The American Film Renaissance is looking for the next John Milius, Lionel Chetwynd or Roger L. Simon. (And by the way, all three of those Oscar-nominated screenwriters are on our judges' panel).

Hollywood has lost touch with mainstream America. As a result, the summer of 2005 experienced the lowest movie attendance since 1997.

The AFR was created to spearhead a revival of timeless American
values in film and to serve as a forum for voices and ideas often
marginalized by the contemporary artistic community. We are sponsoring
a screenwriting contest to discover and promote scripts that reflect
the principles that made America great, such as free speech, free
enterprise, personal responsibility, and religious freedom.

Once upon a time Hollywood produced such films as a matter of course
but no longer. Too many contemporary Hollywood movies are hobbled by
the pieties of political correctness and a worldview that is
antithetical to individual freedom.

So if like us you're tired of movies that wallow in victimhood and
self-pity, or that portray America, business, religion and the military
as the roots of all evil -- then this contest is for you.

We are particularly interested in scripts that reflect one or more of the following themes:

Triumph Over Adversity

Personal Responsibility

Freedom vs. Tyranny

The Individual vs. the Collective

Free Speech vs. Political Correctness

The Spread of Democracy


Free Enterprise

Freedom of Worship


Good vs. Evil

The War on Terror

Faith and Family

The American Spirit

Special consideration will be given to screenplays that could be made into a film with a budget under $5 million.

For a further notion of the kinds of scripts we're looking for, here are the five films chosen by the AFR as the best of 2004:

1. The Passion of the Christ

A maverick work rejected by all the major studios, masterfully directed by Mel Gibson, one of the most moving, realistic portrayals of Jesus's arrest and crucifixion ever filmed, starring Jim Caviezel.

2. The Incredibles

Oscar-winning CGI-animated comedy about Ayn Randian superheroes that
appeals to young and old alike, touts the joys of tort reform and
unfettered competition, written and directed by Brad Bird.

3. Team America

A hilarious (and ribald) puppet tale that fearlessly pokes fun at the
shibboleths of Hollywood, including the feebleminded fulminations of
self-important celebrities, directed by South Park's Trey Parker.

4. The Aviator

The amazing life and career of Howard Hughes, one of the most
successful businessmen of the 20th century, starring Leonardo DiCaprio,
directed by Martin Scorsese, awarded five Oscars.

5. Miracle


Depicts the U.S. hockey team's remarkable upset victory over the
dominant Soviet team at the 1980 Olympics, starring Kurt Russell,
directed by Gavin O'Connor. Zero Oscars, one gold medal.



Prizes

The winners of the AFR Screenwriting Contest will receive:

First Place:

$2,000.00, plus production company consideration and other goodies to be announced (TBA).

Second Place:

$500.00, production company consideration and other goodies TBA.

Third Place:

$100.00, production company consideration and other goodies TBA.

Each of the top 10 finalists will receive:

Panel of Judges

Our judges' panel, who will be presented with the finalists'
screenplays as selected by the Contest's administrators and determine
the top three finishers, will be comprised of several industry
insiders, including:

Timothy J. Watkins:

Mr. Watkins co-produced the documentary In the Face of Evil: Reagan's War in Word and Deed. He founded Leo McWatkins Films, a television and film production company. Current projects include the documentary Distant Signals, a history of cable television, and Grace Before Meals, a weekly cooking series. Mr. Watkins is also the CEO of Renegade Productions, a marketing and ad agency whose clients include Comcast, Time Warner, Showtime, HBO and TV Guide.

Kate Wright:

An Emmy Award-winning producer, Ms. Wright has more than 20 years of
experience as a TV and film executive, producer and screenwriter. She
is a Senior Instructor at UCLA's prestigious Extension Writers Program, and recently published Screenwriting is Storytelling: Creating the A-List Screenplay that Sells, with a forward from acclaimed director Arthur Hiller.



Deadlines and Entry Fees

$35 if entry postmarked or filed online by October 17, 2005
(early-bird deadline)

$45 if entry postmarked or filed online by November 28, 2005 (regular deadline)

$55 if entry postmarked or filed online by December 5, 2005
(late deadline)

(There is a higher entry fee for longer screenplays. See Rule ..6 below.)



Mail your screenplay with entry fee payment and a completed and signed Release Agreement to:

AFR Screenwriting Contest

1247 Lincoln Blvd., ..111

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Contest Rules

1. Original work: The submitted screenplay must be the
original work of the writer(s), and not be produced, sold or optioned
at the time of submission. The screenplay may not be based, in whole or
in part, on any other fictional or non-fictional material, published or
unpublished, produced or unproduced. Screenplays based on material in
the public domain, or based on actual historical events (but with no
characters explicitly based on or named after actual persons still
living, other than the writer), may be eligible. Entries may be adapted
from the writer(s') own original work, which should be noted on the
title page and entry form. Entered screenplays will not be returned;
please do not send your only copy.

2. Multiple entries: Multiple screenplays may be submitted
by the same writer or writing team. Each entered screenplay must be
accompanied by a separate signed Release Agreement and entry fee
payment. Only one copy, draft or version of any one screenplay,
however, may be submitted by any writer(s). No substitutions of either
corrected pages or new drafts of submitted screenplays will be allowed.

3. Partnerships: No more than two writers are eligible per
submitted screenplay. If there are two writers, one writer (the first
one listed on the entry form) will be designated as the primary contact
for all purposes of the Contest. Only one prize will be given for any
winning screenplay, in the event that a prize-winning entry has two
writers. Prizes will be provided to the primary contact writer and it
will be his or her responsibility to distribute a share to the other
writer.

4. Eligibility: To be eligible, writer(s) may not have
earned money or other consideration within the past ten years as a
screenwriter for theatrical films or television or for the sale of, or
sale of an option to, any original story, treatment, screenplay or
teleplay for more than $5,000.

5. Release Agreement: Writer(s) must complete, sign and
enclose the Release Agreement with each screenplay entry. If there are
two writers, both must sign the Agreement. All writers of submitted
screenplays must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submission.

6. Length: The length of the screenplay must be no shorter
than 85 pages and no longer than 140 pages. No novels, short stories or
poems; submitted material must be formatted as a screenplay according
to industry standards. Submissions longer than 125 pages must pay an
additional $15 added to the entry fee: a total of $50 if submitted by the early-bird deadline of October 17, 2005, $60 by the regular deadline of November 28, 2005, and $70 by the late deadline of December 5, 2005. No screenplay longer than 140 pages will be eligible.

7. Formatting: The screenplay must be written in English and
formatted and bound according to industry standards: 12-point Courier
font, all pages numbered other than the title page and the first page,
white 3-hole punch paper, 2 or 3 brass brads holding the pages
together, white or single-color plain stock cover front and back. No
3-ring binders or other binding. For formatting specifics, see the American Screenwriters Association, Screenwriting.Info,
or any of the other numerous websites and books on screenwriting. Note:
We differ from the ASA's guidelines in that our writers are required to
print the writer(s)'s name(s), screenplay title and contact information
(street address, phone number, email address) on the title page -- but
this information should not appear on the cover stock. (In the
event of any contradiction between our rules and guidelines and those
of the ASA or other formatting guidelines, follow ours instead.)

8. Registration: The screenplay should be registered with the WGA, the Library of Congress, or another reputable copyright registration service prior to submission.

9. Submission limitations: No additional materials, such as
illustrations, resume, cover letter, or casting suggestions, should be
included or attached. The script cover should be plain and unmarked
(e.g., no title, name or illustrations), but unlike the ASA guidelines,
it is acceptable to use a color stock other than white.

10. Announcement of winners: The top 10 finalists will be
announced on the Contest website in January 2006. The top three winners
will be announced at the AFR Film Festival in Los Angeles, California
in early 2006 (date to be announced). The AFR will also contact each
finalist and winner via email and/or phone as provided on the
application form. All decisions of the administrators and judges will
be final. No feedback or notes will be provided on any entries. If you
want notification that we have received your material(s), include a
self-addressed and stamped postcard with your entry. Submitted
screenplays will not be returned. Please do not send originals.

11. Judging factors: Some of the factors that readers and
judges will take into consideration include: artistic merit;
originality; characters and dialogue; professionalism (e.g., structure,
formatting, typos, etc.); and theme (i.e., whether the screenplay's
theme reflects the themes described on this website above). In
addition, special consideration will be given to screenplays that could
be made for less than $5 million. For example, if two or more scripts
are otherwise tied, the one(s) that could be made for a lower budget
may be given an edge.

12. Entry fee: The entry fee is $35 per screenplay
postmarked or filed online by October 17, 2005 (early-bird deadline)
and $45 for screenplays postmarked or filed online by November 28, 2005
(regular deadline). Make out your check or money order to "AFR" or
"American Film Renaissance" and include it in the envelope with your
screenplay. Please write your screenplay title on your check, and the
primary writer's name if it isn't the same as the one printed on the
check. If a payment is invalidated because it is overdrawn or for any
other reason, the screenplay entry will be disqualified. Note: The
entry fee for screenplays longer than 125 pages (but no longer than 140
pages) is $50 for the early-bird deadline, $60 for the regular deadline.

13. Late deadline: The late deadline for the Contest is
December 5, 2005.
Screenplay entries must be mailed or filed online and may not be
delivered by hand or in person. Any screenplay entry postmarked or
filed after the late deadline date will be ineligible. The entry fee
for a screenplay entered by the late deadline is $50 ($65 for a screenplay between 125-140 pages in length).

14. Read all the rules: Please read, understand and follow
all of these rules and guidelines. Failure to adhere to the letter and
spirit of the Contest rules and guidelines, as outlined on this website
and in the Release Agreement, will result in disqualification and
forfeiture of entry fee. If there are any differences, contradictions
or confusion between the rules as set forth on the AFR Contest website
and Release Agreement, and the rules as set forth on the Without A Box
listing and website, then the AFR Contest website and Release Agreement
rules will prevail. Writer(s) agree to indemnify AFR, the Contest, its
sponsors, judges, administrators, readers and other associates against
all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, disputes
and expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising out of or in
connection with their participation in this Contest. AFR reserves the
right to change or alter the rules without notice. There are no
refunds, warranties or guarantees, express or implied.

Download an Application

Download an application form and Release Agreement here
(.pdf
file) and print it out. You must complete, sign and enclose the
application and Release Agreement, and the appropriate entry fee, with
your screenplay entry.

Online Submissions

You can enter your screenplay online via Without A Box. The same rules and deadlines apply.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the rules or other contest-related matters, please write to us at this email address.

Or if you prefer, you can write to us at our "snail mail" address:

AFR Screenwriting Contest

1247 Lincoln Blvd., ..111


Santa Monica, CA 90401

Thanks for your interest, and good luck!

The American Film Renaissance:
Connecting Hollywood With the Heartland

"We've got to do a better job of getting across that America is
freedom -- freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of
enterprise. And freedom is special and rare." - Ronald Reagan

UPDATES: This page was last updated on November 4, 2005. Check
back here before you mail or upload your entry to ensure that you have
read and complied with the most up-to-date version of this website and
all of the contest rules.