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This brand-new screenwriting competition aims to bring LGBTQ+ characters and stories, front and centre. So we are looking for scripts with LGBTQ+ protagonists, antagonists, secondary/side, and peripheral characters.
In collaboration with Polari Creative and Pride Reads, we're on a mission to showcase contemporary LGBTQIA+ stories. We're offering five (5) screenwriters the opportunity to meet with our inspiring Judges panel, giving your LGBTQIA+ story the attention and nurturing it deserves.
Whether you're queer and write LGBTQ+ characters constantly, or you're cishet and including LGBTQ+ characters for the first time, this contest is for you.
For the first round of this contest, we are reading your logline, a one-page synopsis, and the first five (5) pages of longer scripts. Five (5) Top Finalists will be selected to get online with our Judges to pitch their scripts and receive feedback.
After this, these Finalists will submit their full script and a Grand Prize Winner will be selected.
PRIZES
Grand Prize Winner to receive: $1,500 cash + A 1-2-1 Mentorship consultation call with Luke Oliveira-Davies - Polari Creative and Sensitivity & Authenticity feedback from Drew Hubbard - Pride Reads.
PLUS
Five (5) Finalists will get online with this year's Judges to discuss their scripts and get feedback on developing their LGBTQIA+ stories. Plus, free coverage feedback from Shore Scripts.
JUDGES
LUKE OLIVEIRA-DAVIES. Founder and creative producer at the award-winning Polari Creative. Founded in 2020, Polari is an award-winning production company committed to championing stories from diverse perspectives and uplifting the voices of underrepresented creatives both upfront and behind the scenes.
JOY GHARORO-AKPOJOTOR. 2020 Screen International Star of Tomorrow, Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor is a producer whose work focuses on Black, Queer, and Female-led content for Film and TV. Joy runs Joi Productions, which received a BFI Vision Award.
BETHANY BLACK. Comedian, Actor, and Writer for Frankie Boyle's New World Order, and Late Night Lycett, Bethany is blessed with a sharp tongue and a desire to overshare. She is critically acclaimed for her personal, confessional style of comedy.
DREW HUBBARD. Founder of Pride Reads, the groundbreaking screenplay development service offering sensitivity and authenticity reads for queer/lgbtq+ manuscripts and scripts specifically for gay/queer male and non-binary characters.
For this contest, we are accepting submissions comprised of the writer’s logline, a one-page synopsis, and the first five (5) pages of longer scripts (min. of 20 pages long, excluding the title page), for completed Features, TV Pilots, Short Film scripts, and Animation screenplays.
Progression through the contest involves the selection of a Top 5 Finalist shortlist who will be invited to an online meeting to make a short oral online presentation to the Judges. In the same meeting, the writers will have the opportunity to receive feedback and answer any questions the Judges may have. Thereafter, the Top 5 Finalists will be required to submit their full script – be that Feature screenplay, TV Pilot, Short Film, or Animation. No other documents or supporting materials are required.
Shore Scripts 2024 OutHere LGBTQIA+ Contest REGULAR DEADLINE APRIL 12TH!
MEET THE JUDGES!
This contest was designed to put LGBTQ+ characters and stories, front and center. Representation has actually taken a step backward since 2021 and what there is can often fall into the tired old tropes that have their roots in the ultra-conservative Hays Code.
We are seeking to counter that – celebrating LGBTQ+ stories that focus on community and family, and feature strong characters that reflect the reality of LGBTQ+ lives today.
What’s more, we are realising that community theme in the structure of the contest.
The Top 5 Finalists will be invited to an online meeting to make a short oral online presentation to the Judges. In the same meeting, the writers will have the opportunity to receive feedback and answer any questions the Judges may have. Afterwards, the Top 5 Finalists will be required to submit their full script – be that Feature screenplay, TV Pilot, Short Film, or Animation. No other documents or supporting materials are required.
OUR 2024 JUDGES
LUKE OLIVEIRA-DAVIES. Founder and creative producer at the award-winning Polari Creative. Founded in 2020, Polari is an award-winning production company committed to championing stories from diverse perspectives and uplifting the voices of underrepresented creatives both upfront and behind the scenes.
JOY GHARORO-AKPOJOTOR. 2020 Screen International Star of Tomorrow, Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor is a producer whose work focuses on Black, Queer, and Female-led content for Film and TV. Joy runs Joi Productions, which received a BFI Vision Award.
BETHANY BLACK. Comedian, Actor, and Writer for Frankie Boyle's New World Order, and Late Night Lycett, Bethany is blessed with a sharp tongue and a desire to overshare. She is critically acclaimed for her personal, confessional style of comedy.
DREW HUBBARD. Founder of Pride Reads, the groundbreaking screenplay development service offering sensitivity and authenticity reads for queer/lgbtq+ manuscripts and scripts specifically for gay/queer male and non-binary characters.
For this contest, we are accepting submissions comprised of the writer’s logline, a one-page synopsis, and the first five (5) pages of longer scripts (min. of 20 pages long, excluding the title page), for completed Features, TV Pilots, Short Film scripts, and Animation screenplays.
$1,500 cash for the Grand Prize Winner + Follow-up feedback from Luke and Drew to help them craft the very best draft of their story.
While queer representation is improving, according to the GLAAD TV report for 2022-2023, there was actually a decrease of 1.3% in LGBTQ+ characters, on scripted primetime American broadcast series, from the previous year.
We are seeking to counter that – opening doors and celebrating LGBTQ+ stories that focus on strong characters that reflect the reality of LGBTQ+ lives today.
Writers are invited to submit the first five pages of their script, a one-page synopsis, and their logline to the contest. You can enter a full-length script, along with the synopsis and logline, although in the first round, we will only be reading the first five pages, not including your title page.
This competition is about championing queer characters and stories, particularly those that celebrate joy, community, and family. Queer audiences, as well as cishet allies, want to see LGBTQ+ characters whose queerness isn't a plot point, they're just queer because that's who they are.
To further support this focus on community, we are inviting the Top 5 Finalists to an online meeting with the Judges, where the writers can make a short oral online presentation to advocate for their script, and in the same meeting, have the opportunity to receive feedback and answer any questions the Judges may have.
After that the Top 5 Finalists will be asked to submit their full script – be that Feature screenplay, TV Pilot, Short Film, or Animation.
The Final Deadline for the 2024 OutHere LGBTQ+ Screenwriting Contest is on May 10th, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time! Submissions cost $40 US.
Top 15 Finalists Announced - May 17, 2024 Top 5 Finalists Announced – May 24, 2024 MAY 30TH - The Top 5 Finalists meet with the Judges to discuss their scripts & get ready to submit their full drafts to decide on the final placings! Final drafts submitted by – June 14, 2024 Grand Prize Winner Announced - June 21, 2024
CONTEST PRIZES
1-2-1 consultation with Luke Oliveira-Davies The Grand Prize winner will receive feedback on their script from the founder and creative producer at the award-winning Polari Creative, the award-winning production company committed to championing stories from diverse perspectives and uplifting the voices of underrepresented creatives both upfront and behind the scenes.
Sensitivity & authenticity feedback from Drew Hubbard Plus, the Grand Prize Winner will receive script feedback from the founder of Pride Reads, the groundbreaking screenplay development service offering sensitivity and authenticity reads for queer/lgbtq+ manuscripts and screenplays that feature gay/queer male and non-binary characters.
$1500 for the Grand Prize Winner Plus free coverage feedback from Shore Scripts for the Top 5 Finalists!
We are honored to announce the OutHere Contest Top 15 FINALISTS!
We created the OutHere contest in response to the need for greater participation and representation of the LGBTQ+ community in screenwriting and the wider entertainment industry. According to the GLAAD TV report for 2022-2023, there was a decrease of 1.3% in LGBTQ+ characters, on scripted primetime American broadcast series, from the previous year.
The goal of OutHere therefore was to champion queer characters and stories, particularly those that celebrate joy, community, and family. You responded in your hundreds and it has been a privilege to read the terrific scripts and synopses you submitted. We want to say a HUGE heartfelt thank you to everyone who entered.
Please join us in congratulating our Top 15 Finalists!
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Shore Scripts 2024 OutHere LGBTQIA+ Contest
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