First 10 Pages | yofifest2021

YoFiFest First 10 Pages Script Contest

Ten Years! Ten Pages! YoFiFest is celebrating the ten year anniversary of its annual film festival by expanding its platform to include screenplays!

Why The First 10 Pages? The first 10 pages are crucial to launching the story, introducing the main character and hooking the audience. They are the foundation that the rest of the script is built on, so they have to be something special. They need to be bold, effective and compelling. Writing them is a daunting task, but we want to recognize you for it!

JUDGING CRITERIA AND PRIZES

You can enter your First 10 Pages as either a Feature Film Screenplay or a Web/TV Pilot Script. Awards will be given in each category.

In the first round, your First 10 Pages receive coverage by multiple readers and script analysts. The team scores the scripts based on ten professional screenwriting criteria and standards. The readers assign scores of 1 to 10 for each of the following elements: Premise/Concept, Presentation, Structure, Plot, Pacing, Characters,Dialog, Theme, Style/Tone, Commercial Potential. Once the scores are calculated, we announce the Semifinalists and Finalists who will receive laurels, a score sheet, announcement on social media and will be listed on our website. Finalists are moved on to the next round.

The Finalists are then judged by our Senior Judging Team of Industry Professionals, who evaluate and score them. The Feature Film First 10 Pages and Web/TV Pilot First 10 Pages with the highest total points each receive an award. Finalists receive a Full Festival Pass to YoFiFest 2022.

The script in each category with the highest score will be awarded a Winner recognition certificate presented at our Closing Night Awards Ceremony which will be simulcast live on social media. The Winners will receive a 90 minute consultation with a mentor (add Dave and Hal here) as well as a live table read and recording of the read.

Semifinalists Will Receive:

Official Selection Laurel
Official Selection Listing on YoFi Website with Social Media Blitz
10 Point Score Card Rating

Ten Finalists Will Receive:

Official Selection Laurel
Official Selection Listing on YoFi Website with Social Media Blitz
10 Point Score Card Rating
Social Media Promotion on YoFiFest.com
Two Pages of Professional Feedback
Complimentary VIP Full Festival Pass
Stage Awards Ceremony

Two Winners (one in each category) Will Receive:

Official Selection Laurel
Official Selection Listing on YoFi Website with Social Media Blitz
10 Point Score Card Rating
Film Festival Invitation with free access to workshops, panels and networking events
Certificate
Social Media Promotion on YoFiFest.com
Two Pages of Professional Feedback
VIP Free Full Access Pass
Stage Awards Ceremony
Table Read of Your First 10 Pages (Live Option and Video-taped)
Live Consultations with one of the following industry professionals:

Hal Ackerman served as chair of the UCLA screenwriting program until his retirement in 2015 and is the author of "Write Screenplays That Sell: The Ackerman Way."

Dave Steck is the Co-Founder and Executive Director, of YoFi Fest. He has successfully written, pitched, developed and helmed production of award-winning films, television programs and web series for major studios, networks, and media companies. He's also been an Adjunct Professor and lecturer at The New York FIlm Academy, Sarah Lawrence College's Writing Institute and The College of Mount Saint Vincent.

RULES AND REGS

All submissions must adhere to YoFiFest First 10 Pages Contest Rules & Guidelines.

This contest is VOID where prohibited or restricted by law. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Please check your local jurisdiction for eligibility.

By agreeing to these Rules and Conditions you agree that you have read the rules of the contest and that you have the authorization to submit your material to the YoFiFest First 10 Pages Contest. You further represent and warrant that your material is owned entirely by you (and any co-author(s) clearly listed in the submission).

The YoFiFest First 10 Pages is international and open to any individual who is 18 years of age or older at the date of entry and has access to the Internet. Scripts must be in English.

Scripts are not eligible for entry if the source material has been sold, produced, is currently under option to any third party, or is otherwise encumbered in any way. Adaptations are not eligible unless the underlying material is in the public domain worldwide as of March 5th, 2022.

Employees, officers, directors, contractors and agents and their immediate families of YoFiFest and its respective sponsors, judges, financiers, divisions, affiliates, subsidiaries, agents are not eligible to enter.

YoFiFest First 10 Pages winners are not eligible to re-enter the winning material in future. They are, however, eligible to enter different scripts for consideration.

If a submitted script becomes optioned, purchased or encumbered in any way between the time of submission and the end of the judging period, the applicant must notify YoFiFest and that material will no longer be eligible for an award.

The YoFiFest First 10 Pages accepts online entry only of feature film or original pilot television screenplays only. Do not include resumes, pitches, casting suggestions, letters, or other supporting documentation with your submission. Judges will not receive these materials. No illustrations will be accepted.

A short synopsis should be submitted as part of the entry form.

No printed scripts will be accepted. To enter your script electronically, you must submit your script in PDF format.

Entrants may submit multiple entries. Each submission must include its own entry and must include a separate file and separate entry fee.

Screenplays or scripts written by up to three people may be entered into the contest. Only one entry fee is required for such entries. All writers’ names should be listed on the online entry. List the writer who will be the primary contact first, and include the address, telephone, and email for that person only. All writers must authorize submission of the entry,

In order to run a fair contest for all entrants, revisions or missing pages will not be accepted under any circumstances once an entry has been received.

Once an entry has been submitted and payment has been processed no refunds will be issued. Be SURE you submit the correct file, no refunds will be issued and no scripts accepted via email if you contact us to inform us that you submitted the incorrect file. You will need to re-submit as a new entry if you choose to do so.

YoFiFest First 10 Pages entrants retain all rights to their screenplays.

By entering, you represent and affirm that your entry is an original creative work, and does not infringe, misappropriate or violate the copyright, trademark or other intellectual rights of any third party.

By agreeing to these Rules and Guidelines you agree that you have read the rules and that you have the authorization to submit this screenplay. You further agree that your screenplay is owned by you (and listed co-author(s)).

The YoFiFest First 10 Pages and/or judges’ decisions are final, and disqualification can occur. If necessary, prize substitution of relative equal value may occur and is at the sole discretion of YoFiFest and/or any financier, sponsor, comic producer and/or judges.

Except where prohibited by law, participation in the YoFiFest First 10 Pages Contest constitutes each entrant’s consent to YoFiFest First 10 Pages, its organizers and agents use of entrant's name, likeness, photographs, and/or personal information for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration, if entrant is selected as a winner.

By entering, you acknowledge and agree that the YoFiFest First 10 Pages Contest, its judges, affiliates, organizers, financiers and sponsors receive numerous submissions of ideas, stories and scripts, and that your entry, and the ideas and stories embodied in it, may be similar or identical to other material already received and/or developed by one or more of the judges, affiliates, organizers, financiers and sponsors. You also agree that you are not entitled to any compensation or credit for use by YoFiFest First 10 Pages Contest, its judges, affiliates, organizers, financiers and sponsors of any such other similar or identical material.

The entrant shall indemnify and hold harmless YoFiFest our financiers, sponsors, producers, judges and their affiliates, employees, contractors, and agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, and/or publicity to the script, screenplay or other material entered.

If YoFiFest is materially interrupted or delayed by reason of pandemic, epidemic, fire, action of the elements, walkout, labor dispute, strike, governmental order, court order, or order of any other legally constituted authority, act of God or public enemy, war, riot, civil commotion, or any other cause beyond YoFiFest’s control, whether of the same or of any other nature, YoFiFest shall be extended and/or postponed for the period of such interruption or interference, at YoFiFest’s sole discretion.

Decisions of the judges are final and may not be disputed.

YoFiFest and its financiers, sponsors, producers, judges and their affiliates, employees, contractors, and agents may not be held responsible for any errors or omissions on the part of the judges.

Entrant(s) must be 18 years of age or older.

All entries must be in English.

All entries must be submitted in PDF format. No exceptions.

Scripts must be in standard format. No exceptions.

Both produced and unproduced scripts are eligible.

Both represented and non-represented writers are eligible.

Teams of writers are eligible.

Stories that have previously won a competition are eligible.

Substitutions of corrected pages, revised material, or new drafts, require a new entry and payment.

All submission payments are final. We do not provide refunds.

By submitting a story you confirm that you own the rights to the material submitted.

By submitting an adapted story, you confirm that you have permission from the copyright-holder or the material is available in the public domain.

By submitting a story you confirm that you have read and agree to our eligibility and rules.

Judges decisions are final.