RULES & GUIDELINES

New this year, entrants are now offered the Judge's Scorecard and a brief summary of Judge's notes. Note: If you wish to do so, you may choose to opt out of the Judge's scorecard/notes for a $10 discount by selecting entry only at checkout.

We will accept collaborative work, but by no more than two authors. Each writer, however, must fill out and sign the online entry application and release form individually. If selected as a winner, the prize money will be split equally between them.

Submissions must be the original work of the applicant(s) and may not be based, in whole or in part, on any other fiction or nonfiction material, published or unpublished, produced or un-produced that is not already in public domain. If it is in public domain, it is eligible for the contest.

Multiple entries are permissible but each entry must be accompanied by a separate signed entry form and a separate entry fee.  If 3 or more are submitted, the entrant may receive $5 discount off each script thereafter.

Each script entered is allotted one genre category in the price of the submission. Multiple category entries are admissible for a cost of $10 for each additional genre category.

Please do not enclose letters, resumes or photos with your submission. They will not be forwarded to our partners or the judges.

Writers are free to enter their submitted material to other contests; however, they must not have already received a screenwriting prize that includes a 'first look' clause, an option, or any other quid pro quo involving the writer's submitted entry to Creative World Awards LLC. If a submitted screenplay becomes optioned or purchased between the time of submission and the end of the Creative World Awards judging period, the applicant must notify us and that screenplay will no longer be eligible for an award.

Scripts must be typed in English, and printed on single or double-sided paper (we usually do not recommend double sided, but we will allow it in this case for conservation purposes); it must be 3-hole punched with pages numbered; be headed by the title page, which includes title of work, writer’s name and WGA registration number if applicable; font must be 12-point Courier, Courier New or Courier Final Draft (please no exceptions).

All screenplays must be approximately 90-120 pages and in standard spec screenplay format, fastened with 3 brads. See our Basic FAQ page for allowed exceptions to length.

The writer's name should appear ONLY on the title page, and not on any other page of the script. No other information outside of name, title of work and WGA registration (if applicable) should appear on the title page. CWA reserves the right to return the script if the above procedures are not followed. If the script is based on a true story, it should be noted on the title page.

Submissions must be transmitted electronically on or before the Early, Regular, Late or Final entry deadline, and the entry fee paid in order to qualify for the respective submission rate. Online entries may be submitted up until midnight Pacific Time on the final deadline date. Any entries submitted or payments postmarked after the final deadline will be disqualified. Creative World Awards, LLC reserves the right to extend the entry deadline.

We have gone 100% green this year, and now require the full entry requirements of script and payment to go through the online system. However, if you prefer to pay by mail than through the online process, you may submit payment by the respective deadlines.  If paying by mail, we accept money orders only via the United States Post Office (USPS) or another delivery method that does not require a signature. If sending by mail, the address is:

Creative World Awards
4712 Admiralty Way, #268
Marina Del Rey CA 90292

Online script submissions must consist of a standard script format (PDF, Final Draft or Movie Magic). *Please note, PDF files are the recommended format file to send, and each of the above writing software programs allows you to convert your script easily to a PDF file.  Once your script file is opened, simply click on the '˜File/Save as PDF' option. If you do not have one of the above software programs, you may submit in a Word .doc as a last option, but it must contain the industry standard format.

Once a script has been submitted, no revised drafts or corrected pages will be accepted to the original unless you pay a separate resubmission fee of $40. At that point, you must notify us via email to discard the original entry, and we will treat your revised draft as a new eligible submission.

The competition is not responsible for submissions that are lost, stolen, or damaged in transit.

All entrants understand and agree that there are a diverse amount of story contexts and ideas, and in no way is Creative World Awards LLC responsible not now or in the future of borrowing or stealing from an idea, copy written concept, or storyline from a script entry.

All winners will be responsible for their own U.S. income tax withholding. Creative World Awards LLC is not responsible for withholding any taxes or payments to any government agency, at any level, be it state, local or federal.

Contest applicants must accept without reservation the decisions rendered by the jurors.

Entry fees are payable by Credit Card (online) or US Money Order (by mail). Entry fees are nonrefundable.

Employees and the relatives of Creative World Awards LLC are not eligible, nor are competition judges and their immediate families.

Each applicant will receive an e-mail notifying them of the competition results. All writers must keep their personal contact information on file with us updated and current. Creative World Awards has no responsibility for correspondence that is misdirected as a result of writer(s) failure to provide us with current contact information.  We also encourage entrants to add CWA to your email address list to ensure email correspondence is not sent to spam or bulk mail.

Please read and understand the above Rules and Regulations. Failure to adhere to the Creative World Awards contest guidelines will result in disqualification and forfeiture of an entry fee and/or eligible prize.

Deadline Calendar

Regular Deadline (Jan 1-Feb 10)
Features: $49 entry only (or $69 w/judge's scorecard & brief notes)

Short Films & TV: $39 entry only (or $59 w/judge's scorecard & brief notes)

*Enter by 1/31 & brief notes delivered by 2/28.

*If ordering entry only, check the entry only box during checkout.
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The CWA Blog
We are thrilled to announce an exciting, new collaboration this year with well known story consultant & lecturer MICHAEL HAUGE. Michael will be our guest blogger this year, addressing many relevant angles of the screenwriting process. This is a wonderful opportunity for writers to engage with one of the industry’s leading story consultants on a bi-monthly process, so be sure to check back for his insightful tips on the industry and the craft of screenwriting.



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SCRIPT ANALYSIS

Offered to CWA 2011 entrants, you can receive a 7-9 page comprehensive script analysis covering such elements as identifying and analyzing story arcs, plot development, premise, character development, dialogue critiques, and tightening all critical elements to produce the most potential market value for your script. This option is available to order for $165.

*Delivery: If ordered by March 1st, script analyses will be delivered by March 30th.  If ordered by May 31th, analyses will be delivered by July 30th. If ordered after May 31st, analyses will be delivered after the 2011 winners are announced unless ordered separately from entry. *Please note: A $1 per page fee applies if script is 125 pages or more.