TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Please read this document carefully and thoroughly prior to entering the contest. Entry into this contest confirms your acceptance of these terms and regulations. 

Eligibility

    CONTEST RULES

• This contest is open to anyone (world wide) except all employees, directors, associates, the immediate families of American Gem, FilmMakers.com, Write Brothers, all the affiliates and/or sponsors.
• You have supplied truthful and accurate information in your entry form.
• The material that you have submitted is yours, you own full copyright, free and clear of any interests, and the material is original to you.
• You understand that many stories and ideas are similar in some ways, and although many stories or ideas are different, they may share a common theme.
• All entrants agree that neither the judges, the sponsors. the partners or the affiliates mentioned on the filmmakers.com site or any other site/publication, in association with said contest, will be held responsible for any and/or all disputes between you and American Gem Literary Festival.
• The script/entry must have title page containing: the title, author's name, E-mail address, phone number and home address. 
• Students who qualify for the discount entry fee must supply a letter from the head of the film/writing department and/or equivalent declaring such status, include with entry a copy of a valid student ID Card, at the time of entry, and submit via email as an attachment, along with entry.
• All submitted material must be written in the English language.
• Multiple entries are permissible, but each entry must be accompanied by an Entry Form and an entry fee.
• Once material has been entered, no substitutions of new drafts or corrected pages will be considered. You may submit a revised draft of your script, short story, synopsis or novel as a new submission, fill in an entry form and pay the appropriate entry fee.
• Adaptations from other works are permissible provided you have the writer's written permission to adapt the work.
• Adaptations of works in the public domain are permissible.
• Collaborative work is eligible, but each must fill and sign an Entry Form individually. The writers are responsible for the distribution of the contest prize (s).
• Writers under the age of 18 years old must sign the Entry Form and have a parent or guardian sign the Entry Form.
• NO REFUNDS for any reason; entry fees are nonrefundable. Failure to adhere to the Contest rules will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.
• American Gem Literary Festival reserves the right to extend the deadline.
• Contest applicants must accept without reservation the decisions rendered by the jurors and no correspondence nor discussion will be entered into.
• Make your payment online.
• Applicant must not have won a fellowship or writing contest that includes a “first look” clause.
• Writer understands and accepts without reservation that he/she/ is an independent contractor and American Gem/Write Brothers are not responsible for withholding any taxes or payments to any government agency, at any level, be it state, local or federal.
• Writer understands that it is his/her sole responsibility to register Material with the U.S. Copyright Office and/or with the Writer’s Guild of America or the appropriate agency in his/her/your country.
• You have retained at least one copy of the submitted material, and you understand that all material we receive cannot and will not be returned under any circumstances.

MANUSCRIPTS (SHORT STORIES)

• Short story manuscript submission must be no longer than 50 pages, double-spaced, to a maximum of 12,500 words.
• A double-spaced and neatly typed copy of the manuscript (digital) with pages numbered consecutively from beginning to end.
• Short stories must not have been previously published.
  • "Published" means a work of fiction or non fiction that has been published or distributed, in part or whole, in paper or electronic format or in any other medium, EXCLUDING, self-published works.
• Short Story submitted must not have been previously optioned or sold to market or to a film producer. It is preferable if the manuscript has not yet been adapted to screenplay.

Format and Length

• Short Script must be in industry standard format, in English, bound with two or three brads, with card stock covers, or stapled, and must be no less than 3-45 pages in length and no longer than 65 pages. Please add an additional $10 for screenplays over 45 pages. Font must be 12-point Courier, Courier New or Courier Final Draft. Treatments, novels and short stories are now permissible.

Confirmation Receipt

• When your submission is received you will be notified by E-mail only (within four-six weeks). So please provide an E-mail address (LEGIBLY WRITTEN or TYPED).  If you do not hear from us within a reasonable time send an email and include your name, address, phone number and title of your material. If your email address and/or home address changes please let us know.

Permission

• By entering this contest and in the event you are declared a finalist (top twenty-five), you understand and accept that we will be free to use your name and likeness for advertising or promotional purposes without additional consideration.
• If you are a finalist you agree to give FilmMakers.com the permission to post on its web site, your script's synopsis, excerpts as well as interview with your photo.  
• All contest participants agree with the following:

• The winner of the short screenplay competition grants American Gem and/or its assigned representative, all rights to the finished film and provide a waiver of so called "moral rights". and
• American Gem and/or its assigned representative will be the producers of the winning screenplay.
• If your screenplay wins you may be called upon to write further revisions.
• American Gem will do its best to produce the winning short screenplay within 18 months from the date of the winner announcement.
• If American Gem is unsuccessful in producing the film within this time delay it will be up to the writer to extend the deadline. In the event the writer fails or refuses to grant the extension, and as a goodwill gesture, American Gem will pay the writer $1000 and all rights to the production of script will revert back to the writer without further consideration or claim by either party.

• You may submit your screenplay to any other person, contest, producer, agent, publisher, and/or organization.

Entry Fees

If Submitted by

Early Deadline: February 29th

• Entry fee per short screenplay from 3-45 pages is $35 (U.S.) (students: $19**)

• Entry fee per short screenplay from 46-65 pages is $38(U.S.) (students: $22**)

• Entry fee per short story up to 20 pages (up to 5,000 words) is $21 (U.S.) (students: $15**)

• Entry fee per short story up to 50 pages (up to 12,500 words) is $24 (U.S.) ($18 to students**)

Regular Deadline: April 30th

• Entry fee per short screenplay from 3-45 pages is $38 (U.S.) (students: $21**)

• Entry fee per short screenplay from 46-65 pages is $41(U.S.) (students: $24**)

• Entry fee per short story up to 20 pages (up to 5,000 words) is $23 (U.S.) (students: $17**)

• Entry fee per short story up to 50 pages (up to 12,500 words) is $26 (U.S.) ($20 to students**)

Late Deadline: June 30th

• Entry fee per short screenplay from 3-45 pages is $41 (U.S.) (students: $23**)

• Entry fee per short screenplay from 46-65 pages is $44 (U.S.) (students: $26**)

• Entry fee per short story up to 20 pages (up to 5,000 words) is $25 (U.S.) (students: $19**)

• Entry fee per short story up to 50 pages (up to 12,500 words) is $28 (U.S.) ($22 to students**)

Final Deadline: July 31st

• Entry fee per short screenplay from 3-45 pages is $45 (U.S.) (students: $26**)

• Entry fee per short screenplay from 46-65 pages is $48 (U.S.) (students: $29**)

• Entry fee per short story up to 20 pages (up to 5,000 words) is $28 (U.S.) (students: $22**)

• Entry fee per short story up to 50 pages (up to 12,500 words) is $31 (U.S.) ($25 to students**)