IT ALL STARTS WITH A STORY.

In its first 30 years, American Zoetrope has produced some of the most important films in American cinema. At the core of this success is a steadfast dedication to storytelling. In the words of founding director Francis Coppola, who won his first Oscar for the screenplay of Patton, "The story is the foundation upon which all else is built."

Entry Deadlines & Fees:
Early Deadline: August 1, 2008 ($35)
Deadline: September 2, 2008 ($50)


The winner and finalists will be announced February 3, 2009, at this website.

The contest's aim is to seek out and encourage compelling film narratives, and to introduce the next generation of great screenwriters to today's leading production companies and agencies.

The winner and top-ten finalists will be considered for representation by ICM, UTA, Paradigm, William Morris Independent, The Gersh Agency, CAA, Exile Entertainment, The Schiff Company, and The Firm. Their scripts will be considered for film option and development by leading production companies, including: American Zoetrope, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Fox Searchlight, Sony Pictures Classics, IFC Entertainment, Paramount Classics, Icon Pictures, Working Title, Dimension Films, Antidote Films, Bull's Eye Entertainment, C/W Productions, The Film Department, First Look, Frelaine, Greenestreet Films, Matinee Pictures, Michael London Productions, Number 9 Films, Phoenix Pictures, Pretty Pictures, This Is That, Roserock Films, Benderspink, Room 9 Entertainment, Industry Entertainment, Ovie Entertainment, Nine Yards Entertainment, and Ziskin Productions.

TO ENTER
Screenplays must be submitted and entry fees must be paid online.

We accept Adobe Acrobat PDF, Microsoft Word, and Rich Text Format files.

To enter, go to Submit Now. You'll be prompted to provide your contact and script information, upload your screenplay, and pay the entry fee online using a credit card. (We cannot accept other forms of payment or hard-copy submissions. We apologize for any inconvenience.)

OFFICIAL RULES
To enter the 2008 American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest, you must agree to the Official Rules and approve an Agreement Form.

QUESTIONS
For our Frequently Asked Questions, click here.