BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition – TV Drama 2023
The BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition, which runs twice a year, calls submissions for Film, Television Drama, Children, Family & YA Media, and Television Comedy scripts. In 2023, they will be running Children, Family & YA Media and Television Drama.
Following a blind judging process, selected script extracts are performed by a professional cast to an audience of producers, development executives, directors, actors and literary agents, aiming to give a platform to emerging writing talent from across the country.
The benefits for a writer include: hearing their work read by professional actors, a development-focused discussion generated by the readings, feedback and advice from experienced industry members and an invaluable method to test out new concepts and material on an audience.
Key Dates
- Applications open – Wednesday 26 July 2023.
- Bursary application deadline – 17:00 BST, Wednesday 6 September 2023.
- Applications close – 17:00 BST, Monday 18th September 2023.
- Showcase Event – February 2024.
How to apply
Go to apply.bafta.org/entrant. Select ‘Register’, and register a new account, or login if you have previously used BAFTA’s application portal. Once you have registered or logged in, go to the ‘Create Application’ tab. Find ‘BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition – Select relevant form’. Select ‘Create a new application’ and this will take you to the application form.
The Guidelines – Terms and Conditions
Please read the terms and conditions carefully. All answers are here. They also serve as a guide to to apply including the submission materials. You must be a UK resident for 2 years or UK passport holder.
Bursary Applicants
There are a limited number of free entries to the competitions. If you can’t afford the fee apply for the bursary. Click here – note entry closes 10 days before the closing date. You have 24 hours to accept and must submit your materials.
Status updates and reports
All Writers: Are sent an acknowledgement of their entry by email on completion of application. You will not hear from BAFTA again until one month before the showcase date. Showcased writers are always contacted at the same time. Reports: Are sent via WeTransfer in the week leading up to the event date.
Prizes
Three winners of the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Initiative get: A fantastic Industry showcase with professional actors and directors, industry introductions, access to bespoke masterclasses and a tailored career planning and profile building session to provide support in navigating the industry.
Short Listed Writers whose work makes it to the final stage will be announced on the Rocliffe Newsletter and on the event handout available on the BAFTA website.
For any further queries feel free to contact BAFTA Rocliffe, they’ll happily respond. Requests and comments on social media will be replied to but not as quickly.
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