AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL BREAKS RECORD FOR SUBMISSIONS
FOR 2013 SCREENPLAY & TELEPLAY COMPETITION
8648 ENTRIES FOR 2013, UP BY 32% FROM 2012
Wednesday, June 19th — Austin Film Festival (AFF) is proud to announce a record number of submissions for their 20th annual Screenplay & Teleplay Competition. The 2013 competition received a total of 8648 entries across all categories with 6236 individual script submissions. AFF’s long-standing history for launching writing careers brought in entries from all over the U.S. and 48 other countries and has attracted influential industry heavyweights such as AMC, Dark Hero Studios, Darkwoods Productions, Enderby Entertainment and the Writers Guild of America East to sponsor and judge specific categories. These numbers have grown by approximately 32% from last year’s submissions, present the most significant increase in the Festival’s 20-year history and further position AFF as one of the most prominent screenplay competitions alongside the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.
Competition winners will receive cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $5,000; reimbursements for travel and lodging while at the 2013 Festival & Conference (October 24-31); access to and recognition by some of the most important writers, agents, producers and filmmakers in the industry; and will also be included in the annual Producers Book distributed to more than 400 production companies. Writers advancing to the Second Round (roughly top 10-12%), Semifinals and Finals will be given exclusive opportunities to attend special roundtables and panels at this year’s Conference.
In AFF’s 20-year history, past competition entrants have signed with agencies, have had scripts optioned, acquired and made, and have jumpstarted TV writing careers. 2010 Finalist Chris Cantwell had his script “Halt & Catch Fire” (co-written with partner Chris Rogers) ordered by AMC as one of four projects this year to go to pilot. 2010 Comedy Screenplay Winner Julie Howe currently has her winning script “Jasper Milliken” in development with Sony-based producers, Joyce San Pedro (an AFF judge) and Alex Siskin. Appearing on the 2012 Black List are 2011 Comedy Screenplay Winner Max Taxe for his winning script “Goodbye, Felix Chester” and 2012 Drama Finalist Austin Reynolds for “From New York to Florida”.
To attend the 20th Anniversary Austin Film Festival and Conference, get your badge here.