What makes this contest worth entering?

The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards & Sizzle Reel-Trailer-Pitchdeck Festival stands head and shoulders above other "contests" which have no genuine relationship with the film and television industry. Our judges have, in the aggregate more than 1,000 produced? film and television credits, with every script reader and media screener personally vetted by our WGA-DGA-SAG founders. If you want your material objectively assessed by working industry professionals (and NOT by unpaid "interns" or hopeful writers who have never actually sold a script or made a movie), this is the competition where true value lies.

If I win the contest, what happens to my rights? Do I retain copyright?

You will always retain copyright to your material; The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards & Sizzle Reel-Trailer-Pitchdeck Festival retains no interest in your material, nor does it accept responsibility for copyright infringement by any third parties.
 
How do I know you won't steal my ideas or give them to someone else?
 
That's simply not the business we're in. We are neither managers, agents, or producers of any submitted material. Winning scripts, sizzle reels, trailers, and pitchdecks may be sent to our network of managers, agents, and producers at the sole discretion of the contest, and only with the express written permission of the writer. The fact is, screenplay ideas and movie concepts are very rarely "stolen" by anyone. Industry professionals have plenty of great material to choose from without stealing your ideas or those of anyone else.
 
Can I send you a hard copy of my script or a thumb drive of my video?
 
No. We only accept digital files. Your pages should be submitted as a PDF file only. Nothing else will be accepted, including Final Draft, Scriptwriter, or any other screenwriting software formats. Submissions in any file format other than PDF are automatically disqualified from the scoring competition. Visual media must be submitted in accordance with FilmFreeway upload requirements.

How do I send you my sizzle reel, trailer, or pitchdeck?
We only accept entries through the FilmFreeway portal. As soon as you create a project on your personal account in FilmFreeway, you will be directed to your Project Page where you can easily upload your project file (up to 10GB) or link your video via Vimeo or YouTube.
 
Can I talk to my reader or any of the judges?
 
The readers, film screeners, and judges are private individuals and working professionals with busy daily schedules, part of which involves reading contest script materials and viewing video submissions. Those writers entering at the "Personal Story Conference" level will have the opportunity to participate in a one-on-one personal 60-90 minute Zoom conference with a Senior Judge who will go through the major elements of your script. This is a professional "notes" session with strategies for developing material for the professional market. Submissions at this level will receive an Mp4 recording of the session.
Live screenings and marketing analysis of sizzle reel, trailer, or pitch decks is available to contest winners and selected finalists. Other than that, no contact with judges or analysts will be offered during the term of any competition.
 
What should I put on the cover page of my script??
 
Always put the title of your script, your name, and your contact information on the cover of any submission. Hint: do NOT indicate "WGA Registered" or any legal warnings on your script cover if you want someone to read it!
 
Where are you located?
 
The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards & Sizzle Reel-Trailer-Pitchdeck Festival are located in...Palm Springs, California, where contest founders spend half the year. For over 75 years, Palm Springs has had a very strong connection with the motion picture industry and the Hollywood studios. Today, it's the home of a vast number of prominent actors, writers, producers, agents, and executives, all of whom are looking for the next generation of screenwriting talent.
 
Do you withhold taxes from the prize money?
 
Monies will be paid to winners via Paypal only. No other payment options (check, bank transfers, money orders, etc.) are available. All prize money recipients must submit valid tax ID (W9 or W8BEN)  prior to payment posting.
 
How soon after the end of the contest are finalists and winners announced? 
 
?Within two weeks from the Final Deadline for entries.
 
Can I enter the contest if I live outside the United States?
 
Yes, of course. Many of our winning screenplays and some powerful sizzle reels and movie trailers have come from writers and filmmakers living in foreign countries. Your entry must be submitted in English.
 
Can I submit a script or sizzle reel for an animated film or tv show?
 
Yes. We've had several winners and some of our most competitive and entertaining submissions in the animation genre.
 
Will my tv pilot be read by someone with experience in broadcast or cable television?
 
Absolutely. Our founders and several of our Senior Judges have serious track records pitching and selling TV pilots. All TV material is judged by those experts. (As with any entry--feature film, TV script, Sizzle Reel, Trailer--there are never unpaid interns reading anything at The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards & Sizzle Reel-Trailer-Pitchdeck Festival
 
Can I submit my script or sizzle reel to another contest at the same time?
 
Yes. Your entry into The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards & Sizzle Reel-Trailer-Pitchdeck Festival is non-exclusive. You have the right to submit it to any other contest concurrently.
 
If I win the contest, will my name be made public?
 
Unless the writer/filmmaker indicates a preference to remain private, we actively publicize the identity of Finalists and Winners in order to promote their writing profile throughout the entertainment industry. When you submit your material to us, you grant us the right to publicize your name and your work in all worldwide media. Contest winners and finalists in all genres and formats will be invited to become part of The Writers & Filmmakers Spotlight, providing them with ongoing national and international exposure.
 
Can you help me get an agent?
 
We are not managers, agents, or producers and we do not in any way function in that regard. Winning feature screenplays and sizzle reels/trailers/pitchdecks may--at the sole discretion of contest administrators--be forwarded to our network of leading Hollywood literary managers and agency representatives for potential representation with the understanding that the contest takes no responsibility or interest in future relationships or outcomes. By submitting material to the contest, you give us permission to promote you and your writing at our option and sole discretion and with the understanding that we are not managers, agents, or producers and do not guarantee any results or success for your material.
 
If I make changes to my script or sizzle reel after entering the contest, may I send them in?
 
Because the pages you submit go immediately into the hands of the analysts and judges, no re-submissions are accepted. 
 
Can I send my script in as a Final Draft file?
 
No. Submissions must be in PDF file format, with the title ONLY indicated in the PDF file name (do not write anything else in the file name). Submissions as Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter files will not be read, scored, or judged and refunds will not be available. Titles of submissions and writers’ names should be in upper and lower case formatting. “All caps” entries will be recorded as such and may be scored lower.
 
Can I enter the same script for different levels of feedback?

You may submit the same material multiple times in a single contest, but they must be entered individually. When the same script is entered simultaneously for multiple levels of analysis, only the highest level of analysis will be provided, with no refunds for lower levels of scoring, comments, or analysis. You should always submit your entry at the highest level of scoring/analysis you are comfortable with.