Contest Rules, etc.

Submissions as Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter files will not be read, scored, or judged.

• There is no limit to the number of screenplay, teleplay, short film scripts, pitch decks, sizzle reels, or movie trailers you may submit.

• Submitted material must be received by midnight of each monthly deadline date and submission fee payment must accompany your material.

• All entry fees are non-refundable; submissions in any file format other than PDF or MP4 video files or YouTube links will be disqualified with no refund.

• Page count limitations: Short Film Scripts = 30pp    Television Scripts = 70pp   Feature Screenplays = 125pp  Entries exceeding those page limits will incur a 20% reading fee surcharge.

• All material submitted to these contests must be original, and all rights must be wholly owned by the writer(s).

• Screenplays and scripts must be submitted by the credited writer. Screenplays and scripts written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with consent of the other(s).  

• All writers must be credited on title page.

• If a screenwriting team is chosen as a winner, prizes will be given to the screenwriter submitting the project. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing the prize money, with no direction from The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards Contest administrators, staff, or judges.

• Once submitted, material is promptly assigned to analysts and judges and reading/scoring begins. Revisions, rewrites, addenda, or substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered screenplay or script material require a separate entry. 

• Multiple entries are accepted. Submitting the same script pages for different levels of analysis is fine. In all cases, each entry or request for varying levels of analysis must be entered individually. When multiple levels of analysis are NOT entered individually, only the highest level of analysis will be provided with no refunds for other analysis services.

• By using our service, you authorize us to use any trusted third-party online and cloud-based services and databases for hosting, managing and/or transmitting your submission file(s), including Film • Freeway and/or Coverfly. By using our services, you grant us permission to use your name and likeness in any and all promotional activities and indemnify us from such use.

• All copyright, ownership and derivative rights to the material submitted to The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards contest(s) remains with the original rights holders and/or author. 

• By submitting material to the contest, writer gives contest administrators permission to promote the work and the writer to third parties, including professional literary managers and agents at their sole discretion. By submitting material to the contest, you agree to hold Butterfly Beach Media, Inc., its officers, managers, employees, contractors, and representatives of all kinds harmless against any and all claims. No assurances, warranties, or guarantees are either implicitly or explicitly made as to the efforts or lack of response by any and all third parties to whom Butterfly Beach Media Inc or any of its subsidiaries may send or transmit material.

• Plagiarized or non-original written materials will be disqualified.

• Once announced and delivered, all prize package items and taxes appurtenant thereto are the responsibility of the recipient.

• All scores are final and purely at the discretion of the Senior Judging Panel.

• Writer acknowledges that any and all written feedback and analysis commentary is objectively presented and intended to be illustrative, instructive, and helpful in guiding the writer along a professional path.  Scores and comments are in accordance with current professional film and television industry standards, but writer accepts them as purely subjective pursuant to the judgment and opinion of the individual reader-analyst and agrees not to request, demand, or suggest alternate, different, or revised written feedback; no guarantees of satisfaction on the part of the writer are expressed or implied.

Eligibility:

• All screenwriters and filmmakers, without regard to professional or amateur status, age, gender, race, ethnicity, country of origin, native language, political orientation, or sexual preference are eligible.

• The screenplay, television script, or short film script material submitted must be in English.

• All screenplay, television script, short film script, or visual or media material submitted to other competitions or contests is eligible.

• There are no limitations or restrictions as to date of authorship of submitted screenplay, television script, or short film materials.

• The screenplay, television script, or short film script material submitted must not be encumbered by any obligation to, or option held by, any third party prior to entering the screenplay competition.

• Screenplay, television script, or short film script material should be submitted in standard screenplay format, font, spacing and margin.
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• No limitations regarding title page content. Title and name of screenwriter and contact information on cover page is recommended.

• Live consultations are limited to one draft and one entry per writer per contest period.