How much do you love horror? Enough to write a horror script, you say? Good because there is some exciting news! Stranger With My Face International Film festival is hosting a one of a kind competition. They have asked registered participants to write a new horror script of 7 pages or less within 48 hours—this year from 8-10 September. SO warm up those typing finger and start brainstorming. Registrations are open until 7 September.
The Jury for 2017 will consist of Victoria Madden, writer/show runner & creator of the acclaimed sci-fi drama series The Kettering Incident (Foxtel/BBC Worldwide) Karen Lam, screenwriter/director/producer Karen Lam with feature credits including Evangeline and Stained and the web series Mythos Colin Cairnes, screenwriter/director, best known for the horror comedy 100 Bloody Acres, Tansy Rayner Roberts, award-winning fantasy and mystery novelist and podcast host, Briony Kidd, director of Stranger With My Face International Film Festival, filmmaker and script consultant.
Scripts are judged on the originality of the premise and/or the story’s resonance. Screenwriting craft and writing quality will be considered as secondary criteria, ensuring that novice screenwriters and experienced screenwriters are able to compete side by side. Three unique prompts must be incorporated by each writer into their scirpts, inspiring idiosyncratic results!
For example, one challenger in 2016 had to write a script using a tuxedo(object), an architect (character), and the “Only in your dreams” (phrase). Another had to incorporate a mushroom (object), a misogynist (character) and“Don’t break It” (phrase).
“The challenge is first and foremost an enjoyable creative exercise,” says organizer Briony Kidd. “Whether or not you’re aiming to end up with a produceable script, we encourage participants to push the boundaries of their imaginations. Our interpretation of horror is extremely broad so participants can feel free to experiment as much as they like within that loose framework.”
Several successful short films have resulted from past Script Challenges, including Heidi Lee Douglas’s Little Lamb from the inaugural year, which went on to screen at top genre festivals including Fantastic Fest, and Hannah White’s Blood Sisters, which debuted directed by Caitlin Koller and Lachlan Smith at Stranger With My Face in 2017 and is now on the festival circuit.
The top prizes to be awarded in 2017 are Best Australian Script and Best International Script. The following runner-up prizes will also be awarded:
· Tasmaniana Award – for a script that engages with Tasmania as a location
· Miss Havisham Award – for a script that engages with gender issues
· Rebel Award – for a script that subverts conventions or challenges the status quo
· The Trifecta Award – for a script that cleverly incorporates the three prompts
The Best Australian and Best International winners will receive trophies and other prizes. These scripts will be read by professional actors and streamed to a worldwide audience in September or October 2017 (subject to discussions with the winners). Other awards and prizes may also be given.
Registrations for the 2017 Tasmanian Gothic Short Script Challenge are now open and will close at 11 PM (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) on 7 September.
The Challenge writing period is from 8 PM 8 September 2017 until 8 PM 10 September 2017. Entry is AU$20 or AU$30 if requesting script notes.
Registrations for the Tasmania Gothic Script Challenge 2017 are
