Submissions Now Open for the Season 11 Script Writing Competition which includes an Opportunity for a Development Deal with Pacific Electric Picture Co.
September 3, 2024 (Denver, CO) – SeriesFest, the non-profit organization dedicated to advancing and celebrating innovation in episodic storytelling, proudly announces a new partnership with actor and producer Ed Helms and Pacific Electric Picture Co. This collaboration highlights the Storytellers Initiative, a premier competition designed to uncover and elevate emerging voices in comedy. Previous successful partnerships include Janelle Monae’s Wondaland, Ben Silverman’s Propagate, and Kyra Sedgwick’s Big Swing Productions.
Submissions for the Storytellers Initiative are now open.
Writers are invited to submit their pilot scripts via FilmFreeway, with the submission period running from September 5, 2024 to December 13, 2024. This initiative aims to discover bold, unique, and diverse comedy series with compelling characters and strong points of view.
“SeriesFest and Pacific Electric Picture Co share a common mission to discover new stories and the talent behind them, so partnering on the Storyteller’s Initiative is a natural fit,” said Pacific Electric Picture Co Co-Founders Ed Helms and Mike Falbo. “We are excited to provide a unique opportunity to comedic television writers.”
“The Storytellers Initiative has been a signature program since our inception 10 years ago, and we are so excited to partner this year with the incredible team at Pacific Electric,” said Randi Kleiner, SeriesFest co-Founder & CEO. “This program gives emerging artists the opportunity to connect with industry executives, which exemplifies the core of our mission, and we look forward to focusing on comedy pilots for this iteration.”
This year, SeriesFest has partnered with Pacific Electric Picture Co. to spotlight uplifting and heartwarming comedies. The Storytellers Initiative offers participants an opportunity to showcase their creativity through a comprehensive program, including:
- A two-day virtual creative workshop with industry experts, featuring sessions on pitching and mini writers’ rooms. This workshop will take place the week of March 17, 2025, and will focus on further developing the scripts and getting to know the creators.
- A live read of their script with professional actors during SeriesFest: Season Eleven, providing invaluable exposure and feedback.
- An exclusive development deal with Pacific Electric Picture Co. for the winning artist(s), offering a unique chance to bring their creative vision to life.
Entry Requirements:
- Genre: Comedy
- Script Length: 20-30 minutes per episode, not to exceed 40 pages
- Additional Materials: Series Format Deck (2-15 pages) including:
- Log Line
- Pilot Synopsis
- Season One Outline
- Main Character Descriptions (Up to 5)
- Tone of your series (can include no more than 2 comparisons)
- Producing Team
- Key Creatives
- Goals for your Series
- A Creator Statement which includes Why This Idea, Why Me, and Why Now?
- Submission Page: FilmFreeway
- Entry Fee: Regular Deadline – $50 , Late Deadline – $75
The Storytellers Initiative is committed to supporting diverse voices and fostering lasting connections between emerging creatives and industry leaders. This partnership with Ed Helms and Pacific Electric Picture Co. aims to champion marketable, innovative storytelling and drive independent projects into production. The 2025 Storytellers Initiative with Pacific Electric Picture Co. is proudly supported by media partner Deadline Hollywood.
For more information about the Storytellers Initiative and submission guidelines, please visit SeriesFest Storytellers Initiative.
