SPRINT FOR YOUR SCRIPT - Writers Guild of Canada

COURS ÉCRIRE TON COURT ! - SPRINT FOR YOUR SCRIPT !
11TH ANNUAL CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Press release
For immediate release
Montréal, July 7, 2009 — The Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), in
association with the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ), the Société des auteurs de radio,
télévision et cinéma (SARTEC), the Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal, CBC and the Writers Guild
of Canada (WGC), once again invites screenwriters to enter the COURS ÉCRIRE TON COURT ! -
SPRINT FOR YOUR SCRIPT ! contest. For this 11th edition, screenwriters are asked to submit a first
draft script with dialogue for a short drama or animated film (maximum length: 12 minutes) by August 17,
2009.
A pre-selection committee made up of a SARTEC representative, a CBC/WGC representative and a
young screenwriter will select seven of the submitted proposals, based on storyline quality, cinematic
potential and the writer's vision.
MORE THAN A CONTEST...
The selected screenwriters will have the opportunity to participate in a truly unique sceenwriter’s
workshop. Previous contest winners, such as Yves Christian Fournier, with his short Sunk, Lisa Sfriso with
Les Adieux and Daniel Schachter with Three Mothers,
have benefited from this workshop and seen their scripts come to life on screen.
The workshops, which are one of the key elements of the prize package, will provide the selected
screenwriters with the opportunity to participate in a unique series of individual and group work sessions
and discussions. Throughout the process, they will be coached and advised by experienced screenwriters.
The workshops will take place in September 2009.
In addition, the selected screenwriters will be invited to pitch their scripts to veteran producers in front of
an audience of industry professionals during the 38th annual Festival du nouveau cinéma (October 7-18,
2009).. This presentation will be followed by a cocktail and awards ceremony.
There will be some changes in the program this year. Instead of receiving an investment to produce their
screenplay, two of the contest winners will be given the opportunity to attend the prestigious Clermont-
Ferrand Short Film Festival. After the final scripts have been submitted in mid-October, a five-member
panel will select the winners, as follows:
• the Grand Prix, valued at $8,000, to be presented to the best script. This includes participation in the
Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, with all expenses paid by SODEC (a $3,000 value) and a
$5,000 screenwriting award from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. The winner will also
enjoy unlimited access to screenings and will be invited to attend various industry activities during the
Festival.
• the Special Mention award, valued at $3,000, to be presented to the runner-up. This includes
participation in the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, with travel and accommodations expenses

covered by SODEC (a $3,000 value). The Special Mention award winner will be invited to attend
selected screenings as well as various industry activities during the Festival.
• the CBC/WGC Prize for the Best English Language Script. This award will be accompanied by a
$1,000 award.
Eligibility:
The contest is open to screenwriters who qualify for SODEC's Young Creators Support Program. (For
program details, visit the SODEC website at www.sodec.gouv.qc.ca.)
Proposals must be submitted by individuals, not companies. Only one entry per person is allowed.
Proposals may be submitted in English or French.
Applicants must:
- be between the ages of 18 and 35 (i.e., younger than 36 as of the submission deadline on August
17, 2009)
- be pursuing a professional writing career (i.e., high school, college and university undergraduate
students are not eligible)
- be a resident of Quebec for at least two years
- be available between September 7 and October 19, 2009
- submit all the required entry material to SODEC
- never have been selected as a finalist in a previous edition of the contest.
N.B.: Scripts based on literary adaptations and screenplays that have been rejected twice by SODEC
(regardless of program) are ineligible. Proposals submitted to this contest may not be resubmitted to a
SODEC program during the current fiscal year (ending March 31, 2010).
REGISTRATION
Proposals must be delivered or received by mail before 5 p.m. on August 17, 2009. Entries received
after this deadline will be disqualified.
Proposals must be delivered or sent to SODEC offices at 215 Saint-Jacques Street, Suite 800, Montréal,
Québec H2Y 1M6, to the attention of Francine Landry. Please include four copies of each of the following
items:
• first draft of the script with dialogue (maximum length: 12 pages)
• completed entry form
• synopsis (maximum length: ½ page)
• statement of intent describing the origin of the idea and the writer's vision
• brief CV (maximum length: 2 pages) outlining the applicant's relevant experience.
E-mail submissions are not allowed. None of the submitted material will be returned.

SELECTION
Proposals, in English or French, will be judged on the following criteria: storyline quality and cinematic
potential, the writer's vision and observance of the short film genre.
SODEC will contact only those writers whose scripts are selected. All decisions are final, and no
information about the evaluation of the entries will be provided to applicants whose proposals are not
chosen.
SODEC's Young Creators Support Program
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Young Creators Support Program, the aim of which is to
provide up-and-coming screenwriters, directors and producers with the tools they need to create works at
the cutting edge of cinema.
For more details and to download the entry form, visit www.sodec.gouv.qc.ca.
-30-
Source:
More information:
Isabelle Melançon, Director of Communications and Institutional Relations
SODEC
Tel.: 514-841-2281 Toll-free: 1-800-363-0401
E-mail: info@sodec.gouv.qc.ca
Francine Landry, Coordinator
SODEC
Tel.: 514-841-2330
E-mail: francine.landry@sodec.gouv.qc.ca