Sunscreen Film Festival

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Sunscreen Film Festival partners with Hollywood Production and Distribution companies to produce winning screenplay into film.

Click this link to submit http://sunscreen.ticketmob.com/show.cfm?id=7617&cart

Submissions Accepted:
Oct. 22 to January 31, 2014 Regular Deadline
Feb. 1st to Feb. 15, 2014 Late Deadline
Finalists Announced: April 1, 2014
Winner Announced: May 3, 2014 (at Sunscreen Film Festival)
Questions: screenplay@sunscreenfilmfestival.com or 727-259-8417

Sunscreen is a 9 year old 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization as recognized by the IRS,  Sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (the Academy Awards).  Sunscreen focuses on the art of film, education, economic development and providing opportunities to filmmakers.

FAQ's

Who's involved?  LA Based Distribution Company Indican Pictures, Production Company Red Baron FIlms and Consulting Producer David Brookwell (Soul Surfer).
 

Do I retain the rights to my script? Yes all rights remain with the writer.  The winning screenplay will need to sign a contract with the production company allowing the use of the screenplay in order to be produced.

What's the budget?  The selected screenplay will be for a film budgeted at around $500,000.

What happens with the rest of the scripts? 5 scripts will be selected as finalists.  All scripts are read by professional readers and if there are scripts they like in addition to the winning script those can be passed along to producers and production companies for consideration with the writer's permission.

Does ordering coverage help or hurt my chances? The coverage is for the writer's benefit it has no effect on the outcome of the contest.

Why the fee to submit?  Two reasons; one we have to pay the readers to read and evaluate the scripts, this is their profession and what they do for a living.  Two, without a fee we would get thousands of scripts and there would be no possible way to read them all. 
 
What compensation would the writer receive?  Compensation would be 100% negotiable but would fall in line with what a writer would typically be paid for a film of that budget.
 
Is there a right of refusal to move forward if selected as the winner or upon entering the competition does it mean the winner must accept the terms/conditions? The writer does not have to have their screenplay made into a film if they do not want to, it’s 100% their choice to accept the prize offered or not.
 
Who will direct the produced feature?  No director has been selected but a director will be chosen based on a number of factors including;  genre and style of script, availability of successful directors within that genre or style, directors of films that have screened at the Sunscreen Film Festival will be considered as potential directors as well.

 

After Payment Submit Screenplays to screenplay@sunscreenfilmfestival.com Please include Name of Screenplay, your full name, email address, and phone number.  Screenplays submitted without payment will be deleted.

Coverage Service:
 The Coverage Service includes a brief plot synopsis and then offers an in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your screenplay. The Coverage Service also offers the screenwriter some recommendation as to what "the next step" could be with their screenplay and writing. Our Readers' goal is to assist you in crafting your submission into something that can advance in competition and impress agents, managers and producers. Standard Coverage will be available within two months from the time you submit your work. A notice will be sent to the e-mail address you provided in your screenplay application form when your Coverage is available.

Coverage Readers are Hollywood professionals who read and provide coverage for major Studios, Agents, Producers and production companies.

Industry-standard coverage is two pages of synopsis and one page of comments. This all varies depending on the story -- more intricate plots usually have a longer synopsis.

 
(Los Angeles, CA. St. Petersburg, FL) October 21, 2013- The Sunscreen Film Festival is holding a screenplay competition where the winning script selected will be produced into a film.  Manhattan Beach, CA based Production and Management Company Red Baron Films http://www.redbaronfilms.com/ and Los Angeles based Distribution Company Indican Pictures http://www.indicanpictures.com/ will select the winning screenplay to be produced.
 
“This is an amazing opportunity for screenwriters everywhere.  The one thing every writer wants is their script to get into the hands of someone who can get their screenplay made.  No matter where you live this is that opportunity” commented Festival Director Tony Armer.
 
Red Baron Films will develop and produce the winning script.  Indican Pictures will have first right of refusal to acquire and distribute the film.  Indican distributes domestically and internationally to all media platforms (Theatrical, Video, TV, VOD, Streaming, Ancillary, Internet).
 
Red Baron Films President Robert Enriquez had this to say “We’re excited for the opportunity to select a great script to turn into a great film”.  Red Baron Films produces independent films and represents actors in Film, TV, Video Games, and more.
 
All genres are welcome, including but not limited to:
Christmas (holiday themed {Thanksgiving, Halloween, New Year’s})
-live action family with a solid uplifting message (that includes dogs, cats – any cute animal works)
-faith based
-horror
-westerns
-sci fi (streamlined/designed for low budget)
-rom/coms
-war
-action
Screenplays will be accepted from October 23^rd – February 15^th, 2014.  The finalists will be announced on April 1^st, 2014. 

Winner announced May 3rd at the Sunscreen Film Festival.



Rules:
Rules:

1. Screenplays must not have been previously optioned, purchased or produced.
2. Screenplay coverage is only furnished to those screenplays requesting coverage.
3. Screenwriters who have had previous feature screenplays produced and distributed by non-independent means are ineligible.
4. Screenplays must be in English, formatted in 12-point courier font.
5. Don't cheat in an effort to keep the page count to 120 or less. We will notice and ask that the extra fee be paid for screenplays in excess of 120 pages.
6. To enter the Sunscreen Film Festival Screenplay Competition you must agree to its Terms and Conditions.
7. The Sunscreen Film Festival Screenplay Competition Readers' decisions are final.
8. Teleplays must not have been previously optioned, purchased or produced.

Guidelines:

1. In the event of multiple writers, list all additional co-writers. Please note Sunscreen divides awards equally among co-writers.
2. Sunscreen is not responsible for screenplays or coverage stolen or lost in transit
3. Cover pages are optional. If you decide to use one, it would ideally include just a title, author name, WGA registration number and Copyright information.

SCRIPT REGISTRY: To protect your script, we strongly suggest you register your work with the Writers Guild of America, (www.wga.org or call 323 782 4500) and the US Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/).

For those who have selected "Submission with Return Coverage"

EXPLANATION OF SERVICES:

Feedback:
Coverage Service: The object of Sunscreen’s Online Coverage Service is to provide you with extensive constructive criticism about your work. The Coverage Service includes a brief plot synopsis and then offers an in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your screenplay. The Coverage Service also offers the screenwriter some recommendation as to what "the next step" could be with their screenplay and writing. This may address media, films and screenplays, production companies and agencies the writer should be aware of, as well as any words of wisdom from one of our Readers. Sunscreen’s Coverage provides you with an insight into the mind of a Reader who reads hundreds of independent screenplays each year. Our Readers' goal is to assist you in crafting your submission into something that can advance in competition and impress agents, managers and producers. Standard Coverage will be available within two months from the time you submit your work. A notice will be sent to the e-mail address you provided in your screenplay application form when your Coverage is available.

About our Coverage Reader

The readers have read for Intellectual Property Group co-president Joel Gotler, as well as the manager of a two-time Oscar-winning writer/producer. Additionally a couple of the readers do read for After Dark Films, the production company known for HorrorFest: 8 Films To Die For, an annual nationwide theatrical event. After Dark recently released its first 8 After Dark Originals and, through a partnership with Silver Pictures, began producing original action films starring, among others, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Cung Le, and Jim Caviezel.

Industry-standard coverage is two pages of synopsis and one page of comments. This all varies depending on the story -- more intricate plots usually have a longer synopsis.