COMPETITION FACTOIDS
Open to participants around the world
(submissions must be English language, however)
Entrants Must be 18 Years of age or older.
Entrants may submit multiple projects.
(a separate submission form/fee is necessary for each)
Submission fee: $50 early bird (deadline May 19, 2009)
$75 regular (deadline July 3, 2009).
(Includes one-year Filmmakers Alliance Membership
and MovieMaker magazine subscription)
The project must be the Entrant's original, previously
unpublished, work and must be previously unproduced as
a film, movie of the week, mini-series, or otherwise
produced for home video, television, paid stage
production or similar medium.
* The submitting project must be for a live action fiction
feature film (e.g., animated feature film screenplays will not be
eligible) with a budget of approximately Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($500,000). OR, Entrant must clearly
substantiate the balance of funding for projects in excess of
$500k at time of selection
CLICK HERE FOR FULL RULES AND REGULATIONS
For questions, please email:
SUBMIT NOW AND TURN YOUR IDEA INTO
THE NEXT GREAT INDEPENDENT FILM!
THE ULTIMATE FILMMAKER COMPETITION is looking for filmmakers with talent, determination, original vision and a passion for filmmaking as a way of life.
PRIZES: At the end of final judging, a single winner will be announced and awarded prizes including, but not limited, to:
- A FULLLY PRODUCED FEATURE FILM with a cash production grant of at least $200,000 and resources totaling in excess of $500,000.
- A Major Festival Premiere.
- Simulatneous theatrical, cable, retail and online distribution.
- Development, production and distribution guidance, support and mentoring.
- Production software.
- A Canon HD Camera.
| May 19, 2009: | Earlybird Deadline. |
|---|---|
| July 3, 2009: | Deadline for all applications. |
| July 17, 2009: | Quarter Finalists Announced. |
| August 14, 2009: | Deadline for Quarter Finalists submission of previous work, 5 page or more treatment, and 1st 10 pages of the script. |
| October 12, 2009: | 25 Semi-Finalists are announced. |
| December 7, 2009: | Deadline for Semi-Finalists on-camera interviews and first draft of script. |
| January 10, 2010: | Finalists announced. |
| February 12-15, 2010: | Finalists brought to LA to shoot short films and conduct face-to-face interviews. |
| March 12, 2010: | Winner announced! |
HOW IT WORKS
Stage 1 — Submit: Final Deadline July 3, 2009
We will be accepting submissions until July 3, 2009. There is a non-refundable submission fee. $50 early bird fee until May 19, 2009, $75 fee after May 19, 2009. All entrants receive feedback on submitted synopses, as well as a FREE year-long MovieMaker Magazine subscription and a FREE year-long membership to Filmmakers Alliance (Global) and all the resources it offers when it launches in summer 2009.
1. Fill out the application.
2. Submit a one page synopsis (NO FULL SCRIPT NECESSARY AT THIS STAGE)*.
3. Complete an Essay in 250 words or less on "Why I am a filmmaker".
* Although no full script is necessary at this point there will be one due for the semi-finalists, so please feel free to submit projects for which a full script already exists — just do not send the entire script at this time.
Stage 2 — Quarter-Finalist Round: July 17, 2009
The submissions are narrowed down to 200 Quarter-Finalists, who will be notified by July 17, 2009. Quarter-Finalists must now submit the following by August 14, 2009:
1. Previous film work of any kind, short film, feature film, documentary, etc. If you do not have any previous work, now is the time to go out and shoot something.
2. 5 page minimum treatment of the film.
3. A writing sample and/or the first 10 pages of the script.
All Quarter-Finalists receive feedback on their previous work, as well as on their treatments.
Stage 3 — 25 Semi-Finalists Announced: October 12, 2009
Out of the 200 Quarter Finalists, 25 Semi-Finalists are selected and announced by September 11, 2009, via the contest website, where biographies and the samples of previous work are posted.
The Semi-Finalists must submit the following by December 7, 2009:
1. An on camera interview, based on questions that Filmmakers Alliance supplies. These interviews will also be posted on the contest website.
2. A draft of the full length script.
Through the website the public will watch the on camera interviews of the Semi-finalists, as well as view their previous work, and vote for their favorite. One of the Finalists is chosen by the public through online voting. The Finalists will also receive feedback on their scripts.
Stage 4 — 5 Finalists Announced: January 10, 2010
Four additional finalists will be chosen by a group of filmmaking professionals and notified by January 10, 2010.
The 5 selected Finalists are brought to Los Angeles the weekend of February 12-15, 2010 where they will:
1. Make a short film.
2. Conduct a face-to-face interview with Filmmakers Alliance members and global members via an online stream.
A panel of filmmaking notables/professionals convenes to determine the winner.
Stage 5 — Winner Announced: Winner Announced: March 12, 2010.
The winner of the contest is announced by March 12, 2010.