AI-Generated Scripts Prohibited

Please note: Submissions that are wholly or partially generated by artificial intelligence (AI) will be disqualified. This includes scripts written or edited with the assistance of AI tools.

We employ advanced techniques to detect AI-generated content. By submitting your script, you affirm that it is your original work and does not utilize AI in any form.  Questions? info@storylinefestival.com

STORYLINE at DaVinci International Film Festival is judged solely by working professionals in the film and television industry, all of whom have decades of combined experience evaluating and developing scripts for major Hollywood studios, agencies, management firms, and production companies.

EVALUATION PROCESS

Your script is judged anonymously, ensuring that your work is evaluated solely on its merits.  It will be assigned to readers whose specialized knowledge and experience are closely aligned with the genre of your submission.

PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

In the first two rounds of the screenplay competition, entries are evaluated by professional script readers and story analysts with a minimum of five years of experience in the film and television industry.

Scripts will undergo a two-stage evaluation process. Those that successfully pass the initial reading will be further assessed by a second reader. The aggregate score from both readers will determine advancement to the next round.

QUARTER-FINAL ROUND

The top 10% of scripts in each category (Feature, Short, Stage) advance to the Quarter-Final Round, where they are evaluated by WGA screenwriters and consultants. The combined scores from the Preliminary and Quarter-Final Rounds determine which scripts advance to the Semi-Final Round.

SEMI-FINAL ROUND

The Semi-Final Round features the top 5% of scripts in each category, which are evaluated by literary agents, managers, and development executives. The combined scores from all three rounds determine which scripts advance to the Final Round.

FINAL ROUND

The Final Round features the top 1% of scripts in each category, which are evaluated by Hollywood producers and production executives. Finalists are invited to showcase at DaVinci International Film Festival’s “Writers’ Corner” live event at AMC Theaters, The Grove in Los Angeles. The combined scores from all four rounds determine the Leo Award winner.

JUDGING CRITERIA


Scripts are evaluated on a 5-point scale for the following elements:

  • Premise/Concept: The idea behind the story, what it’s about, and the “hook.”
  • Presentation: The standard spec screenplay or teleplay format, including 12-point Courier font, correct margins, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage.
  • Structure: The framework of the script, including effective use of story progression (three-act, odyssey, linear, or non-linear) and Master Scene format with slug lines, action, and dialogue.
  • Plot: The actions, events, conflicts, and turning points that propel the story forward, including originality and unpredictability.
  • Pacing: The timing of the action, unfolding of plot elements, and pace of character development.
  • Characters: Personalities that are distinctive, compelling, multi-layered, and unpredictable, with a protagonist and antagonist with clear and active goals.
  • Dialogue: Voices that are natural, succinct, and unique to each character, using language that effectively reveals character and moves the story forward.
  • Theme: The underlying message of the story as revealed through plot, dialogue, and visual elements.
  • Style/Tone: The overall quality of the writing, tone that is appropriate to the material and narrative, and distinct, cinematic, effectively conveying the mood or “feel” of the movie.
  • Marketing Potential: Audience appeal and box office potential.

NOTIFICATION DATES:

Semi-Finalists:  August 19, 2025

Finalists:  September 19, 2025