Box of Tricks and Sky Studios are on the hunt for northern talent.
The duo’s first Screen/Play Award will attempt to find two writers from the north of England with “electrifying stories that spark the imagination”.
Each writer will be awarded a bursary to write a new play and a short screenplay inspired by a single idea. This will be developed by the two companies throughout 2021.
The competition is looking for stories capable of being performed both on stage and screen, and hopes to champion northern writers with no professional TV experience, from communities currently under-represented on stage and screen.
There are certain submission criteria: entrants must be at least 18 and resident in the north of England, have no professional screenwriting experience and must come from an "under-represented" community – D/deaf, disabled or "neurodivergent", LGBTQ+, Writers of colour, first-generation migrant or from a low socio-economic background.
The prize is highly worthwhile: two of five finalists will receive £10,250 to develop scripts (and all five will be able to take about future development possibilities), while all 15 shortlisted entrants will be able to take part in online masterclass sessions.
Entrants first present a one-page pitch of their story and a sample script through an online application between October 19-November 6 here.
The shortlist of 15 will be announced in December and two winners will be selected after a selection process in early 2021.