**Because of personal reasons we have post-poned the 2017 Summit until 2018. The People who have submitted should have been refunded and will be. We are reviewing the scripts submitted for our competition as recognition will still be honored with prizes from a few of our gracious sponsors. Our apologies for the confusion.

The inaugural Canada International Screenwriters Summit and Competition (CISS) is a conference about all things screenwriting - three full days of lectures, workshops, screenings, mock pitching, and an awards ceremony all relating to the screenplay! It's our goal to cultivate the craft of screenwriting, and to protect and prepare screenwriters for the next level of development.

"CISS your passion into reality!" ...and what better way to do that than a friendly competition?

**Because of personal reasons we have post-poned the 2017 Summit until 2018. The People who have submitted should have been refunded and will be. We are reviewing the scripts submitted for our competition as recognition will still be honored with prizes from a few of our gracious sponsors. Our apologies for the confusion.

The top screenplay will have the option to be table read and live-screened during the Summit, and the top three screenplays of the Summit will receive a lifetime license from our sponsor, WriterDuet.

Each top screenplay selected in their genre will win a "1-year ISA CONNECT Membership" to the 2017 Canada International Screenwriters Summit (est. value $120 USD).

Every screenplay selected will win a "Pro Badge" to the 2017 Canada International Screenwriters Summit (est. value $500 CAD).

If a feature and its screenplay are selected, the selection will win two "Pro Badges" and the option to be screened at the 2017 Canada International Screenwriters Summit (est. value $1000+ CAD).

GENERAL:
1. Awards and Official Selections are based on overall merits of the works submitted, and are given at the sole discretion of the jury and programming committee.
2. All entries must be submitted in English. Films not in English must be subtitled in English.
3. The entry fee is nonrefundable.
4. Official Selections will be contacted approximately one month prior to the Summit start date.
5. CISS reserves the rights to make any changes in event scheduling or programming.
6. Multiple entries may be submitted. Each submission will be considered separately.
7. All responses by CISS will be made by email, unless specified.
8. Works in progress are accepted, but not encouraged.
9. Copyright: All entrants are encouraged to register screenplays with the Writers’ Guild of Canada or America, East or West: www.wgaeast.org/script_registration, or www.wga.org/registration/index.html, http://www.wgc.ca/script_reg/index.html; we also encourage registering films with the proper respective Copyright Office.


SCREENPLAY COMPETITION:
1. Content: All entries submitted to the Canada International Screenwriters Summit must be original works by the applicant.
2. Submissions: Submissions must be made online through our designated method. No mailed or emailed entries are accepted. All submissions are final.
3. Multiple Categories: Every submission requires an entry fee for said category.
4. Formatting: All entries must be in English, formatted to industry standards, with pages properly numbered and in 12-point Courier font. WriterDuet is our recommended software. Please include a title page with ONLY the title of the entry.
5. Length:
-Feature: 40 - 130 pages
-Short: Under 40 pages
-Teleplay (30 minute pilot): 20–35 pages
-Teleplay (60 minute pilot): 45–60 Pages
6. Revisions: CISS considers all entries to be complete upon submission.
7. Ineligibility: Scripts must not currently be under option or sold as of 8/24/2017. CISS does not accept adaptations or specs of works that are not original.
8. Judging: Scripts will be judged on 10 criteria (including, but not limited to, story, pacing, and hook). Selections, awards, and decisions of CISS are final.
9. Winner Notification: Finalists will be notified approximately one month before the Summit start date (July 2017). Winners in each category will be announced at the CISS Awards Ceremony during the Summit in August 2017.
10. Co-Authors: Awards are given per entry, not authors; therefore, it is up to the winning team to divide prizes.
11. Feedback: Writers have access to their overall CISS Script Evaluation from the judging process. You may receive this feedback by sending a request to script@caniscreenwrite.com between Sept 1-14, 2017.

* Apprentice Category
Student: Applicant must be an active post-secondary student at time of submission.
Under 18: Applicant must be 18 or under as of August 24, 2017.

*Canadian Category
The script must take place in Canada.

FROM SCRIPT TO FILM COMPETITION:
1. Content: All entries submitted to the Canada International Screenwriters Summit (CISS) must be original works by the applicant.
2. Submissions: Though you may submit screeners in conjunction with your application (see next section), all submissions of screenplays must be made online through our designated method. No mailed or emailed entries are accepted. Each submission requires an entry fee for said category and all submissions are final.
3. Screeners: CISS encourages submissions for pre-screening via Vimeo or YouTube link. Remember to provide updated passwords, or your film may be rejected. You may also send hard copies on DVD or BluRay. Please email script2screen@caniscreenwrite.com for details.
4. Formatting: Films not in English must be subtitled in English, and if the script is not originally in English, it must be translated before submission.
5. Length:
-Feature: 40-130 minutes
-Short: under 60 minutes
6. Revisions: CISS considers all entries to be complete upon submission.
7. Ineligibility: All submissions must meet WGC/IPA standards and not impede on prior distribution agreements.
8. Judging: Scripts will be read before the films are watched. They will be judged on 10 criteria (including, but not limited to, story, pacing, and hook.) Selections, awards, and decisions of CISS are final.
9. Notification: Official Selections will be notified approximately one month before the Summit start date (July 2017). Official Selections will be acknowledged at the CISS Awards Ceremony during the Summit in August 2017.
10. Screenings: The entrant submitting the film warrants that (s)he is authorized to commit the film to at least one screening during the 2017 Canada International Screenwriters Summit, August 24-27, 2017. Official Selections must send a hard copy of the film for its screening. Any films that are not received in time will be replaced in our lineup.
11. Shipping: Filmmakers will assume shipping costs of material and exhibition materials to the Canada International Screenwriters Summit. We are not responsible for lost or late packages, and unfortunately cannot offer reimbursements of funding in such instances.
12. Reproduction Agreement: Entrants grant CISS the right to utilize footage and promotional materials from any submitted film, video, or other project material for the purpose of exhibition or promotion at the Summit.

DISCLAIMERS:
By submitting my work to the Canada International Screenwriters Summit (CISS), I:
1. Recognize that CISS, its representatives and its files are replete with ideas and stories for theatrical motion pictures and television programs, and that new ideas for motion pictures and television programs are constantly being submitted to CISS. I also recognize that many stories and ideas are similar, and often different stories and ideas that are related to one or more common underlying themes may appear.
2. Agree to indemnify CISS and its representatives, including its judges and readers, against any and all claims, expenses, losses or liabilities that may be asserted against CISS and its representatives at any time in connection with said Material, or any use thereof, including without limitation those arising from any breach of the warranties and promises given by me herein.
3. Hereby release and discharge CISS and its representatives, including judges and readers, from any and all claims and demands and will not assert, maintain, or assist any party in asserting or maintaining any claims or demands against CISS arising out of, or in connection with the Materials, including without limitation, any and all claims for libel, rights of publicity, theft, or misappropriation of ideas or trade secrets or infringement of copyright or other intellectual property rights.
4. Warrant that I am the sole owner and author of the Material submitted.
5. Agree that any part of the submitted Material which is not novel or original and not legally protected may be used by CISS without any liability on CISS.
6. Recognize that CISS shall not be under any obligation to me with respect to the submitted material, except as may later be set forth in a fully executed written agreement between us.
7. Have retained a copy of the Material and agree that CISS shall not be obligated to return the Material to me.
8. Acknowledge that CISS is under no obligation to use the Material in any manner. I warrant that it is original to me and that I am the author and owner of the Material.
9. Shall indemnify and hold harmless the Canada International Screenwriters Summit, its vendors, sponsors and supporters 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 involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
10. Agree that I have read, understood, and agree to all the aforementioned festival rules and guidelines that have been laid forth.