Objective

Deadline/Entry Fees

Top 50 Writers – Mid-December;
Top 25 Writers/Invitees – Mid-January;
Finalists – Early February;
Fellowship Winner – Late February.

Rules

As author(s) of the submitted material, my/our submission attests to the following:

• To the accuracy of all information I/we have entered herein.
• That I/we are 18 or older.
• That the submitted material is my/our original work, with all rights to said work held by me/us.
• That I/we will indemnify CineStory, hold it harmless and defend it against all claims, demands, losses, costs, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any stories submitted for the CineStory Television Retreat or on any material developed out of such stories.
• That I/we understand that CineStory judges, directors, officers, employees or agents may be exposed to or may develop materials and ideas that may be similar to those of the submitted material. I/we understand and acknowledge that I/we will not be entitled to any compensation from such similar material that is independently conceived and created.
• That I/we agree that I/we will never assert against CineStory (or any of its judges, directors, officers, employees or agents) any claim based on an assertion of plagiarism, idea theft, confidential or fiduciary relationship or any other theory relating to the submitted material.
• That I/we understand that individual feedback is not provided and that CineStory notifies winners only.
• That I/we have read, understood and complied with all guidelines and rules herein, and failure to do so may result in disqualification.

• Teleplays must have a CLEAN COVER PAGE. This means the title only on the cover, no author’s name/contact information. If submitting a hardcopy script, please include two cover pages. The first, containing only the title of the entry, should be attached directly to the screenplay. The second including the title, author's name, address and phone number should be submitted unattached to the script. If submitting electronically, please ensure that your name and contact information DO NOT appear on the title page.
• Teleplays must be original pilots or spec scripts for any network or cable program that was on air from the 2013-2014 broadcasting season.
• Submit one copy of a 30 to 75-page teleplay.
• Do not send originals. Materials will not be returned under any circumstances.
• The author's name must not appear anywhere within the body of the script.
• Body pages must be numbered.
• No additional materials, artwork, illustrations etc. should be attached to the script.
• Hardcopy scripts must be bound with two or three brads and in industry-standard format. Cardstock covers are required. Consult any screenwriting text or format guide.
• Teleplays must be in English.
• Teleplays must be on plain white paper. Single or double-sided accepted.

• Digital Series materials must have a CLEAN COVER PAGE. This means the title only on the cover, no author’s name/contact information. If submitting a hardcopy script, please include two cover pages. The first, containing only the title of the entry, should be attached directly to the screenplay. The second including the title, author's name, address and phone number should be submitted unattached to the script. If submitting electronically, please ensure that your name and contact information DO NOT appear on the title page.
• Submit 1-3 scripted episodes of Digital Series totaling no more than 30 pages in length. Each script must be submitted as part of the same PDF files.
• Do not send originals. Materials will not be returned under any circumstances.
• The author's name must not appear anywhere within the body of the script.
• Body pages must be numbered.
• No additional materials, artwork, illustrations etc. should be attached to the script.
• Hardcopy scripts must be bound with two or three brads and in industry-standard format. Cardstock covers are required. Consult any screenwriting text or format guide.
• Screenplays must be in English.
• Screenplays must be on plain white paper. Single or double-sided accepted.

• Entrants must be 18 or older.
• Any teleplay from any genre will be considered.
• This contest is open to any person who hasn't sold a pilot to a network or cable channel or written on staff for a network or cable channel in the last five years..
• CineStory notifies winners only. Entrants are advised to check CineStory's website and e-newsletter for judging announcements.
• Entered teleplays may not be optioned, sold or produced at the time of entry.
• Multiple entries are accepted, provided a signed entry form and appropriate entry fee is attached to each submission.
• Multiple authorship is acceptable. However, if the teleplay wins an award, only one award will be given and it will be divided equally among the writers.
• Pilot Teleplays must be the original work of the author. If based on another person's life story, a statement attesting to the rights obtained must be attached.
• Spec Teleplays must be the work of a show currently being produced.
• No adaptations of other written work will be accepted unless the writer owns the rights to the original material.
• There must be no dispute about the ownership of submitted teleplays or the writer's right to submit a teleplay.
• CineStory recommends registering your screenplays with the WGA or the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress.
• No substitutions of new drafts or corrected pages for entries will be accepted under any circumstances. However, you may submit a new draft as a separate submission.
• Judges' decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. Sorry, we cannot provide individual feedback from the judges.
• Entrants acknowledge that CineStory, its judges, mentors and officers may be exposed to or may develop materials and ideas that may be similar to those of the submitted material. Entrants acknowledge they will not be entitled to any compensation because from such similar material which is independently conceived and created.
• Entrants agree to never assert against CineStory (or any of its judges, directors, officers, employees or agents) any claim based on an assertion of plagiarism, idea theft, confidential or fiduciary relationship or any other theory relating to the submitted material.
• Entries that fail to follow competition rules and guidelines will be disqualified.
• No refunds for entries that do not comply with competition rules and guidelines.
• Winners will be responsible for their own U.S. income tax withholding.
• Entering the contest constitutes permission to use the winners' names and likenesses for publicity and promotions with no additional compensation.
• All entries must be postmarked, emailed or uploaded by the appropriate deadline.
• CineStory reserves the right to extend the final deadline however an extended deadline is not guaranteed.
• CineStory is not responsible for entries lost, stolen or damaged in transit.
• Finalists are required to submit a letter and video as part of the finals judging process.

Awards

• Invitation to attend the Retreat.
• One-on-one mentor sessions with industry professionals.
• Experience in the simulated Writer's Room. (TV only)