Sundance Film Festival
Park City, United States
100
Tier AOscarScreenings
Festival dossier
First Act, First Look Screenplay Contest
United States · Est. 2021 · Multiple structural red flags — exercise caution before submitting
WarningWatchlist
United States
24
Legitimacy ScoreShould I submit?
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Warning-tier means structural red flags in our data — not a confirmed scam, but submit only with eyes open.
- Listed as 'competition' not 'festival' - likely online-only awards
- No physical screenings
- 1 documented risk signal
Overview
The First Act, First Look Screenplay Contest is an annual competition hosted by the Virginia Screenwriters Forum (VSF) that focuses on the first 30 pages of feature film screenplays. It offers a $500 cash prize and script analysis from a panel of award-winning writers, with a notable guest judge selecting the grand prize winner. The contest is significant for its emphasis on developing strong opening acts and supporting emerging screenwriters who have not yet achieved significant industry earnings or sales [virginiascreenwritersforum.com](https://www.virginiascreenwritersforum.com/?page_id=2704).
Last updated Aug 27, 2026
Legitimacy Analysis
Positive Indicators (+10 pts)
- 5 years of verifiable history
Red Flags (-36 pts)
- Listed as 'competition' not 'festival' - likely online-only awards
- No physical screenings
- 1 documented risk signal
- On watchlist — negative reputation signals detected
Trust Signals
Risk Flags
- COMPETITION_NOT_FESTIVAL
Festival Details
Founded
2021
FilmFreeway community
Avg. rating
3.8/ 5
Reviews
2
Synced 19 days ago
Rating synced from FilmFreeway; individual review text not pulled yet for this festival.
View on FilmFreewayFilmFreeway reviews are filmmaker opinions, not our score. Cross-check red flags before paying fees.
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Research
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At a glance
How scoring works
Scores are calculated from structural indicators: accreditations, physical screenings, award category count, submission frequency, and acceptance rate. Higher scores reflect more verifiable legitimacy signals.
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