Grazia is looking for fresh new female screenwriting talent. It could be you...
Grazia has always been passionate about championing – and inspiring – women to get ahead, and film is an industry in which women have traditionally struggled to get their voices heard. Which is why we’re thrilled to be announcing our inaugural female screenwriting competition, with prizes provided by BAFTA.
Perhaps you’ve always thought you’d fancy screenwriting but didn’t know where to start – or maybe you’ve had a film script languishing away for years but had no idea what to do with it. Helping us in our search for new female talent is BAFTA member Rachel De-Lahay, a screenwriter whose work has appeared on Channel 4, Amazon and Netflix. Rachel is currently being showcased through BAFTA Elevate, an initiative that aims to address underrepresentation in film and TV. Rachel has written the start of the opening scene of a new film called The Void. You need to continue the screenplay in no more than 10 pages (including Rachel’s opening lines), something that equates to roughly the first 10 minutes of a feature-length film, sending it over to us by 29 March.
A panel of judges including Grazia’s editor and features director, as well as BAFTA members, will decide on a winner, who will be announced in the magazine mid-May. The winner will receive an exclusive mentoring meeting with an industry professional courtesy of BAFTA, access to BAFTA events during 2019, and the chance to see your entry in Grazia
How To Enter
Following Rachel’s lead, write your 10 pages (including Rachel's introduction) and send it to us along with a short biography of yourself (200 words max) plus your name, address, phone number, occupation and date of birth. Post your entry to Isabella D’Emilio, Grazia, Academic House, 24-28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DT or email screenwriting@graziamagazine.co.uk.The closing date is 29 March 2019. Click here for full terms and conditions.
The Screenplay So Far...
INT. THE VOID – NIGHT
A black nothingness.
Then in the nothingness two figures. It’s unclear if they’ve just arrived or have always been there, and though difficult to see we’ll come to know them as KENNY and SAM.
Kenny journeys forward first, with a light trepidation.
KENNY Hi.
SAM Hi.
KENNY Who are you?
SAM Do we do that here?
KENNY You don’t have to give me your real name. But something to call you by would be nice.
SAM Nice?
KENNY Preferred.
SAM By whom?
KENNY I’m Ken.
SAM Ken?
KENNY There’s no need to question it, it’s just a name I’ll answer to.
SAM Hi Ken.
KENNY You can be Sam.
SAM Sam...
a beat.
Want some tips? Come to our screenwriting panel event with BAFTA
Grazia is co-hosting an event on Friday 8 March, to mark International Women’s Day.‘BAFTA Masterclass: From Script to Screen, in association with Grazia’ will comprise a panel of female BAFTA members and industry experts who will discuss how they started in the business, plus offer tips on how to get your first screenplay off the ground. We have 15 pairs of tickets to give away on a first come, first served basis. Click here to enter.
Looking for inspiration? Check out our interviews with Nicole Holofcener and Nadine Labaki...
American writer-director, Nicole's 30-year career has spawned gems such as Friends with Money, Enough Said and The Land of Steady Habits. This year, she's BAFTA-nominated in the Adapted Screenplay category at this year’s EE British Academy Film Awards for her latest film Can You Ever Forgive Me? which stars Melissa McCarthy and Richard E Grant.
Lebanese writer-director Nadine Labaki first gained international recognition with her films Where Do We Go Now? and Caramel, before making history at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival by winning the Jury Prize for her powerful drama Capernaum - the first female Arab filmmaker to win a major prize at Cannes. Nadine is now BAFTA-nominated with Capernaum in the Film Not in the English Language category at Sunday’s EE British Academy Film Awards.