Rules & Guidelines
Entrants are offered the Judge’s Scorecard and a brief summary of notes for $40. Note: If you do not wish to receive the scorecard, select the entry only box at checkout.
We will accept collaborative work, but by no more than two authors. Each writer, however, must fill out and sign the online entry application and release form individually. If selected as a winner, the prize money will be split equally between them.
Submissions must be the original work of the applicant(s) and may not be based, in whole or in part, on any other fiction or nonfiction material, published or unpublished, produced or un-produced that is not already in public domain. If it is in public domain, it is eligible for the contest.
Multiple entries are permissible but each entry must be accompanied by a separate signed entry form and a separate entry fee. If 3 or more are submitted, the entrant may receive $5 discount off each script thereafter if they are entered via the CWA website. If utilizing a separate discount, you may choose one or the other. Email CWA for directions on how to get the multiple project discount: info@creativeworldawards.com
Each script entered is allotted one genre category in the price of the submission. Multiple category entries are admissible for a cost of $10 for each additional genre category.
Please do not enclose letters, synopses, or resumes with your submission. They will not be forwarded to our partners or the judges.
Writers are free to enter their submitted material to other contests and entities; however, they must not have already received a screenwriting prize that includes a ‘first look’ clause, an option, or any other quid pro quo involving the writer’s submitted entry to Creative World Awards LLC. If a submitted screenplay becomes optioned or purchased between the time of submission and the end of the Creative World Awards judging period, the applicant must notify us and that screenplay will no longer be eligible for an award.
Scripts must be typed in English and be headed by the title page, which includes title of work and WGA registration number (if applicable); font must be 12-point Courier, courier new or courier final draft (please no exceptions).
Feature screenplays should be approximately 90-120 pages and in standard spec screenplay format. If the script is shorter or longer, it will not be disqualified. This is simply a guideline to consider as it relates to general industry preference.
The title page should include only the title of the script (and registration number, if applicable). We suggest no other information be included on the title page, however, if other info is included the script will not be disqualified. If the script is based on a true story, that should be noted on the title page.
Submissions must be transmitted electronically on or before the Early, Regular, Late or Final entry deadline, and the entry fee paid in order to qualify for the respective submission rate. Online entries may be submitted up until midnight Pacific Time on the final deadline date. Any entries submitted or payments postmarked after the final deadline will be disqualified. Creative World Awards, LLC reserves the right to extend the entry deadline.
We are 100% green, and require the full entry requirements of script and payment to go through the online system. However, if you do not have access to pay online, you may submit payment by the respective deadlines. If paying by mail, we accept money orders only via the United States Post Office (USPS) or another delivery method that does not require a signature. If sending via mail, the address is:
Creative World Awards 4712 Admiralty Way, #268 Marina Del Rey CA 90292
Online script submissions must consist of a standard script format (PDF, Final Draft or Movie Magic). Word documents are also accepted. *Please note, PDF files are the recommended format file to send, and each of the above writing software programs allows you to convert your script easily to a PDF file. Once your script file is opened, simply click on the ‘˜File/Save as PDF’ option. If you do not have one of the above software programs, you may submit in a Word .doc as a last option, but it must contain the industry standard format.
Once a script has been submitted, no revised drafts or corrected pages will be accepted to the original unless the writer pays a separate resubmission fee of $45. For instructions on how to resubmit, email CWA. Once a resubmission is in place, the revised script’s score will replace the previous score.
The competition is not responsible for submissions that are lost, stolen, or damaged in transit.
All entrants understand and agree that there are a diverse amount of story contexts and ideas, and in no way is Creative World Awards LLC responsible not now or in the future of borrowing or stealing from an idea, copy written concept, or storyline from a script entry.
All winners will be responsible for their own U.S. income tax withholding. Creative World Awards LLC is not responsible for withholding any taxes or payments to any government agency, at any level, be it state, local or federal.
Contest applicants must accept without reservation the decisions rendered by the jurors.
Entry fees are payable by Credit Card (online) or US Money Order (by mail). Entry fees are nonrefundable.
Competition judges of Creative World Awards LLC, along with their immediate family members, are not eligible to enter the competition.
Each applicant will receive an e-mail notifying them of the competition results. All writers must keep their personal contact information on file with us updated and current. Creative World Awards has no responsibility for correspondence that is misdirected as a result of writer(s) failure to provide us with current contact information. Writers should add the CWA email addresses to their address list to ensure email correspondence is not refused or sent to spam or bulk mail. Following the close of the season, the Grand Prize Winner will be given a choice to either receive $1,000 additional cash prize money to the existing $3,000 or they may elect to take advantage of the opportunity for CWA to make a short film adaptation of their script. In the latter case, the Grand Prize Winner receives $3,000 only for their cash prize, and the opportunity for their script to be made into a short film with the short’s production covered by CWA. However, any collaboration from the writer on the short is at that point considered payment in full with no other monies awarded to them other than the $3,000. The short script will be ten pages or less, and the Co-founders will work closely with the GPW as needed to help them craft the script. If the writer elects for the production route rather than taking the additional $1,000, CWA in conjunction with The Moving Image Xchange will produce the script in the winter. The short film will then get a guaranteed premiere at the Richmond International Film Festival in late Feb, and following the festival be used as a tool to help promote the Grand Prize Winner’s feature script. Once the short film premieres at the festival, the writer will also receive imdb credit as the writer on the film. The Grand Prize Winner agrees that if they elect to forgo the additional $1,000 cash, no other monies will be awarded to them for contributing to the writing on the short film other than the $3,000. The Moving Image Xchange LLC and CWA will have full ownership of the produced short film, however, the writer will still retain full ownership of their feature script. The short production will have no impact on the ownership of the writer’s feature length script. The Grand Prize Winner also understands that should they elect to forgo the additional $1,000 in order to do the short version of the script that they are responsible for working with the CWA Co-Founders in a timely manner to create the content of the short script, with CWA and The Moving Image Xchange having final say on the script’s content to ensure production value and limitations are met. CWA may elect not to produce the script if the writer does not meet the deadlines in a timely fashion. CWA Co-Founders will work with the writer to develop the short script in the months of September and October, with a tentative shoot date set for November or December each year. The film will then premiere at the Richmond International Film Festival in early March. Producing the short script is at the sole discretion of CWA and The Moving Image Xchange, LLC. Should CWA and The Moving Image Xchange elect not to produce a short version of the Grand Prize Winner’s feature script, the Grand Prize Winner will receive the initial $3,000 and the additional $1,000. If the Grand Prize Winner consists of more than one writer, it is up to the writers to split the money between them.
Please read and understand the above Rules and Regulations. Failure to adhere to the Creative World Awards contest guidelines will result in disqualification and forfeiture of an entry fee and/or eligible prize.