“Saving Private Ryan”, “The Blind Side”, “Twelve Years A Slave”, “Erin Brockovich”, “Argo”, “A Beautiful Mind”, “Goodfellas”, “The Wolf Of Wall Street”, “Dallas Buyers Club”, and countless other critically acclaimed Hollywood films have one thing in common- They’re rooted in truth... either “based on a true story” or “inspired by true events”. The “Truth Be Told” Non-Fiction Story & Screenwriting Competition (Sponsored by Final Draft) is set to discover untold captivating true stories for adaptation in Film. We accept original Screenplays, Pitch Treatments, and Books for Adaptation.

Should your life story or the incredible story of someone you know be a Movie? Is your screenplay based on an amazing true story, or inspired by true events? Is your non-fiction book ripe for adaptation as a film? Our producers and sponsors welcome you to share your pitch and let the truth be told!

Special Update: Legendary film producer and former studio chief, Mike Medavoy, joins us to provide review and consideration of our finalists' pitches selected.

So how can your screenplay, story, or book qualify for our competition? Here’s a breakdown per category:

Original Screenplay:

The story within your screenplay must be either “based on a true story” or “inspired by true events”. This may be an untold perspective of a popular subject or person. It may be a personal story related to your own life or the life of someone you know. It may be based on historical events, current events, social issues, or any subject. It may be a scripted adaptation of a biography, or non-fiction book that translates well for film. Please provide synopsis of story along with any screenplay entered. All genres are accepted.

Pitch Treatment (Movie Idea):

A pitch treatment or written synopsis for a movie idea that is a true story. A synopsis for a narrative film based on a true story may be 3 to 10 pages or more. All genres are accepted.

Book for Adaptation (Book to Film):

Any non-fiction book (self-published or published by company) for adaptation as a narrative film. All genres are accepted.

Finalists selected will receive direct exposure to key film industry executives and producers seeking projects based on a true story, along with free screenwriting software by FinalDraft, and additional sponsorship prizes.

We are especially thrilled to have former studio chief and legendary film producer, Mike Medavoy, join us to give official review and consideration of the finalists' pitches selected. “Rocky”, “Annie Hall”, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Platoon”, “Amadeus”, “Dances With Wolves”, and “Black Swan” are just a sampling from the spectacular cinematic career of Mr. Medavoy. They paint our memories as some of America’s greatest films, and also garnered 17 Academy Award nominations, with 7 Oscar wins. With his most recent non-fiction projects produced ("The Promise", and "The Long Road Home") he joins us in search of new and captivating untold true stories for film and television.

RULES & TERMS for participation in the TRUTH BE TOLD non-fiction story and screenwriting competition, presented by ipitch.tv, llc:

Submissions are accepted via electronic submission only. By submission of any entry/materials participant is agreement and bound by the rules and terms set forth.

There is no limit to the number of entries you may make.

Any original screenplay, pitch treatment, documentary, or non-fiction book for adaptation based on a true story or inspired by true events are accepted.

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 the prize(s).

Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered material are not allowed.

This competition is for original written or filmed works that are based on a true story or inspired by true events. Screenplays must be no longer than 140 pages. We request that a synopsis of any screenplay or book submitted be attached to the submission.

All ownership and rights to the material submitted to this contest remains with the original rights holders unless and until the rights holder settles negotiations of any proposed deal for partnership or transfer of rights.

ELIGIBILITY:

All entrants must be at least 18 years of age.

All material submitted to other competitions or contests are eligible.

The material submitted must not be encumbered by any obligation to, or option held by, a third party prior to entering the competition.

Any submitted work that becomes optioned, published, produced or purchased between the time of submission and the end of the judging period will no longer be eligible.

Material should be submitted in standard PDF format, or any format allowed by the FilmFreeway system.

Material must include TITLE, LOGLINE and SYNOPSIS.

All material must be submitted electronically or it will not be eligible.

The preliminary finalists and winner will be chosen based on the following criteria: (i) originality of story; (ii) perceived viability in the marketplace; (iii) perceived entertainment value; The selected Finalists and Winner will be notified by e-mail within 2 weeks of close of entries. Finalists may be required to sign and return within seven (7) business days of receipt a notarized Affidavit of Eligibility and a Release and Indemnification and any other documents that ipitch.tv, llc or any other partner may require before receiving prize. We reserve the right to amend these rules at any time.

ENTRY CONDITIONS AND RELEASE

By entering the contest you acknowledge that you have read and agree to these conditions. You agree to release and hold harmless ipitch.tv, llc, its subsidiaries, affiliated companies, prize contributors, judges, readers, sponsors, and any other organizations responsible for administrating, advertising or promoting the contest, and every one of their respective members, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) past and present from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, including but not limited to violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s entry, participation in the contest and/or acceptance or use or misuse of prize; provided however, that such release will not apply to any commercial exploitation of the story by a Released Party in violation of your rights under applicable copyright law; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless ipitch.tv, llc, and its sponsors, partners, agents and employees from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys fees) relating to an entrant’s participation in the contest and/or entrant’s use or misuse of prize. Employees of ipitch.tv, llc and their immediate family members are ineligible to participate in the contest. Any such submission will be immediately disqualified. Entry to this contest is void where prohibited or restricted by any Federal, State or Local law. Voided entries will be refunded. Recipients’ eligibility will be verified before the prize(s) is awarded and the winner may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility.

I understand that ipitch.tv, llc is not responsible for preserving or returning all or any portion of the material to me. If the material submitted herein is not new or novel, was not originated by me, has not been developed to concrete form, is similar to any material submitted by, or created by any other participant before this time and hereafter in perpetuity to ipitch.tv, llc and its contest industry partners and released parties, or does not qualify for protection as an intellectual property, then I agree ipitch.tv, llc and its contest industry partners and released parties shall not be liable to me for use of such material under the laws of Intellectual Property Rights. I understand and agree that due to the position and process of the ipitch.tv, llc and its contest industry partners and released parties, they retain the right to develop and produce projects of similar theme, subject, format, or nature. I hereby warrant and represent: 1. that said material was created and/or is solely owned by me and no other person, firm or corporation has any right, title or interest therein or thereto; 2. that I have full right to submit same to you upon all of the terms and conditions stated herein; and 3. that the description of said material as set forth herein contains all of the elements thereof. I will indemnify ipitch.tv, llc and its contest industry partners and released parties from any and all claims, loss or liability (including reasonable attorney's fees) that may be asserted against you or incurred by you at any time in connection with said material or any use thereof, arising from any breach or alleged breach of these warranties.

REFUND POLICY

All entries are non-refundable.

PUBLICITY

Except where prohibited by law, participation in the contest constitutes each entrant’s consent to ipitch.tv, llc and its agents’ and contest sponsor’s use of entrants’ names, likenesses, photographs, and/or personal information for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. All uses of a entrants’ information are in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Winning entrant agrees to provide written and video testimonial supporting the contest presented by ipitch.tv, llc upon request and to be used in any and all forms of media.

COPYRIGHT AND OWNERSHIP

ipitch.tv, llc or any other partner, employee or agent associated with this contest claims no ownership to any original short story submitted to this contest. All ownership and rights to the material submitted to this contest remains with the original rights holders until and unless other agreements are made, such as negotiations of the deal proposal as prize.