Despite Major Hollywood Strikes, Movieguide® and Timothy Plan® Announce 2023 Kairos Prize® Scriptwriting Competition
By Movieguide® Staff
Despite major Hollywood strikes, Movieguide® and Timothy Plan® announced its 2023 Kairos Prize® scriptwriting competition.
“Uplifting, moral and faith filled productions consistently see financial success in Hollywood over the alternative. Audiences will always have a preference for the true, the good, and the beautiful.” says Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of Movieguide®. “The Kairos Prize® script competition presents Hollywood with a fresh group of screenwriters who create content with strong faith and biblical values, something the industry desperately needs.”
“Kairos is an uplifting screen writer’s best path to top level Hollywood Production…” – Robby Baehr, CEO of Movieguide® & Chairman of the NRB Film Board
Submissions for the 18th annual Kairos Prize® screenwriting competition, presented by Movieguide® and Timothy Project®, will start this Thursday, July 20th. As of this week’s release, writers will only have to pay the early bird entry cost of $60—which will increase to $75 on September 1st, 2023.
Screenwriter’s can keep up to date with Kairos info here. Now accepting television pilot screenplays!
The Kairos Prize® will award $15,000 total in prizes to a grand prize winner. Not only will the winner get an exclusive pitch opportunity with top Hollywood producers, but all finalist’s scripts will be read by industry members who have a history of optioning and producing Kairos Finalists with or without a win. In addition, winners & finalists will receive a 6-month listing at Scriptlist and discounted registration in a comprehensive ‘How to Succeed in Hollywood Without Losing Your Soul’ workshop and course taught by Movieguide® founder, Dr. Ted Baehr.
“Now more than ever, the Hollywood industry is in need of uplifting moral content, and a select few producers and shot callers in the industry know it. We have the honor of having the relationships requited to bridge the gap between faith filled writers and producers.” says Chief Executive Officer of Movieguide®, Robby Baehr. “Kairos Prize® gives up-and-coming screenwriters the opportunity to present new, fresh stories to some of the top executives in the entertainment industry, in hopes that their work is able to touch and uplift them.”
It’s no secret that past participants of the Kairos Prize have been recognized through Movieguide® and have gone on to work with major production studios such as Pureflix, Apple TV, and Sony Providence, to name a few. Key entertainment industry studio executives will review the winning script and/or hold a pitch meeting with their creative development team. Past winners of the Kairos Prize® include scripts to movies such as THE GREATEST INHERITANCE (Alexandra Boylan), ALL SAINTS (Steve Armour), FINDING YOU (Jenny B. Jones and Brian Baugh), and SWITCHED (Alexandra Boylan).
Even amid what is now at least two major Hollywood strikes, the Kairos Prize will go on as scheduled and do all it can to adhere to the WGA’s strike guidelines.
“Its and honor to officially announce the start of our 18th annual Kairos Prize!” says Dr. Ted Baehr.
Submissions must be between 87-130 pages in length. If a script exceeds 130 pages and is under 150, the participant may pay a $20 fee for the script to be accepted into the competition. Scripts must follow the guidelines provided by the competition. Included in these guidelines are the requirement for scripts to be inspiring, uplifting stories that come from a positive and pure worldview. No foul language or inappropriate substance matters are allowed.
Submissions for Kairos Prize® early bird entry are due August 31st, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
The contest will officially close on October 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
An outline of deadlines and pricing follows:
August 31– Early Bird Deadline ($60)
Analysis also open ($300)
September 30 – Regular Price ($75) – Analysis option still available
October 20 – Late Entry ($100) – Analysis option closed
October 31 – Last Call Entry Fee ($150)
October 31 at Midnight – Closed
Established by MOVIEGUIDE® in 2005, the primary purpose of the KAIROS PRIZE® is to further the influence of moral and spiritual values within the film and television industries. Seeking to promote a spiritually uplifting, redemptive worldview, the prize was founded to inspire first-time and beginning screenwriters to produce compelling, entertaining, spiritually uplifting scripts that result in a greater increase in either man’s love or understanding of God.
Since its inception in 2005, the Kairos Prize® for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays has given a voice to new and beginning screenwriters worldwide who endeavor to create stories that are compelling, entertaining and spiritually uplifting.
Since its inaugural year in 2006, the Kairos Prize® has helped to open doors for its winners as they have gone on to sign with top agencies and have their scripts optioned and produced. The prize, now in its 12th season, has witnessed several winning scripts head into production. 2012 alone saw the completion of principal photography for two previous winners… both are set for release by year’s end.
Coupled with the fact that another one is currently in the final stages of pre-production and two others are on the same path, the Kairos Prize® is quickly becoming one of the most successful screenwriting competitions (faith-based or secular) with an exceedingly high winner to production ratio. The future of the Kairos Prize® is bright as we continue in our efforts to bring scripts to Hollywood that result in a greater increase in either man’s love or understanding of God.
