Best Screenplay Award

The Peterson Literary Fund’s “Best Screenplay Award” recognizes original screenplays written for films produced in English or Ukrainian, that promote a better understanding of Ukraine or the Ukrainian people, or whose subject matter is deemed to be of value or interest to the worldwide Ukrainian community. The award competition takes place in even-number years.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Value

The winning writer receives $10,000 CAD and the film’s director receives $3,000 CAD.

The Awards Jury has the discretion to name up to five Shortlisted Finalists, depending on the number and quality of submissions in that year. Shortlisted Finalists would receive up to $5,000 CAD.

Who can Submit a Nomination

A nomination for the Best Screenplay Award may be submitted by a screenwriter, film director, or producer.

Self-nominations made by screenwriters must be accompanied by a letter of support from the film director or producer.

The Chair of the Awards Jury may “call in” titles that have not yet been submitted. The Peterson Literary Fund will then invite screenplay writers to submit these titles for consideration, accompanied by a letter of support from the film’s director or producer.

Nominations are made through our online submission platform. Before you submit a nomination, please carefully read the Submission Guidelines and instructions on How to Make a Submission below.

Submission Dates:
March 1 — March 31, 2024

Submission Dates:
March 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024 (11:59 pm EST)

For films released in North America or Europe between January 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024

Shortlist Announced by: August 1, 2024

Submissions should be made as early as possible to ensure that members of the Awards Jury have sufficient reading time.

Late or incomplete submissions, or information submitted by fax, will not be accepted.

Eligibility of the Written Work Submitted

Screenplays must be original, written in English or Ukrainian, and the films for which they were written must have been screened in theatres or debuted on major streaming platforms in North America or Europe
Screenwriters do not have to be Canadian citizens

Restrictions

Screenplays for films whose duration is less than 60 minutes, will not be considered
Screenplays may be nominated only once (i.e., no repeat submissions)

Eligibility of the Nominators

Nominations are accepted from film directors, producers, or screenwriters.
Self-nominations from screenwriters must be accompanied by a letter of support from the film’s director or producer

Submission Guidelines

Nominations must be submitted through our online submission platform (Read How to Submit a Nomination)

When filling out the online submission form, you will be asked to attach:

A recent curriculum vitae of the screenwriter
An electronic PDF copy of the screenplay
A high-resolution jpg or png image (photo) of the screenwriter
A high-resolution jpg or png image of the official film poster or digital streaming promotional image
Ad or press material proving release date between January 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024
Letter of support from the film director or producer (for self-nominations by screenwriters)

How to Submit a Nomination

To nominate a screenwriter for the Best Screenplay Award, a film director, producer, or screenwriter must register on our online submission platform, by creating a username and password.

Once your registration is confirmed, you can log into your online profile and fill out the submission form. You can save and go back to the submission form at any time, as long as you complete and submit your entry before the deadline date.

Notification

Screenwriters of winning screenplays must agree to keep the result of the award decision confidential, until such time as the Awards Jury has consented to make the information public.

Conditions of the Award

Nominated and/or shortlisted screenwriters shall consent to participate in all reasonable promotional events and publicity related to the Peterson Literary Fund, including media appearances, interviews, receptions, award dinners, etc.