The deadline to submit for the scriptwriting competition is until September 5, 2022.
Returning for a fourth edition, this year’s Sharjah Film Platform Pitching Forum is offering one UAE-based scriptwriter an opportunity to win AED 200,000 to turn their script into a feature film.
Shortlisted from a pool of applicants, 10 finalists who have a completed draft or version of a feature-length script in the Arabic language, will receive professional script development training ahead of Sharjah Film Platform (SFP). The finalists will then pitch their script to a panel of industry judges at a live event, where one winning scriptwriter will be selected to receive the prize.
The Pitching Forum includes a mandatory script lab and pitching coaching course that will mentor all shortlisted contestants for the onsite pitching event and ensure that the winning script is ready to be produced into a film. The pitching forum will be held at Sharjah Art Foundation on October 29, 2022, during the closing weekend of the Sharjah Film Platform.
The Pitching Forum is supported by this year’s industry partner, Sharjah Media City (SHAMS). The winner of the Pitching Forum will be awarded jointly through a grant by Sharjah Art Foundation and an investment fund by SHAMS. The foundation retains the rights to the world premiere of the film upon its completion, and the winner will have separate contracts with each entity. The winner will retain creative control over their film in so far as it is produced within the criteria mentioned below.
The prize is open to all nationalities, but to qualify, participants will have to be UAE residents with an original Arabic-language feature-film script that they have written themselves.
The full or completed draft of the script must be at least 75 pages long. Incomplete drafts will not be accepted. It must have written the beginning, middle and end of your story to work on.
The applicant must also have at least one director’s credit, which can demonstrate by submitting a web link or movie file for a full film they have directed. This can either be a short or feature-length film, but it cannot be a trailer.
Applicants have to submit a page-long synopsis of their script and their biography along with a budget summary or financial plan for how the funds will be used.
As the scriptwriter, applicants should be available to participate in the mandatory script lab and pitching coaching training in the run-up to Sharjah Film Platform (sessions will be held throughout the week, including weekends with dates and venue TBA), and they must attend the onsite pitching event at Sharjah Art Foundation to present your script to the judges on October 29, during the closing weekend of Sharjah Film Platform.
The winner must be available to go into production in 2023 and complete their film within 24 months of receiving the award, with the support of Sharjah Art Foundation and the SFP5 industry partner, SHAMS.
The winning film must be shot on location in Sharjah (or at least 80% of the film). The winner will be offered support by Sharjah Art Foundation and SHAMS to find filming locations in the emirate.
To apply, applicants have to send an email with their Arabic submission materials and the director’s film link to pitchingforum@sharjahart.org until or before September 5, 2022.
