SCREENPLAY SUBMISSION FAQs
For any question(s) not answered here or in our submission Rules & Terms on Coverfly or FilmFreeway, please email screenplay@atlantafilmfestival.com.
General Questions
How do I submit a screenplay?
Screenplays may be submitted through either Coverfly or FilmFreeway.
Can I submit a physical/paper screenplay?
No. All screenplays must be submitted in PDF form via either Coverfly or FilmFreeway.
What are the differences in submission categories?
Feature Film Screenplays can be 70-130 pages in length. Any submission outside of that page range can be disqualified without refund.
Pilot Screenplays can be 10-70 pages in length. Any submission outside of that page range can be disqualified without refund.
Supplementary materials are not required for Pilot Screenplays, and though the competition cannot guarantee that any supplementary materials will be reviewed, you may include supplementary materials in your submission PDF or email them to screenplay@atlantafilmfestival.com. Supplementary materials include, but are not limited to: concept summaries, character descriptions, and future episode summaries.
Short Film Screenplays can be between 5-40 pages in length. Any submission outside of that page range will be disqualified without refund.
Do you offer discounts for Georgia screenwriters?
Georgia screenwriters are eligible to receive a 50% off discount code by emailing GA@atlantafilmfestival.com. Please allow up to 7 business days for a response particularly when approaching a submission deadline.
At least one author must reside in the state of Georgia during the time of entry. Should an entry use this code without meeting the necessary criteria, it will be disqualified without refund.
When are the competition deadlines?
We have five deadlines throughout our submission process: Hella Early Deadline (June 2nd, 2023), Early Deadline (June 29th, 2023), Regular Deadline (September 22nd, 2023), Late Deadline (October 20th, 2023), and Extended Deadline (November 3rd, 2023). After November 3rd, all submissions for the 2023 ATLFF Screenplay Competition are closed.
Please keep track of deadlines closely if you plan on submitting within a certain submission window. All deadlines are set for 11:59pm EDT (with the exception of our final deadline on November 3rd, 2023 at 11:59pm EST).
Any submissions that are incomplete by the final deadline or otherwise impossible to review will be disqualified without refund of submission fees.
The only difference in deadlines are the associated submission fees. You can find a full list of deadlines and their associated fees at the following link: atlantafilmfestival.com/submit-your-screenplay
I live outside of the US, can I still submit to the competition?
Of course! In fact, many past winners are not from the United States.
Is there an age limit?
Not at all. Writers of any age are welcome. However, if you are under 18, the laws of your state/country may prohibit you from submitting personally, so you may need an adult to submit on your behalf.
Does the competition offer waivers?
The only guaranteed waivers are for alumni of the Atlanta Film Festival. The competition also provides some waivers, by application, to filmmakers from countries in which international sanctions prevent them from paying a fee. If either of these terms apply to you, please email screenplay@atlantafilmfestival.com.
If I submit to ATLFF, do I still own the rights to my screenplay?
Yes, of course! The Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition never obtains the rights to any submission. You may consider registering your screenplay with the Writers Guild of America and/or copyrighting it through the US Copyright Office (or your country’s equivalent), but neither is required for entry.
Can I submit the same script two years in a row?
Absolutely; however, it is highly recommended that any resubmission undergoes significant rewrites.
Can I submit an updated draft of my screenplay?
No. Once a screenplay is processed and submitted, we do not accept updated drafts.
Can I submit an updated draft as a new submission (and pay another submission fee)? No. Duplicate submissions are not allowed. Any duplicate submissions of the same screenplay, with or without revisions, will be disqualified without refund. Please be sure to carefully review and edit your screenplay before submitting.
What should I do if I find typos or other errors in my screenplay?
Don’t worry. Even professional film screenplays contain typos and other errors. Keep in mind that screenplay assessment is much more focused on finding compelling and original voices!
Can I enter other competitions?
By all means, enter every and any competition that appeals to you! Should you advance in and/or win another competition, feel free to reach out to share the good news, but take comfort in knowing that doing so will not affect eligibility for the ATLFF Screenplay Competition.
Can I submit my spec script for an existing television show/short story/etc?
Unfortunately, no. The Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition does not accept spec scripts for existing programming such as television shows or franchises, novels, short stories, reality tv show concepts, stage plays or treatments. (The only exception to this is if you hold the copyright to the material and/or are the original creator of the property you are adapting.)
Do you release Quarterfinalist Lists, etc.?
Yes. The ATLFF Screenplay Competition includes the top screenplay submissions in Quarterfinalists, Semifinalists, and Finalists lists. This practice is meant to honor those screenplays of merit that show promise and skill in the medium, but may not advance to the winning round.
When will I know if I won?
The initial notification date for the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition is January 26th, 2024. On this date, all entrants will be notified as to whether or not their submission(s) advanced into the quarterfinals. Following this announcement, the Quarterfinalists will be narrowed down to Semifinalists on February 16th and then Finalists on March 8th.
We will announce three winners in the feature screenplay competition, one winner in the pilot competition, and one winner in the short film competition on or around March 29th, 2024.
Most importantly: What can I win?
The Atlanta Film Festival prides itself on a commitment to furthering the careers of filmmakers and writers who are selected for the festival and who win the screenplay competition. With that in mind, we prioritize once-in-a-lifetime opportunities!
Short Film Screenplay Winner
One winner will be chosen in the short film category. This winner will receive:
A cash prize of $250
Travel stipend and 2 nights of accommodation to the 2024 Atlanta Film Festival
A mentoring meeting with a short film filmmaker with extensive experience with production and the festival circuit, designed to give our winners the chance to sit down and talk about the next steps for their script and their career, and to develop what’s intended to be a lasting relationship with a like-minded and accomplished filmmaker.
An All-Access Badge to the 2024 Atlanta Film Festival
Pilot Screenplay Winner
One winner will be chosen in the pilot category. This winner will receive:
A cash prize of $350
Travel stipend and 2 nights of accommodation to the 2024 Atlanta Film Festival
A mentoring meeting with a writer working in either the television or web series industry, designed to give our winners the chance to sit down and talk about the next steps for their script and their career, and to develop what’s intended to be a lasting relationship with a like-minded and accomplished filmmaker.
An All-Access Badge to the 2024 Atlanta Film Festival
Feature Screenplay Winners
Three winners will be chosen in the feature film category. These winners will receive:
A cash prize of $500
Travel stipend and 2 nights of accommodation to the 2024 Atlanta Film Festival
Exclusive access to our annual Atlanta Film Festival Screenwriters Retreat. This intimate, invitation-only, and all-expenses paid program offers our winners the chance to meet industry professionals and workshop their screenplay in a scenic setting, designed to give our winners an extended opportunity to discuss next steps and to develop what’s intended to be long-lasting relationships with like-minded and accomplished filmmakers.
An All-Access Badge to the 2024 Atlanta Film Festival
Previous Mentors include:
Kathryn Dean Producer (Winter’s Bone, Hell or High Water, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks)
Diane Drake Screenwriter, UCLA professor, and former VP of Creative Affairs at Mirage Enterprises (Only You, What Women Want)
Robin M. Henry Writer (Meet the Browns, House of Payne, East Los High), Producer (East Los High, Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History)
Michael Lucker Screenwriter/Emory Professor (Vampire in Brooklyn, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron)
Kent Osborne Head of Story (Adventure Time), Writer (Spongebob Squarepants), Voice Director (Steven Universe, Adventure Time)
J.T. Petty Video Game Writer (Outlast, Outlast 2, The Walking Dead: The Game, Splinter Cell, Batman Begins)
James Ponsoldt Director (Smashed, The Spectacular Now, End of the Tour, The Circle), Writer (Smashed, The Circle)
All of our winners will also receive an invitation and complimentary an All-Access badge to the 2024 Atlanta Film Festival.
Who reads the screenplays?
All Screenplay submissions are read by a combination of ATLFF-trained readers and the Screenplay Programming team.
Can I read screenplays?
So long as you’re not submitting to the competition (or have any other conflict of interest) and you love reading screenplays, please apply to be a reader!
Screenplay readers not only receive invaluable learning experience but are also given Atlanta Film Festival perks based on the number of scripts read. For more information please email screenplay@atlantafilmfestival.com
I have a question, but it’s not listed here in the FAQ, what do I do?
Check our Rules and Terms on either FilmFreeway or Coverfly for the nitty gritty. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, please feel free to email us at screenplay@atlantafilmfestival.com We are unable to address inquiries via phone.