SeriesFest

A Celebration of Episodic Storytelling

Independent Pilot Competition: Drama

· ·

Submissions closed

View on FilmFreeway.

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Dates & Fees
Entry Materials
Awards & Prizes

Previous Winners
Previous Jury Members

Submission FAQs

All Festival Submissions:

It’s the pilot program that started it all!

Headed into its eleventh season, SeriesFest’s Independent Pilot Competition provides a platform for the most innovative live-action or animated drama pilots out there, ranging from 18 to 60 minutes.

Looking to submit a comedy pilot? Click here for more info.

“SeriesFest really is the premier place to be if you care about episodic content.“

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland
Executive Director at SAG-AFTRA

KEY DATES & FEES

Submissions for SeriesFest: Season 11 open August 21, 2024.

Early Bird Deadline
10/21/24

Standard
$70

FilmFreeway Gold Member
$50

Student
$40

Regular Deadline
12/3/24

Standard
$90

FilmFreeway Gold Member
$70

Student
$60

Final Deadline
1/14/25

Standard
$120

FilmFreeway Gold Member
$100

Student
$75

Submissions are open, and listed prices are available through 11:59 PM (local time) on the date shown.

Certain projects that exhibit a commitment to engaging underrepresented communities may be eligible for our Inclusion Initiative Submission Fee Waiver. Learn more.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Winners will be determined by a jury of high-profile industry and talent during the annual festival. Winners are announced at our Awards Ceremony and are included on our website and in media announcements. View previous jury members and winners below.

Special Awards

INCLUSIVITY INITIATIVE AWARDS

This category is eligible for Inclusivity Initiative Awards including The Caz Matthews Fund, The Inclusive Creator Fund presented by the Anna & John J. Sie and the Global Down Syndrome Foundations, and The Intersectionality Fund. Theses awards will be given to the episodic projects and teams who demonstrate a thoughtful, thorough, and deliberate approach to using storytelling as a means of leveling the playing field for underrepresented people including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and alternatively abled voices.
Learn more about our Inclusivity Initiative here.

Outstanding Series Format Deck Award, presented by Canva

SeriesFest is partnering with Canva, our Official Design Partner, to acknowledge the creativity and skill necessary to build the perfect series format deck. SeriesFest: Season 11 Official Selections and Storytellers Initiative Semi-Finalists who choose to create their series format decks on Canva will have the opportunity to win the award, which includes a $5,000 cash prize.
Learn more here.

ENTRY MATERIALS

Produced Pilot
Submitted via FilmFreeway’s Secure Online Screener system. All entries must be between 18 and 60 minutes in length.

Series Format Deck
All submissions must include a Series Format Deck—uploaded to the FilmFreeway application page under “Files & Attachments”.
View an example.

An effective Series Format Deck introduces your project in a visually exciting and emotionally powerful way.  It captures the reader’s imagination, allowing them to see the full scope of the series and embrace the characters. The Series Format deck is essential to our review process, providing a clear and compelling way for us to understand your vision.

The Series Format Deck should be 2–15 pages, must be in English, and include the following:

  • Log Line
  • Pilot Synopsis
  • Season One Outline
  • Main Character Descriptions (Up to 5)
    • For unscripted pilots, include key onscreen subjects/talent
  • Tone of your series (can include no more than 2 comparisons)
  • Producing Team
  • Key Creatives
  • Goals for your Series
  • A Creator Statement that includes: Why This Idea, Why Me, and Why Now?

If your submission is selected for final programming you will be required to submit more information regarding your pilot, cast, and crew so SeriesFest can maximize your experience with executives at the Festival in May. Full details will be sent to submissions selected for SeriesFest: Season 11 in an acceptance email by April 2025.

Not sure where to get started on your Series Format Deck? You don’t have to start from a blank page. Check out our template—created in Canva, and make it your own!

FilmFreeway Entry Fee
(see above)

Press Kit Material
Any available press kit material.

Please note, entry materials will not be returned

Pilots selected do not need to retain any sort of premiere status, however, programmers do consider premiere status, previous festival screenings, and awards when deciding on official competition selections. If your pilot has been released via any home video outlet, broadcast on television, or had a ticketed public theatrical exhibition anywhere in the USA, it is not eligible for this festival. Submissions are welcome from around the world, but submissions must be in English or include English subtitles.

Previous Award Winners

HIT MAN: SECRETS OF LIES

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

USER ZERO

SeriesFest: Season 6, 2020

PUNCHER’S CHANCE

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

NEO DOME

SeriesFest: Season 10, 2024

POTLUCK LADIES

SeriesFest: Season 10, 2024

UP NORTH

SeriesFest: Season 3, 2017

THIS BOY’S VIDA (MADE IN AMERICA)

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

THE EMPTY CHAIR

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

DOOMSDAY

SeriesFest: Season 2, 2016

HALFWAY THERE

SeriesFest: Season 5, 2019

Previous Jury Members

Kim Cattrall

Actor

Nina Dobrev

Actor

Mark Linsey

Managing Director, Scripted BBC Studios

Mikael Moore is a Black man, and this is a black and white portrait. He has on a black hat and large rectangular tortoise glasses, a black long sleeve shirt, and a dog tag. He has some facial hair, and is smiling in the photo.

Mikael Moore

Managing Partner Wondaland

Ashley Calloway

Literary Manager ColorCreative

Patrick Macmanus

President Littleton Road Productions

Travis Tammero is a brown man with light facial hair. He has gelled back dark hair and a black suit with a white collared shirt and black tie on. He's posing for a professional headshot in front of a gray background.

Travis Tammero

Agent UTA

Allison Wasserman

VP, Original Programming HBO

Ronald Moore

Showrunner Battlestar Galactica

Jocelyn Sabo

SVP, Televison Lionsgate

Chiké Okonkwo

Actor / Co-Founder Mansa

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