The Illinois Film Office and the Chicago Film Office (IC) team up again in 2004 to ask aspiring Illinois writers to submit their screenplays for the IC Screenwriting competition. This biennial event began in 1994 and is designed to display local writing talent and the vast array of backdrops that the state and city offer as settings for feature-length films. More than 300 scripts were submitted in the last competition in 2002.
The Illinois/Chicago Screenwriting Competition is open to the residents of the State of Illinois age 18 or older. Writers are asked to submit an original screenplay that has not been previously produced or sold, but has been copyrighted or registered. Panels of local and national film industry professionals, which have in the past included current or former Chicagoans who have written, directed or produced feature films, judge entries.
Approximately 50 semi-finalists are chosen and offered the chance to place their screenplays on a list provided to studios and production companies actively seeking new material. Then 10 finalists receive a copy of the judges' note and have the opportunity to polish their screenplays before they are sent to the final tier of judges who select the three top winners.
Winners receive a cash prize and their screenplays are submitted to a select group of studio executives and producers. A formal announcement will be made later in the year.
The 2004 Illinois/Chicago Screenwriting Competition is accepting scripts until the deadline on April 1. For more information or a copy of the entry form, contact the IC competition hotline at (312) 814-8711 or log onto the Illinois Film Office Web page at filmillinois.state.il.us. |
