The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards competition is judged entirely by working professionals in the film and television industry, all of whom have years of experience evaluating and developing scripts for major Hollywood studios, agencies, management firms and production companies.
Among our current and past judges:
- Robert Baird (Monsters, Inc.)
William Massa (Return to House on Haunted Hill)
Amy Sorlie (Dark Tide)
Maya Goldsmith (Pretty Little Liars)
Susan Van Allen (Everybody Loves Raymond)
Geoff Harris (NBC TV)
Pancho Mansfield (FOX Television)
Dura Temple Curry (United Artists)
Irene Yeung (Vertigo Entertainment)
Ethen Adams (Yari Film Group)
John Schwartz (Quadrant Pictures)
Teresa Zales (Metamorphic Films)
Adam Marshall (Energy Entertainment)
Julian Rosenberg (Caliber Media Company)
Mike Goldberg (New Wave Entertainment)
Eric Williams (Zero Gravity)
Kemper Donovan (Circle of Confusion)
Marc Manus (Manus Entertainment)
Jeff Silver (Fourth Floor Productions)
Joe Riley (Eyes on the Road)
Mike Kuciak (Samurai MK)
Sammy Montana (Anarchy Management)
Jess Rosenthal (Industry Entertainment)
Josh Goldenberg (Kaplan/Perrone)
Beej Gefsky (Intrigue Entertainment)
Rudy Scalese (NALA Films)
and many more…
These are people who can truly open doors for undiscovered writers.
EVALUATION PROCESS
Judging is anonymous. When you enter the contest your script will be assigned a number, and the Judges will identify your script by title and number only.
FIRST & SECOND ROUNDS
In the first two rounds of competition, entries will be evaluated by professional script readers currently working in the industry. The top 25% of all submissions will advance to the Second Round of competition, and the top 10% of all submissions will advance to the Quarter-Final Round.
QUARTER-FINAL ROUND
Quarter-Finalist scripts will be evaluated by professional screenwriters and screenwriting consultants. The Judges’ combined scores will determine the top twenty-five Semi-Finalists in each category.
SEMI-FINAL ROUND
Semi-Finalist scripts will be evaluated by Hollywood literary agents, managers and development executives. The Judges’ combined scores will determine the top ten Finalists in each category.
FINAL ROUND
A panel of film and television producers and Hollywood production executives will conduct the Final Round of judging. The combined scores of all the Judges will determine the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Prize Winners in each category, as well as this year’s Grand Prize Winner.
Through each round of competition, the Judges will be assigned scripts in the area of their individual interest and expertise, so your screenplay will always be evaluated by people who appreciate and understand the type of material you’ve written.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Through each round of competition, scripts will be evaluated on a ten-point scale. Entries will be given a score of 1 to 10 for each of the following elements:
PREMISE/CONCEPT
The idea behind the story. What the movie is about. The “hook.”
PRESENTATION
Standard spec screenplay or teleplay format (12 pt. Courier font, correct margins, etc.), as well as spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage.
STRUCTURE
The framework of the script. Effective use of three-act (most common), odyssey, linear or non-linear story progression.
PLOT
The actions, events, conflicts, and turning points that propel the story forward. How the story unfolds (points for originality/unpredictability).
PACING
The timing of the action, unfolding of plot elements and character development.
CHARACTERS
Personalities that are distinctive, compelling, multi-layered, and unpredictable. A protagonist and antagonist with clear and active goals.
DIALOGUE
Voices that are natural, succinct, and unique to each character. Use of language that effectively reveals character and moves the story forward.
THEME
The underlying message of the story as revealed through plot, dialogue, and visual elements.
STYLE/TONE
Overall quality of the writing. Narrative that is distinct, cinematic, and effectively conveys the mood or “feel” of the movie.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL
Audience appeal and box-office potential.
If you’d like a better understanding of these criteria, ten of our top Judges explain each of these elements in detail and the thought process behind their scores and evaluations in our ground-breaking eBook “The Insiders’ Guide to Screenwriting.”
NOTIFICATION DATES
We will post the list of scripts advancing in this year’s PAGE Awards competition on the following dates:
QUARTER-FINALISTS will be announced on July 15th
SEMI-FINALISTS will be announced on August 15th
FINALISTS will be announced on September 15th
WINNERS will be announced on October 15th
Award certificates and prizes will be sent to the winning screenwriters within six weeks of the final announcement.
Would you like to know exactly what your First Round Judge thinks about your script and how he or she scores it?
Find out how to order Judge’s Feedback…