Screenplay First Award | Deadline: October 22, 2015 #seanocarolan.com #writing #scripts

Screenplay First is an exciting new screenwriting award brought to you by BBC Films and BBC Writersroom

BBC Films is committed to finding and developing new talent, collaborating with some of the foremost writers and directors in the industry. To celebrate 25 extraordinary years of British films, we are launching the Screenplay First Award. We are looking for screenplays from writers who are passionate about the stories they want to tell, and who have something to offer audiences across the length and breadth of the UK.

On receiving the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Films, Christine Langan, Head of BBC Films, said

“Our aim is to have the most diverse, eclectic, interesting and compelling slate imaginable”.

What unites Billy Elliot, Truly Madly Deeply, Philomena, In the Loop, Dirty Pretty Things, Mrs Brown, Fish Tank, An Education, My Summer of Love, Iris, Made in Dagenham, to name but a few, is that they were all made by BBC Films, they each offer a unique perspective on British life and they each come from a distinctive voice.

With that in mind, we are looking for bold, original feature film ideas from UK writers with previous credits in theatre, TV or radio but who have yet to have a feature film produced. In addition to an Award of £10,000 the winner will receive assistance with development from BBC Films.

The judging panel will include Christine Langan (Head of BBC Films); Anne Edyvean (Head of BBC Writersroom); and experienced industry professionals.

What are we looking for?

Original feature film ideas from writers who are passionate about the stories they want to tell, and who have something to offer audiences across the length and breadth of the UK. The winner of the Screenplay First Award will receive £10,000 and the support, time and advice of the BBC Films development team to develop their original feature screenplay, under the standard BBC terms and conditions.

Who can apply?

The Award is open to any writer who resides in the UK on a permanent / full time basis and has at least one professional writing credit of at least 30 minutes in length in theatre, TV or radio (writing credits for short films are not eligible). This opportunity is not open to writers who have previously had a full length feature film produced.

How to enter:

Writers are invited to submit a TV/Radio/Film/Theatre script that is at least 30 minutes/pages in length and legibly typed and formatted. Adaptations or scripts for existing shows will be accepted but writers should keep in mind clause 12 of the Terms & Conditions as the writer’s voice will be one of the judging criteria. Writers should also submit an outline of up to 5 pages in length for an original feature film idea, as well as a brief biography of work to date which should include a URL web address as evidence of your professional writing credit. For example, you could provide the URL of your credit on IMDB.com or your CV on your agent’s website or to the relevant programme page on a theatre or broadcaster’s website.

Submissions will open from 10am on Monday 5th October and close at 5pm on Thursday 22nd October 2015.

Submit your script via our online submission system. The link to submit your script will only be available during the script submission window. All scripts must be submitted in PDF format.

Read the FAQs for the BBC Writersroom online submission system

If you are unable to submit your script online for any reason, please refer to clauses 4 & 5 of the Terms & Conditions.

Before entering, please read the full Terms and Conditions and the FAQs for the award.

**Please note this opportunity will close at 5pm on Thursday 22nd October. Please allow adequate time to complete the submission process. No late submissions will be accepted.**