Gordy Hoffman’s BlueCat Screenplay Competition

While most screenplay competitions include the promise of award and recognition, Gordy Hoffman’s BlueCat Screenplay Competition offers something more—development and support to aspiring writers, offering individualized feedback and even resubmission for early entrants.  A desire to develop and discover unknown screenwriters led Gordy Hoffman to create the BlueCat Screenplay Competition in 1998.  Since then, the competition has received renown for its supportive feedback to its entrants, with each screenplay receiving analyses from two of BlueCat’s qualified readers.  Since 1998, BlueCat has been leading the way for screenwriters and competitions, being among the first to offer written feedback to all entrants and exclusive online submissions.  What started as a small enterprise of just 400 submissions has become an international leader in screenplay completions with 5000 entries expected this year.   BlueCat is a proven vehicle for up and coming writers; winners and finalists have signed with major agencies, sold their work to major studios, and won other major screenwriting awards around the globe.  At its core, award winning writer and director Gordy Hoffman still presides as judge. 

RULES & GUIDELINES

Awards

  • The Winner of the 2012 Competition will receive $10,000. Four Finalists will receive $2000 each.
  • The Cordelia Prize will be awarded to the best screenplay written by a screenwriter residing in the UK and will receive $1000.
  • The Joplin Award will be awarded to the best screenplay written by a screenwriter residing outside the USA, Canada or the UK and will receive $1000.
  • Every submission written by a North American resident is eligible for the Screenplay Live award, a live reading of their screenplay at 2012 360/365 George Eastman Film Festival, including all expenses paid and a $250 cash stipend.
  • All screenplays entered August 1st, 2011 will be automatically entered in our Title Contest. Three winners will be determined by the votes of current 2012 BlueCat entrants and awarded $250 each.

Screenplay Analysis Schedule

Screenplays submitted early will receive their analysis as follows:

  • Scripts submitted on June 15th, 2011 will receive their written analysis by June 25th, 2011.
  • Scripts submitted by June 22nd, 2011 will receive their written analysis by July 6th 2011.
  • Scripts submitted by August 1st, 2011 will receive their analysis by September 1, 2011.
  • Scripts submitted by September 15th 2011 will receive their analysis by October 1st, 2011.
  • Scripts submitted by October 15th, 2011 will receive their written analysis by November 11th, 2011.
  • All analyses will be returned by March 1, 2012.

Deadlines and Fees

  • The regular entry fee is $60 per screenplay. Submissions are accepted via electronic submission. There is no limit to the number of screenplays you may submit. Final entry fee is $65 per screenplay. Resubmission fee of entry submitted early in competition is $40.
  • Each regular entry will receive two sets of analysis.
  • Regular Deadline: Entries must be postmarked or received electronically on or before October 15th, 2011.
  • Final Deadline: Entries must be postmarked or received electronically on or before November 15th, 2011.
  • Each applicant will receive an e-mail notifying them of the writing competition results.
  • Quarter-Finalists will be announced February 1, 2012. Semi-Finalists will be announced March 1, 2012. Five Finalists will be announced March 15th, 2012. The Winner will be announced March 22nd, 2012.

Resubmissions

  • Any screenplay submitted early and having received our early analysis can be resubmitted by November 15th, 2011 for the reduced fee of $40.
  • Resubmission entries will receive one analysis.
  • Entrants will have the option of selecting one of their original readers or a new reader upon resubmission.
  • If your selected reader is not available, you will be offered the option of receiving a refund or choosing a new reader.

Eligibility

  • Submitted scripts must be original screenplays, and the sole property of the applicant(s).
  • All ages are eligible.
  • All entries must be in English and between 75 and 125 pages in length. Absolutely no exceptions.
  • All entries must be uploaded in PDF format.
  • Under absolutely no circumstances will substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entry screenplay(s) be made. Screenplays will not be returned.
  • If a submitted screenplay becomes optioned or purchased between the time of submission and the end of the judging period, that screenplay will no longer be eligible.
  • Competition judges, readers and employees of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition, past and present, and their immediate friends and families, are not eligible to enter.
  • Previous winners of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition are not eligible.
  • Screenplays that have previously won any screenplay contest, competition or award of any kind are not eligible.
  • Screenplays submitted under a pen name will be immediately disqualified.
  • Screenplay titles can not be changed upon resubmission under any circumstances.
  • Screenplays that have been submitted or placed in any competition or contest prior to November 15th, 2008 are not eligible.
  • Past and present scripts consulted on through Gordy Hoffman’s screenplay consultation service or the BlueCat workshops are not eligible.
  • Past USC students of Gordy Hoffman are not eligible.