Q. What do I need to enter the competition?

A. An original feature film screenplay or short film or teleplay, a signed application with release form, and a US$ entry fee. Please check the prizes and deadlines page for appropriate cut off dates for all respective entry deadlines.

Q. When are the application forms available?

A. Beginning January 15th through June 30, 2010.

Q. When is the final late entry deadline?

A. June 30th is the Final Deadline.

Q. How do I enter the competition?

A. You have two options. The preferable route is to enter the full application online (this includes your application/release form, paid entry fee via PayPal, and script submission). Or alternatively, you may complete only the application and release form online then submit your script and/or money order by mail.

To begin the online application, click on ENTER NOW or go to the online application on the Creative World Awards contest page and follow the instructions. For first time entrants, you will need to create a user name and password, which will then guide you through the application process. After you have completed your online application, you can check back as often as you like by logging onto our website to see if your full application requirements have been met.

As always, we encourage everyone to go green and submit all materials and payment online. If you do choose to submit a hard paper copy submission, you must follow the same initial process of filling out the online application/release form, but once you are done with that section, you will be given an option to submit your script by mail if you wish. If you choose to pay by mail rather than by credit card through our online system, send a money order by the appropriate deadline of entry to the address below:

Creative World Awards
Att: Marlene Neubauer
PO Box 10699
Marina del Rey, CA 90295

Q. When will the Creative World Awards winners be announced?

A. Preliminary Qualifiers: By September 7th; Quarterfinals: September 14th, Semifinals: Sept 21st, Finalists: September 28th, Winners: October 15th.

Q. As a foreign citizen, I have difficulty obtaining United States dollars. May I use a check in my own currency to pay the entry fee?

A.  Entry fees must be paid with either a credit card through our online system or a money order by mail. With the online application system, entrants may use any major credit card to pay the required entry fee.

Eligibility, Adaptations and Collaborations

Q. Who can enter the competition?

A. Any screenwriter 18 years or older who has not earned more than $30,000 writing fictional work for film. Payments received for work-for-hire, sales and options apply toward this limit, and the $30,000 limit is cumulative over a writer’s lifetime.

Q. Does prize money from a screenwriting competition count towards the $30,000 limit?

A. Yes, but as long as the prize money does not exceed that amount or secure any rights to the writer’s script or story, it would not affect your eligibility to this contest. If accepting the prize money attached your script to a film company or producer then the prize money would count toward the writer’s earnings limit and make the writer ineligible if the total exceeded $30,000.

Q. Can collaborative teams enter this competition?

A. Yes, if the team consists of exactly two writers who are equal partners in all aspects of the creation of the script. Please note, however, that each collaborator must fill out and sign the online application release form.

Q. Are citizens of countries other than the United States eligible?

A. Yes. Any writer who writes in English and meets the other eligibility requirements is welcome to enter the competition.

Q. Do you accept short screenplays and teleplays?

A. Yes.

Q. What's the minimum/maximum required page length?

A. Approximately 90 - 120 pages.

Q. Does that mean that an 85 or 130 page script will be disqualified?

A. No. We include the word “approximately” in the competition rules to allow for some flexibility, however, be aware that 90-120 pages is the general industry standard. *Please note: If an entrant orders a script analysis or judge's highlights, a $1 per page fee applies if the script is at 125 pages or more.

Q. What elements of the script are taken into consideration during the judging?

A. The judges take into consideration how well your screenplay depicts the following: Structure (Distinguishable Act I, II, & III), Plot, Characterization, Dialogue, Style/Description, Clarity, Originality, and Marketability.

Q. How should my script be bound?

A. We encourage all entrants to go green and utilize the online application process. If a script must be mailed then it should be printed onto three-hole paper and then secured with three individual brass brads. Please do not use folders of any kind, and do not bind your script with anything other than brads. Because your script will be handled by a few people, it is important that it be secure enough to stay in one piece. We suggest the solid brass brads #6, and the brass washers to match. You can get these at Office Max & Depot, or order the Acco brads directly from the Writers Store website.

Q. Does my script have to be registered?

A. No, however, you should always make it a priority to copyright your work. You can register your work very easily through the Writers Guild of America (WGA) website or the Library of Congress copyright office.

Q. Does the writer maintain rights to their screenplay?

A. Yes, the writer maintains full rights of their screenplay.

Q. Do I need to submit a synopsis?

A. No, only a 2-4 sentence logline.

Q. What genres do you accept?

A. We accept and welcome all genres, and each script will be judged according to its own genre category.

Q. What forms of payment do you accept?

A. All major credit cards or US money order.

Q. Is an adaptation of a published novel eligible?

A. No, not unless the novelist and screenwriter are one in the same and/or the screenwriter has full legal rights to original material.

Q. Can I make a change to a submission?

A. Only if you send in your revised draft and then pay a $35 resubmission fee.  At that point, your revised script will be considered a new submission.

Q. How will I know you received my script?

A. If you are submitting your script by mail and you would like confirmation, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard with your entry package, and we will send it back to you with notification. If you are submitting your script online, you will receive an email confirming that your entry has been received. Please note: We suggest you try to submit all materials together and at one time. If you do not submit everything together, it is up to you to log in and check the status of your application requirements.

Q. If I want to submit my screenplay online, what type of file should I submit?

A. Adobe Acrobat (.pdf file) is preferred, however, we will also accept Final Draft, Word doc, and Movie Magic files.

Q. What information do you want on the title page?

A. A standard title page includes the title of your script, author's name(s), and you may include your WGA registration number if applicable (Please do not include your name or contact information anywhere else within the body of your script).

Q. Does my script have to be formatted?

A. Yes. All font should be 12 pt courier and it should follow the standard industry format. Handwritten scripts will not be accepted under any conditions. Also, make sure to keep copies of your work as scripts will not be returned.

Q. If I win a prize, do I lose any rights to my screenplay?

A. No.

Q. Who will read my script?

A. The first round of judging is done by readers that are hand selected, highly qualified industry professionals. If your script advances beyond the preliminary round, it will then be read by multiple industry professionals who will determine which scripts advance to the semifinalist and finalist rounds. The top three in each category will be read by leading industry executives not only for potential consideration, but also to help determine the winners of the 2010 Creative World Awards. All decisions of the judges are final.