Maine Film Initiative (0)

Festival start: 01 December 2016      Festival end: 01 July 2017

YOU GIVE US STORIES...

Maine has beautiful locations, a talented and professional crew, and a mystique that brings millions of tourists to our fair home every year. Our film production community is growing quickly, and we need films to make. That's where you come in!

We want your screenplays and pilots. We want films that we can make here in our wonderful state, bold and original stories that will take advantage of everything Maine has to offer as a film-making destination. Give us something interesting we can make here, and we will make it.

...WE MAKE YOUR MOVIE

Here's where it gets interesting! One of the winning scripts will be selected for production. This production will be funded by the application fees from the contest. Our goal and our hope is that there will be enough money over and above the cash awards, paying readers, and small amount of overhead, to finance a Maine film production, using the talented cast and crew available to us right here in the Pine Tree State.

MFI will collaborate directly with the winning writer, inviting them to participate in every step of the process. It might be a five hundred dollar short. It might be two hundred thousand dollar feature. The scope of the production depends on the number of entries we receive.

Our goal with MFI is to reward daring screenwriters and support local film artists. We want to encourage making movies in Maine by making a movie in Maine…maybe your movie!

GRAND PRIZE -
(Total dollar value depends on the number of submissions).

Your script goes into production using a fund created from the submission fees of your fellow writers. They pay for your film to get made.

They'll be jealous, but they'll get over it.

OTHER CASH PRIZES

FEATURE SCRIPTS

Best Feature Script – $1000

Best Feature About Real Stuff (Drama, Thriller, Action, Adventure) – $200

Best Feature About Funny Stuff – $200
What Did I Just Read? (Genre Defiers and Weird Stuff) – $200

Best Feature About Unreal Stuff (Sci-fi, Horror, Fantasy) – $200

Best Maine Feature Screenplay – $200

PILOTS

Best Pilot - $500
Best 30 Minute Pilot – $200
Best 60 Minute Pilot – $200
Most Binge-worthy Pilot - $200

SHORTS
Best Short Screenplay – $500
Best Short About Real Stuff (Drama, Thriller, Action, Adventure) – $100
Best Short About Funny Stuff – $100
What did I Just Read? (Genre Defiers and Weird Stuff) – $100
Best Short About Unreal Stuff (Sci-fi, Horror, Fantasy) – $100
Best Maine Short Screenplay – $100

FINE PRINT
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Rules and Disclaimers.

ORIGINAL WORK ONLY
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All entries submitted to the Maine Film Initiative (MFI) Screen Writing Competition must be original works by the applicant.

SUBMISSIONS
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Submissions must be made on-line. All submissions are final, and MFI does not issue refunds. Each submission will be sent a confirmation email once payment is processed.


ANONYMITY, PLEASE
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The author’s name should NOT appear on the title page or anywhere on the script, to preserve anonymity and fairness.


SCRIPT LENGTH
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Feature Scripts: 40 – 130 pages
Short Scripts: 1 – 40 pages
Teleplay (30 minute pilot): 1 – 30 pages
Teleplay (60 minute pilot): 31- 60 pages


NO REVISIONS
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MFI considers all entries to be complete. No revisions of submitted material will be considered.


NO OPTIONS
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Scripts also must not have been sold or currently be under option prior to June 2017.


NO EMPLOYEES
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MFI employees, including seasonal staff, board members, sponsors, and their immediate families, are not eligible to submit in any category.


JUDGING
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Scripts will be judged numerically on 6 different criteria, as outlined above. Awards, selections, and decisions of MFI are final.


SCHEDULE
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Semi-finalists and finalists will be notified by May. Winners will be announced in June 2017. Pre-production of the winning script will begin Summer 2017.


MULTIPLE AUTHORS
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If a screenplay has more than one author, it is up to the authors to decide how many authors to list on the application and who will be the primary contact e-mail. Awards are given per entry, not per author. MFI does not assume responsibility for arrangements with regard to awards.


COPYRIGHT
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All entrants are encouraged to register their screenplays with the Writers’ Guild of America, East or West: www.wgaeast.org/script_registration, or www.wga.org/registration/index.html, and with the U.S. Copyright Office.


BY SUBMITTING MY SCREENPLAY TO MFI, I:
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1. Recognize that MFI, its representatives and files are replete with ideas and stories for theatrical motion pictures and television programs and that new ideas for motion pictures and television programs are constantly being submitted to MFI. I also recognize that many stories and ideas are similar and often different stories and ideas are related to one or more common underlying themes.

2. I agree to indemnify MFI and its representatives, including its judges and readers, against any and all claims, expenses, losses or liabilities that may be asserted against MFI and its representatives at any time in connection with said Material, or any use thereof, including without limitation those arising from any breach of the warranties and promises given by me herein.

3. I hereby release and discharge MFI and its representatives, including judges and readers, from any and all claims and demands and will not assert, maintain, or assist any party in asserting or maintaining any claims or demands against MFI arising out of, or in connection with the Materials, including without limitation, any and all claims for libel, rights of publicity, theft, or misappropriation of ideas or trade secrets or infringement of copyright or other intellectual property rights.

4. I warrant I am the sole owner and author of the Material submitted.

6. MFI shall not be under any obligation to me with respect to the submitted material except as may later be set forth in a fully executed written agreement between us.

7. I understand that prize money is dependent on the number of submissions, and that lesser or fewer prizes may be awarded than stipulated above if the number of submissions does not exceed 100.

8. I have retained a copy of the Material and agree that MFI shall not be obligated to return the Material to me.

9. I acknowledge that MFI is under no obligation to use the Material in any manner. I warrant it is original to me and that I am the author and owner of the Material.