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Program Description

Welcome to the second season for The Red River Script Competition!

Please note that we are only accepting screenplays that are a maximum of 20 pages in length

Our nonprofit foundation for veterans is very excited to announce these genres for submissions:

HORROR & SCI-FI / FANTASY / THRILLER / MYSTERY / SUSPENSE

Visit tcfffv.org/rrsc2023 for further information.

Thank you,

The Cuddy Family Foundation for Veterans

 

Deadlines and Fees

Early
Dec. 31, 2022
Final
May 03, 2023
Submission Fees
Standard Fee
$15
$20
ISAConnect Fee
$15
$15

Program Benefits

We selected 25 finalists and one grand prize winner for our first screenplay contest and now we're launching the second season of The Red River Script Competition!

Welcome!

We have selected the following genres for short scrip submissions:

HORROR & SCI-FI / FANTASY / THRILLER / MYSTERY / SUSPENSE

Our nonprofit foundation dedicated to veterans has created this contest as a career stepping-stone for writers: not only will your script be made into a short film, but your entry fee is tax-deductible and there is also a $1,000 cash prize for the winning selection.

"The Scam" by Chelsea Kania was selected for the Grand Prize of our first event. We will be producing this script as a short film in Spring 2024!

Our esteemed panel of judges includes a former agent with ICM and UTA, an experienced screenwriter and author from New Orleans, a screenwriting instructor with 25+ years of experience, plus several others!

Though this is just the second season for The Red River Script Competition, we already have a phenomenal crew in Louisiana ready for the shoot. We plan to film in Fall 2024 with a projected budget of $15,000.

The Red River Script Competition is open to all screenwriters regardless of age or nationality. We are expecting a large number of entries, so please follow these guidelines:

Length: Please limit the length of your screenplay to 20 pages (or less) that are suited for a 15-20 minute short film.

Earybird Entry: $15 before December 31, 2022
Final Deadline: $20 before May 3, 2023
Announcement of Finalists: May 17, 2023
Announcement of Grand Prize Winner: May 26, 2023

Every screenwriter who enters this contest will be listed in the credits of the film. We look forward to reading your submissions!

Success Stories

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Grand Prize Winner for The Red River Script Competition

Chelsea Kania - screenwriter
"The Scam" by Chelsea Kania has been selected as the Grand Prize winner for The Red River Script Competition! This short screenplay immerses itself in the world of phone scamming, a little-understood phenomenon that has plagued the US in recent years. "The Scam" is a rollicking exploration of greed and...

Grand Prize Winner - Season 1 Announced

Chelsea Kania

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"The Scam" by Chelsea Kania has been selected as the Grand Prize winner for the first season of The Red River Script Competition!

Announcement Dates

25 Finalists

May 17, 2023

Grand Prize Winner

May 26, 2023

Sponsors and Associations

The Cuddy Family Foundation for Veterans Armed Services Arts Partnership Veterans in Media & Entertainment Community Building Art Works

Frequently Asked Questions

What screenplay won the Grand Prize for the first season?

"The Scam" by Chelsea Kania was selected for the Grand Prize of our first event. We will be producing this script as a short film in Spring 2023! Our esteemed panel of judges includes a former agent with ICM and UTA, an experienced screenwriter and author from New Orleans, a screenwriting instructor with 25+ years of experience, plus several others! "The Scam" is a short screenplay immerses itself in the world of phone scamming, a little-understood phenomenon that has plagued the US in recent years. This screenplay is a rollicking exploration of greed and desperation that unfolds the 21st century American Dream from the inside out.

Is this contest too good to be true?

Probably. The Cuddy Family Foundation for Veterans has helped to create this contest because of the need for veterans, friends and family of veterans, and those concerned about veteran-related issues to get involved in the creative arts. We believe doing so will help provide a sense of purpose to veterans (and others) in peril and greatly reduce the alarming suicide rate for veterans, both in the USA and elsewhere. This competition gives ALL screenwriters the chance to have their script developed into a short film. We expect to get thousands of entries from screenwriters all over the world and we're very excited to have our team read them!

Why is the short film being shot in Louisiana?

The foundation is based in Louisiana and does work nationally. We hope to use Louisiana-based actors and crew members and hope to have many veterans involved! Plus, you will love the food when you're in town for the film production of your script!

Will this contest get the grand prize winner and finalists some table reads with famous actors or in front of renowned agents and producers?

No. Based on the research we've done and the screenwriters we've spoken to, it appears as though the promises that many screenplay contests make to writers rarely come true. Our plan is different: turn the winning script into a short film, enter that short film into festivals, then see what happens. We want to be realistic with the expectations for our grand prize winner and our team. Look, if you have a short script on your desk or an idea in your head for a short film, you have nothing to lose by entering this contest. Plus, your entry fee is going towards the production of a short film and as a tax-deductible donation for a veteran-related charity. It's a win-win and we can't wait to read your script(s)!

Are there any particular script themes that will receive special consideration?

Here are the genres for the second season:

Horror. Sci-Fi. Fantasy. Thriller. Mystery. Suspense.

Do I have to be a veteran to submit a script for this contest?

No. We encourage submissions from veterans, but this competition is open to ALL screenwriters of any age and nationality. Please submit your script in English.

What will the budget for the film be?

Our projected budget for the short film is $15,000.

If I have questions, what should I do?

Email us directly at info@tcfffv.org and we will do our best to answer your questions. Thank you.

Rules

1) Submitted scripts must be original screenplays, and the sole property of the applicant(s). Screenplays submitted must not have been previously sold or produced. Adapted or based on screenplays are also accepted. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to register their screenplay and secure clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted materials included within the submitted screenplay. All entrants, including the nominees and winners, retain complete and exclusive rights to their written work.

2) All ages and nationalities are eligible.

3) All entries must be in English.

4) We accept screenplays up to a maximum of 20 pages in length.

5) There is no limit to the number of screenplays you may submit, but you must submit each entry separately and pay a fee for each entry.

6) All entries must be uploaded in PDF format. Contact details or names are allowed to be on the title page, but not recommended.

7) All screenplays should be written in industry standard format (Courier 12 pt font).

8) Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entry screenplay(s) are accepted.

9) Competition judges, readers and employees of our competition, past and present, and their immediate friends and families, are NOT eligible to enter.

10) Entries must be received on or before the deadline of May 3, 2023 and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. Entry fees (including services fees) are non-refundable and we do not provide any feedback or script consultations.

11) The film that is made from the script will be the exclusive property of the executive producers. The screenwriter will receive a 5% ownership position. All talent and crew selections, including director and script supervisor, will be made by the executive producers.

12) By entering The Red River Script Competition you agree to all the rules listed. Regardless of your status (winner or nominee), please note that your script, logline, and contact information may be shared with our partners and sponsors, and by submitting you agree with that. You also agree to release and hold harmless The Cuddy Family Foundation for Veterans 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 invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, 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 the prize.

Contact Information

info@tcfffv.org

Louisiana

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