Stay Safe &
#WriteABetterWorld

As the world emerges from the grip of the global pandemic, we are pleased to be continue to provide opportunities for our writers to showcase their talent and hone their skills with exciting contests that get them paid & produced! Below is a list of the contests that have been confirmed so far for the year, but this is by no means a complete list. We are regularly announcing additional contests with even more exciting topics and partnerships. We hope you will share your talent with us by participating in the contests below and help us to #WriteABetterWorld.

CONTEST TOPIC:

Annual Mental Health Screenwriting Contest: Every student has a story

Open Screenplay has partnered with Layla Care to shed light on the journey of being a student and navigating mental health in the school setting. The university or college setting can be a place of many firsts - first love, first time living away, first time navigating a major life event or traumatic experience or the first time coping with life stresses on your own. We invite you to write a 10-minute short film screenplay, and you are free to explore the subject of mental health in a college setting without limitations. Some ideas that could be considered are: What does it look like to be diagnosed with a mental illness while at university? How does being in school create additional challenges for your mental health? What types of grassroots initiatives are you involved in to raise awareness about mental health and stigma on campus? How has your school supported you or fell short to support when you were dealing with a mental health crisis? How has being a student felt more lonely during COVID-19? Share your story with us, to help guide and support others that can relate and see themselves in your story.

**IMPORTANT:
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health challenge, support is available.

Resources:
Kids Help Phone
kidshelpphone.ca
1-800-668-6868
Text: CONNECT to 686868

www.Jack.org

If you or someone else is in crisis and require immediate assistance, call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

Duration

10 minutes

Deadlines

Submission period begins on
April 1st, 2022

Submission Deadline is
May 31st, 2022

See Guidelines

PRIZES

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

$1500 cad

License fee cash award

+ Chance to be produced!

$500 cad

Cash Prize

2^nd PRIZE

$250 cad

Cash Prize

3^rd PRIZE

Contest Mini-Rules

This contest is free to participate in for all registered Open Screenplay users. Contest begins on April 1st, 2022 at 12:00 AM (ET) and ends on May 31st, 2022 at 11:59 PM (ET). There are a total of three (3) prizes available to be won as follows: one (1) First Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of $1500 CAD, and in Contest Partner’s sole discretion, the option of production, one (1) Second Prize consisting of cash award of $500 CAD, (1) Third Prize consisting of cash award of $250 CAD. Contest is open to registered Open Screenplay users, excluding residents of Quebec, Canada, who are 13 years of age or older at the time of entry (parental or guardian consent required if entrant is under the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry). Odds of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible entries received before contest closes. Limitations apply See full rules and entry details.

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM

Happy New Year to you our valued community of storytellers! While 2021 teased us with glimpses of hope and recovery, we hope that 2022 will the year of prosperity for all. We are incredibly excited to launch our line up of screenwriting contests, giving you more chances to show off your creativity, get paid & produced. These are but a glimpse of some of the exciting opportunities we will be announcing throughout the year, so please stay tuned and keep checking back in! Happy Writing!

Join us as we #WriteABetterWorld.