BC Film + Media and CBC Television, in association with the Alibi Unplugged Script Reading Series, have announced their second annual competition for emerging screenwriters, and this year "Fifty" just might be a lucky number for a chosen few.

This new challenge, called Signature Shorts is the sequel to the popular 2001: A Fill-This-Space Odyssey competition that had everyone talking about smoked salmon last year. This time, CBC Television and BC Film + Media want BC screenwriters to show their stuff by proposing eight-minute dramatic scripts inspired by the number "Fifty".

"It's CBC Television's 50th Anniversary, but 50 can be a turning point, half-way point, personal crisis or metric conversion disaster. No doubt BC writers will surprise us," says Rae Hull, Senior Director of Network Programming and Regional Director in BC for CBC Television.

"Last year's Smoked Salmon competition hooked the wealth of creative writing talent that exists in our province. I expect that "Fifty" will once again inspire the imagination of writers throughout British Columbia", says Rob Egan, President and CEO of BC Film + Media

Hopeful screenwriters will have to think fast. Applicants are given just three weeks to make the June 3rd deadline. In July, ten entrants will be selected to participate in an intensive pitching workshop. Three screenwriters will ultimately be chosen to pull together the production teams who will bring their scripts to life for broadcast on CBC Television. Winners will receive $16,000 in production funds and $30,000 in production facilities.

The application form and detailed guidelines are available on www.vancouver.cbc.ca and www.bcfilm.bc.ca.

For additional information, please contact:

Jill Webber Hrabinsky,
TV Program Marketing Coordinator
CBC Communications
Vancouver (604) 662-6680
mailto:jill_hrabinsky@cbc.ca