SEASON 4

This season’s 7 awards are: 

  • Best Screenplay
  • Best Character Arc
  • Best Genre Script 
  • Best Fantasy Script 
  • Best Technique
  • Bonus: Best Horror Shocker
  • Bonus: Best Concept

SCRIPT TITLE: Peninsula’s End

Winner (Shared): Bonus: Best Concept

Judge #1 Comments: “Detailed with many textures and particular intricacies, this period piece is a mamoth for art direction delight.”

Judge #2 Comments: “The script could do with some minor tidying up (officers for example could be Officers, and action could highlight characters more directing), but overall, this script reads like a high production value project  and very rich content.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Very large

SCRIPT TITLE: Ghost Walker

Nominated: Best Genre Script

Judge #1 Comments: “This TV show punches a lot of weight, shaking dust off of the usual set of up ghostly concepts. It’s fun, family driven and includes plenty of room for development.”

Judge #2 Comments: “A casting director’s delight.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Moderate for TV 

SCRIPT TITLE: A Possession for All Time

Nominated: Best Screenplay, Winner: Best Character Arc

Judge #1 Comments: “Lucien Price is a fascinating lead.”

Judge #2 Comments: “Much effort has been made to make this script read with a feeling of pristine quality.”

→ Would recommend: Yes, highly

→ Budget scale: Moderate indie feature film

SCRIPT TITLE: The Soulmate Bible

Nominated: Best Genre Script 

Judge #1 Comments: “Blending often forgotten genres, ones which once dominated the 90’s film era, The Soulmate Bible juggles classy pastiche moments with a sense of purpose-driven post-modernism that’s fun and elegant.”

Judge #2 Comments: “With the right director on board, this could be a really fun genre film.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Moderate for short film

SCRIPT TITLE: A BAMBOO BLOOMS

Nominated: Best Character Arc

Judge #1 Comments: “The real highlight here is the authentic characterization, which embraces the locale and specific lives being lived.”

Judge #2 Comments: “Too long for a short film – could this be a feature? – reminds me of urban literature, in a good sense – there is a feeling of character from the city.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Moderate for short 

SCRIPT TITLE: The Rally

Nominated: Best Character Arc, Winner (Shared): Bonus: Best Concept

Judge #1 Comments: “Carefully – The Rally kicks a mighty and deliberate hard knock.”

Judge #2 Comments: “Blunt in a perfect sort of tearful way.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Very affordable 

SCRIPT TITLE: Icarus

Nominated: Best Fantasy Script 

Judge #1 Comments: “A wild epic that is very arty, but not indie budget-friendly. Exciting to see a retelling of the Icarus tale though.”

Judge #2 Comments: “If shot with CGI and modern tech, this might be a very original approach to the content.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Large for art house

SCRIPT TITLE: Nepenthe

Winner: Best Screenplay

Judge #1 Comments: “Much like Smashed from 2012, this film excels at telling us a romance tale in the unusual setting of addiction. It’s fresh, and enticing for any actor.”

Judge #2 Comments: “Challenging, in the best of ways… this is a rewarding read. From nearly all filmic approaches, there’s what to enjoy here – the director could do so much, the cinemtographer, the actors etc.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Yes, indie budget 

SCRIPT TITLE: Motica

Nominated: Bonus: Best Horror Shocker

Judge #1 Comments: “Funhouse is the word. The script just pops.”

Judge #2 Comments: “Screamy delight, I’d love to see a feature script of this horror quality.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Affordable for short

SCRIPT TITLE: Moth

Nominated: Best Fantasy Script 

Judge #1 Comments: “There is a Virginia Wolf quality about this script. It is free in form, magical even.”

Judge #2 Comments: “Reminiscent of early primitive film, this project might be an interesting project for retro-styled content.”

→ Would recommend: Yes, especially as animation or mixed media project

→ Budget scale: Moderate

SCRIPT TITLE: Stalkers

Winner: Best Genre Script 

Judge #1 Comments: “Stylish, unusual and fun – this script pops with a sort of pulpy blend of genres!”

Judge #2 Comments: “Art direction delight right here.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Moderate 

SCRIPT TITLE: Double Delusion

Nominated: Best Script, Nominated: Best Character Arc

Judge #1 Comments: “This script has a great poignant heart to it – the writing is very genuine and character-driven.”

Judge #2 Comments: “One of those scripts that has the quality that once shot, the film will age well – like a good wine, it will remain watchable and relatable beyond our current decade.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Great for a short film

SCRIPT TITLE: Abrupt

Nominated: Best Genre Script

Judge #1 Comments: “As a deadbolt drama, this script punches where it hurts.”

Judge #2 Comments: “Though minimalist, the film could be greatly elevated during production… at its heart, it has a great many simple touches, which will be moving and interesting once produced.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Low for indie film

SCRIPT TITLE: The Vestige Specialist

Nominated: Best Genre Script, Nominated: Bonus: Best Horror Shocker

Judge #1 Comments: “The concept is punchy and unusual. I sort of love it.”

Judge #2 Comments: “A very bold script from a very young writer. Impressively genre aware and smart. I’d revisit the length – shorts do really well when they are close to ten minutes and are genre based… this script is very close to being a sharp festival film.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Large for short 

SCRIPT TITLE: Spun Out!

Nominated: Best Screenplay, Nominated: Best Character Arc, Nominated: Best Genre Script

Judge #1 Comments: “Bombastic, TV ready and fun – Spun Out has one hell of a great foundation for the makings of a family toned project.”

Judge #2 Comments: “Recalls the hayday of TV family drama – in a good way.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: High for indie, moderate for TV Studios

SCRIPT TITLE: The Christians – Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile

Nominated: Best Fantasy Screenplay

Judge #1 Comments: “With a strong understanding of time jumps and detailed technique, The Christians is an opus ready to reward the faith-based audience.”

Judge #2 Comments: “Epic and seasoned for a particular audience, this might be a hard one to get financed, but is definitely a project that will do well with the right marketing campaign – it has a very strong sense of identity and style… and it is quite fantastical whilst doing all of this.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Large for indie

SCRIPT TITLE: Recycle or Recover

Nominated: Best Character Arc, Nominated: Best Screenplay

Judge #1 Comments: “The dialogue here is very nicely done – often character specific and plot driven. There’s some great emotional touches here as well.”

Judge #2 Comments: “The journey is displayed in a very specific arc – and it is an enjoyable one.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Moderate 

SCRIPT TITLE: Gimme Shelter Part Three

Nominated: Best Character Arc

Judge #1 Comments: “Feeling more like a TV show with its returning chapters, this project has a great core with Officer Jack Borodowski.”

Judge #2 Comments: “At times, this feels like a great example of the lost art of adult drama films.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: High for indie 

SCRIPT TITLE: Time, Space, And The Poet

Winner: Best Fantasy Script 

Judge #1 Comments: “The unique characterization and use of genre is a very fun world-building exercise.”

Judge #2 Comments: “Perhaps too big to mount in the indie world of production, if one was to go ‘all out’… but, also, this is a great example of the spirit some writers have. There’s an epic tale here.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Moderate

SCRIPT TITLE: Time, Space & the Poet – Part Two

Nominated: Best Fantasy Script 

Judge #1 Comments: “Shot with style, this will be great.” 

Judge #2 Comments: “The art of telling large scale projects with big ideas seems to have shifted largely from Hollywood to Europe… this feels like one of those contemporary European films, like say Border by Ali Abbasi.” 

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Large for indie – it’s a sequel

SCRIPT TITLE: Magi 

Nominated: Best Screenplay

Judge #1 Comments: “Detailed and delicate, the project relies greatly on cast and the dynamics of the roles. It’s an interesting piece. IT could though do with a little shortening for the market.”

Judge #2 Comments: “There’s a faint hint feeling that this story could be feasible at times… and that is a fun thing… especially in such a particular niche of a subgenre.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Good for short 

SCRIPT TITLE: VEGA (7.29.22)

Nominated: Best Screenplay, Nominated: Best Technique

Judge #1 Comments: “Bombastic with style and content. Vega is memorable.”

Judge #2 Comments: The writing at times is very stylish, and it makes for an enjoyable reading experience. It is very tactile in a way.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Large for indie 

SCRIPT TITLE: A Package of Dreams

Winner: Bonus: Best Horror Shocker

Judge #1 Comments: “Comical, Gothic and a whole-lot-of-ghoulish-fun!”

Judge #2 Comments: “The cast of caricatures, setting and tone is spot on. This would be a lot of fun to see made.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Very large for indie

SCRIPT TITLE: 10:15 On A Saturday Night

Nominated: Best Character Arc 

Judge #1 Comments: “This long epic isn’t an easy one for production or distribution, but it is an admirable authorial voice.”

Judge #2 Comments: “At times this feels like a very old school novelistic approach to writing scripts… there are many pay offs, but at times one worries it might be a hard project to mount and watch.”

→ Would recommend: Maybe

→ Budget scale: Moderate for length 

SCRIPT TITLE: The Prophet’s Wife

Nominated: Best Technique

Judge #1 Comments: “Though the runtime isn’t quite a feature, this is a robust biblical tale with an interesting feminist version of the content.”

Judge #2 Comments: “A hard one to see produced, but definitely a fun female centric version of the story we have all seen Hollywood devour multiple times.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Large for indie 

SCRIPT TITLE: One of Us

Nominated: Best Technique

Judge #1 Comments: “Rich with detail and many touches, One of Us is a moralist’s delight.”

Judge #2 Comments: “The main selling point is the four characters here – there’s room for actors to really enjoy the experience. The runtime of this project though is confusing – is it a short film or feature? In its current form it feels like a TV special.” 

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Great for short 

SCRIPT TITLE: A Second Husband

Nominated: Best Fantasy Script 

Judge #1 Comments: “It is a lot of fun.”

Judge #2 Comments: “With some tightening, the right visual style and a solid cast, this would be a really bold film festival entry.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Large for short film, but rewarding!

SCRIPT TITLE: Amy and Angel

Winner: Best Technique

Judge #1 Comments: “The character arcs here are great fun, but the main impression is how well it is balanced and written in a very clear and coherent fashion.”

Judge #2 Comments: “Stylish, original and engaging.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Large for indie

SCRIPT TITLE: The Grievers

Nominated: Bonus: Best Horror Shocker

Judge #1 Comments: “With the closing images being so poignant, despite it not being a horror… one must attribute its impact to that of the horror shocker… the kind of chilling moment that lingers.”

Judge #2 Comments: “It relishes the X Files feeling of being part of a challenge or pursuit.”

→ Would recommend: Yes

→ Budget scale: Large but rewarding for indie

SCRIPT TITLE: Lucas

Nominated: Best Concept 

Judge #1 Comments: “This isn’t a script – but the concept should be transferred into one.”

Judge #2 Comments: “The hook is great… needs more work to be considered a standard writing format for the industry. Fun idea for a TV show set up.”

→ Would recommend: Maybe

→ Budget scale: Complicated to predict