• All work must be original. Adaptations are not permissible.
• Collaborative work is eligible. By submitting, writing teams acknowledge that all members of the writing team have read, agreed to and are in compliance with these rules and terms. Writing teams also acknowledge that any prizes won must be shared by the writing team.
• Entrants must be the author (or co-authors where collaborative) of and own and hold all rights in and to their screenplay and entrants must have the authority to enter.
• Any screenplay currently under option or previously optioned or sold is NOT eligible. If a screenplay is optioned or sold at any point after submission during the term of the competition, the entrant must immediately notify 'Truant Screenplay Competition' administrator and the screenplay will be withdrawn from the competition at that point, but the entrant will retain any competition placement awarded up to the time of the option or sale.

• Entrants retain complete ownership of their screenplays.

• Once an entry has been submitted and payment has been processed, no refunds will be issued. No revisions, re-submissions or substitutions will be accepted.

• The decision of judges is final.
• Semi Finalists will be notified by email on 4 November 2019 (Australian Eastern Standard time).
• The three Finalists will be notified by email on 18 November 2019 (Australian Eastern Standard time).
• The one Grand Prize Winner will be notified by email on 25 November 2019 (Australian Eastern Standard time).
• The one Grand Prize Winner and two ‘Runner-up’ Finalists will be announced via a Truant Pictures’ media release.

• Entrants acknowledge and agree that Truant Pictures (or any of its related entities) are entitled to use an entrant’s name, script title and logline for announcement and promotional purposes in relation to the ‘Truant Screenplay Competition’.

• Winners of cash prizes are responsible for providing accurate up-to-date bank account details to receive the cash prize. Winners of cash prizes are responsible for their own income tax. Entrants acknowledge and agree that Truant Pictures (and any of its related entities) and the ‘Truant Screenplay Competition’ administrators are not responsible for withholding any taxes or payments on prize money to any government agency.

• Entrants acknowledge and agree that Truant Pictures (and its related entities) and ‘Truant Pictures Competition’ judges receive numerous submissions of ideas, stories, and scripts, and that each entrant’s screenplay and the ideas and stories embodied therein may be similar or identical to other material received and/or developed by one or more of these companies and individuals.

• Screenplays entered must not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party. Entrants shall indemnify and hold harmless Truant Pictures (and its related entities) and competition administrator LiveRead/LA (and their respective employees, contractors and agents) and Truant Screenplay Competition' readers and judges from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim (including copyright, trademark, credits, and/or publicity claim) in relation to the screenplay entered.

• By entering the ‘Truant Screenplay Competition’, entrants agree that they have read, agreed to and are in compliance with these rules and terms.

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  • Craig Delahoy

    I really enjoyed submitting to this festival. I received excellent feedback on reaching the semi-finals, giving me the confidence to continue to pursue this project. I look forward to the next comp!

    September 2020