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15th June 2023 -

SCREENSHOT 2023 announces Chris Nelson as the winner of the comedy writer-performer showcase.

Sanjeev Bhaskar, Rosie Jones, and Munya Chawawa along with Olivia Colman & Ed Sinclair (South of the River), Joint Creative Director of Scripted Naomi de Pear (SISTER) and Producer, Holly Pullinger (This is Going to Hurt) led the judging panel at a closed-door showcase held at The Royal Court Theatre on Sunday 11th June.

Alex Forsyth and Daisy Doris May were confirmed as runners up, and three further finalists (Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller, Laith Elzubaidi and Katie Payne) will receive bursaries to help develop their next live performance. Screenshot was designed to celebrate the British live comedy scene and find the next generation of comedy writer-performers for TV.

Produced by Clare Fitzgerald for SOTR and SISTER, in partnership with Heads of Development Lina Stroud (SOTR) and Kasheina Vencatasawmy (SISTER) and their development teams, the scheme provides opportunities for emerging comedy writer-performers to showcase their work with the potential to develop their original idea from stage to screen.

Nelson, whose alter ego Sue Gives a F**k, grew out of the London club and ball scenes, took to the stage as professional escort and dominatrix Chrissie to perform Transgressions; a “whip-smart, disarmingly grounded confessional comedy about cross dressing, sex work and knowing when a dick is just a dick” with Olivia Colman saying “Chris’s unique talent is finding gentleness and humanity in every aspect of her comedy, and making the specific supremely accessible – hilarious, expectation-defying and utterly joyous!”

Nelson will be brought onto the SISTER/ SOTR development slates and commissioned to write a pilot episode of Transgressions, with runners up Forsyth and May, both receiving treatment commissions for an original idea.

Winner Chris Nelson says “ Without giving too much away, I don’t know how many production companies would have the balls for my project so I’m extraordinarily grateful to Sister and SOTR for taking a chance on this cross-dressing dominatrix. It often feels like you need an agent to get work and work to get an agent so the way this competition creates a route into the industry feels really special. That said, no one in my office seems to understand that Olivia Colman gave me a trophy and that it isn’t appropriate to treat me like an administrator when actually, I am Beyonce.”

Building on the success of SCREENSHOT 2021, which saw Bahraini/ British writer Jenna Al- Ansari scoop the top prize, South of the River and SISTER announced the return of the competition in March 2023.  Al-Ansari is now in active development on multiple projects, as are runners-up Dawn Sievewright & Brennan Reece.

Entries were whittled down to the 11 finalists who performed at the live showcase.

The judging panel was comprised of writer-performers Sanjeev Bhaskar (Unforgotten, The Kumars at No 42), Rosie Jones (Live at the Apollo and Sex Education S2), Munya Chawawa (content creator, satirist, and producer) and Olivia Colman (The Favourite, Peep Show). They lined-up alongside industry experts including BBC Head of Comedy Tanya Qureshi (I May Destroy You, Am I Being Unreasonable?, Cunk on Earth), Commissioning Editor, Sky Studios Tilusha Ghelani (Bloods, Funny Woman, Breeders) , Head of Comedy at Channel 4 Charlie Perkins (Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, The Change and Everyone Else Burns), Head of Comedy, Executive Vice President at HBO & Max Comedy Programming Amy Gravitt (Barry, Veep, The Rehearsal) and Tom Lyons Scripted Originals at Netflix.

SOTR and SISTER say “We were simply astounded by the talent on display this year. These are writers and performers whose humour, sensitivity and sheer story-telling chops deserve the widest audience.  It was a privilege to give them this platform – and to do so at The Royal Court, the Writers’ Theatre, feels incredibly apt.  This was a reminder of what we in television owe the theatrical arts in the UK, and of the need to support them in every way we can”

FAQs

  • Screenshot is open to applications from UK-based comedy writer-performers who already have a theatre project that is developed or semi-developed, which they think is suitable for TV and would like to develop it further.

    Send in a MAX 5-MINUTE VIDEO OF YOUR PERFORMANCE. What you put in your video is entirely up to you. In fact, don't even think about what we want - think about what YOU want. What is it that you love about your project? And how can you best show that off in 5 mins? If you have to put on a spacesuit and suspend yourself from a bungee, DO IT (safely of course)! If you just want to sit in your living room and talk to camera - WE WANT TO SEE IT!

    The main focus of the video should be your performance, but you can spend some time setting up the scene if you wish, however the video should not be a pitch – we want to see a performed segment from the project you are applying with.

    And please don't worry about production values. We aren't looking for polished videos geared towards telly. Want to shoot it on a smartphone and edit it on a free video app? All good. Or don't edit it at all! As long as you're telling us what you want to tell us - sharing your vision, your brilliant voice - that's good enough for us.

    When applying, please include a link to your video which you should save on Vimeo or Youtube. We cannot accept video files stored on any other platform or that need downloading. Please make sure you include any passwords.

    ONE-PAGE PROJECT PITCH. This is your chance to tell us more about your project – where you are with it, why you believe in it and why you are excited about possibly developing it further.

    CV. One page maximum. This is a fun opportunity to tell us more about your skills and past experience with writing and performing, we’re not judging this on the basis of exam results and work experience.

    When the applications open on Monday the 13th, (To apply) please click the APPLY NOW button below and upload your contact details, CV, one-page pitch and a link to your video.

  • This is an initiative for emerging voices, and therefore we are only considering applicants who have not already had an original scripted project produced for television, film or streaming service.

    We're excited to offer an opportunity that aims specifically to preserve the spirit of live performance, and offer a platform to writer-performers to develop their work further. Brilliant emerging writers who don't perform their work should check out our other opportunities such as Sister's Writer in Residence Scheme.

    Applicants must be over 18 and UK nationals or have 'right to reside' status in the UK.

    Please note: If you applied in 2020 you may re-apply with a new project. We cannot accept any projects that were submitted for Screenshot 2020.

  • We are looking for new and emerging comedy writer-performers - yes, people who do both!

    We are looking for people with a unique, bold voice and something to say about the world!

    We are looking for projects with a compelling narrative thread - ie. a good story.

    We are looking for projects that are authored, character-lead and have as much potential for screen as they do for the stage.

    Most of all, we are looking for writing and performance that open the most compelling, personal and funny window onto a unique corner of human life.

  • All documents will be read, and videos watched, by the teams at South of the River and/or SISTER.

    We will compile a longlist of eligible entries and they will be invited to meet the team on Zoom. During this meeting you will discuss your project and hear about your passion and vision for it.

    We will then announce a shortlist of applicants who will be invited to undertake the following:

    • Undertake 2 coaching sessions with members of the South of the River & SISTER Development teams in preparation for performing a short segment of their work at the Final Showcase. These coaching sessions are an opportunity to get guidance and feedback ahead of the final performance.

    • Perform a 10 minute segment to top TV commissioners, comedy-writers and executive producers from South of the River and SISTER in the final that will be held on Sunday 11th June 2023 in London.

    At least one candidate will receive a script commission from South of the River and/or SISTER to advance and hone the project with the intention of producing it for television, film or streaming service.

    Five of the shortlisted candidates will receive a financial contribution of £500 towards the development and/or budget of their next live theatrical show.

  • Applications are open from 12.01am on Monday 13th March - 11.59pm on Sunday 19th March. Unfortunately, entries received after 11.59pm on Sunday 19th March will not be accepted.

    Please read in full the Terms and Conditions for entry into Screenshot, available below. You must agree to the T&Cs, Privacy Policy and comply with all entry requirements in order to enter.

  • Screenshot has been set up and is funded by South of the River Pictures in association with SISTER. Clare Fitzgerald will manage the competition day to day and work closely with SOUTH OF THE RIVER and SISTER’s management and creative teams.

    ABOUT SOUTH OF THE RIVER

    South of the River Pictures was set up in November 2019 by Oscar-winner Olivia Colman and screenwriter Ed Sinclair to produce striking and original scripted comedy and drama with an authored, indie sensibility. SOUTH OF THE RIVER want to find unique narratives that have something to say about the world we live in and to do that we believe we must hear under-represented and previously unheard voices. Olivia Colman is best known for winning the Academy Award for her role as Queen Anne in The Favourite. Sinclair's first screenplay, Landscapers, a multi-award-winning four-part true-crime drama starring Colman was a SISTER production for HBO and Sky, in association with South of the River.

    ABOUT SISTER

    SISTER was co-founded by Jane Featherstone, Elisabeth Murdoch and Stacey Snider to develop, produce and invest in visionary creators. An independent, modern studio with offices in London, Manchester, Los Angeles and New York, SISTER builds upon Featherstone’s Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning scripted indie, Sister Pictures. It unites the expertise of the founders alongside a team of renowned creatives to make breakout stories across all forms of media. As well as producing hit shows including This is Going to Hurt (BBC One/AMC), Landscapers (SKY/ HBO), The Baby (Sky/HBO), Gangs of London (SKY/ AMC) and Chernobyl (Sky/HBO), SISTER has made a series of bold investments in new creator-led businesses including Zando, an ambitious new publishing venture from Molly Stern, Campside Media, a podcast studio, AWA Studios, a comic book and digital media publisher, award-winning documentary production company Dorothy Street Pictures, and a partnership with iconic London music venue KOKO. To learn more about SISTER and its work, visit www.sister.net

  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE SCREENSHOT WRITER PERFORMER COMPETITION

    1 THE COMPETITION

    1.1 The promoter and organiser of this Competition is South Of The River Pictures Limited of 80 Charlotte Street, London, England, W1T 4DF, company number 11876797 ("Promoter", "us" or "we"), in association with Sister Pictures Limited, of 17-18 Hayward's Place, London, England, EC1R 0EQ, company number 09631264 ("Partner"). These terms and conditions ("Terms") govern the legal relationship between Promoter, Partner and the entrant (referred to in these Terms as "you", "yours" or "Entrant") in relation to the Competition.

    1.2 Please read these Terms in full, and in particular regarding how we will handle your personal data in relation to the Competition and how your entry will be used by us for the administration of the Competition. Your entry into this Competition is contingent upon you reading and agreeing to these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not enter this Competition.

    1.3 The title of the Competition is SCREENSHOT WRITER PERFORMER COMPETITION (the "Competition").

    1.4 The Competition can be entered by submitting an entry as set out in clause 2 of these Terms.

    1.5 All information detailed on any of Promoter's websites and properties (including but not limited to www.southoftheriverpictures.com/screenshot (the "Competition Website"), digital platforms or apps, social media pages), in relation to the entry requirements for this Competition, form part of these Terms. In the event of any discrepancy or conflict between that information and these Terms, these Terms will prevail.

    1.6 Neither Facebook, Instagram nor any other social media site endorses or sponsors this Competition or other contest or scheme administered by Promoter and we are not affiliated with Facebook, Instagram or any other social media site in any way.

    2 ELIGIBILITY

    2.1 The Competition is open to any entrants who are UK nationals, or who otherwise have a "right to reside" in the UK (as defined here: www.gov.uk/right-to-reside) (the "Competition Jurisdiction"), and who are aged 18 years or over, except:

    2.1.1 employees of Promoter, Partner or their holding or subsidiary companies;

    2.1.2 employees of agents or suppliers of Promoter, Partner or their holding or subsidiary companies, or anyone who is professionally connected with the Competition or its administration; or

    2.1.3 members of the immediate families or households of individuals in paragraphs 2.1.1 and 2.1.3 above.

    2.2 If you are based outside of the Competition Jurisdiction, the Promoter will not accept your entry and you will be deemed to have been automatically disqualified from it.

    2.3 In entering the Competition, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and eligible to accept any prize you may win. Promoter may require you to provide proof that you are eligible to enter the Competition and take up the prize, including proof of ID and address, and reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who fails to meet these requirements.

    2.4 The Promoter will not accept Competition entries that are incomplete or corrupted through technical or other fault.

    2.5 There is a limit of one entry to the Competition per person. Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted. Joint submissions are allowed but with a maximum of 2 participants and both participants must write and perform the submitted material.

    2.6 Promoter reserves all rights to disqualify you if your conduct is contrary to the spirit or intention of the Competition, or if you fail to comply with these Terms.

    2.7 Entries will not be returned.

    3 HOW TO ENTER

    3.1 The submission period for the Competition will run from 12:01am on Monday 13th March 2023 (the "Opening Date") to 11:59pm on Tuesday 11th April 2023 (the "Closing Date") inclusive.

    3.2 All Competition entries must be received by Promoter by no later than 11:59pm on the Closing Date. All Competition entries received after the Closing Date are automatically disqualified.

    3.3 No purchase is necessary to enter the Competition.

    3.4 In order to enter the Competition, entrants must:

    3.4.1 visit the Competition Website and read and understand the requirements for entry and be able to meet the entry criteria set out on that site and in these Terms; and

    3.4.2 Submit their entry in accordance with the entry process set out on the Competition Website.

    3.5 All entries must be accompanied by your full name, home address, your contact telephone number and your email address.

    3.6 Entries must comply with the following criteria:

    3.6.1 they must be the entrant's own, original work;

    3.6.2 the entry must feature the entrant, and if any other person is featured in addition to the entrant, that person must have given their permission to be featured and for their image/performance to be used for the purposes of the Competition and submitted to Promoter;

    3.6.3 the work may not have been previously produced for television, film or streaming service in the UK or otherwise, and if such work has been commissioned but not produced, the entrant must make Promoter aware of the same, and such commission must not prevent entrant proceeding in the Competition, infringe any third party rights or prohibit Promoter's ability to develop the project;

    3.6.4 the work must not contain any material that is prejudicial to any minority or other group, is infringing of any third party rights, or is otherwise offensive in the sole opinion of the Promoter; and

    3.6.5 the work must not have been previously submitted for the Screenshot 2020 competition.

    3.7 Promoter will not accept:

    3.7.1 responsibility for Competition entries that are lost, mislaid, damaged or delayed in transit, regardless of cause, including, for example, as a result of any equipment failure, technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind; or

    3.7.2 proof of transmission as proof of receipt of entry to the Competition.

    3.8 By submitting a Competition entry, you are agreeing to be bound by these Terms.

    4 SELECTION PROCESS

    4.1 All valid Competition entries received by Promoter before the Closing Date, which comply with the eligibility requirements and these Terms, will be eligible for the selection process.

    4.2 Within 14 days following the Closing Date (unless specified otherwise by Promoter in writing), the selection process will take place. Initially, a longlist of entries will be selected from all eligible entries.

    4.3 Entries will be selected for the longlist by team members of Promoter and/or Partner, and overseen by Clare Fitzgerald, based on the judging criteria set out below.

    4.4 Those entrants who make the longlist will be required to meet the team on Zoom where you will discuss your project and your passion and vision for it.

    4.5 We will then announce a shortlist of applicants who will be invited to undertake the following:

    • Take part in 2 coaching sessions in preparation for performing a short segment of their work with members of the SOTR & SISTER development teams wherein they will be provided with guidance and feedback ahead of the final showcase.

    • Perform and discuss a segment of the show for a panel of leading TV industry figures. Entrants will be given a selection of time-slots for this and must be available for one of the time-slots offered.

    4.6 Should the Promoter not be able to reach the entrant at any stage to inform them of their progression to the next stage, or if the entrant does not comply with the entry criteria or any provision of these Terms, the Promoter can at its sole discretion, remove the entrant from the process and select an alternative entrant to replace the original entrant.

    5 THE PRIZE

    5.1 Five of the shortlisted candidates will receive a financial contribution of £500 towards the development and/or budget of their next live theatrical show.

    5.2 At least one candidate will receive a script commission from Promoter and Partner to advance and hone their script with the intention of producing the project for television, film or streaming service.

    5.3 Prizes are subject to availability. Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize with a prize of equal or greater value if circumstances beyond Promoter's control makes it necessary to do so.

    5.4 The prize is not negotiable or transferable.

    5.5 In order to claim the prize, you must comply with all legal requirements and the provisions of these Terms. Script commission winner(s) will be required to enter into a development agreement with Promoter and/or Partner, and other necessary documentation such as an NDA. If a winner does not agree to comply with such requirements, that winner will not be eligible to take up the prize and the prize will be offered to an alternative winner at Promoter's sole discretion.

    6 JUDGING CRITERIA

    6.1 All entries will be judged on the criteria set out on the Competition Website.

    6.2 At every stage of the process, there shall be at least one judge/party who is independent of Promoter, Partner and all entities involved in the administration of the Competition. Promoter reserves the right to substitute in a judge of equivalent standing in the event that any of the listed judges is not available.

    7 WINNERS

    7.1 The decision of Promoter is final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into.

    7.2 Promoter will contact all winners personally as soon as practicable after such winners are selected, and in any event with 14 days of such selection, using the telephone number or email address provided with the Competition entry. Promoter will not amend any contact information once the Competition entry form has been submitted.

    7.3 Promoter will publish the surname and county of winners on the Competition Website within 7 days of the winners being selected and this information shall remain on the Competition Website for at least 1 month.

    7.4 If you object to any or all of your surname, county and details of your winning entry being published or made available, please tick the relevent box when makling your application. In such circumstances, Promoter may still be required to the information and winning entry to a regulatory body on request.

    8 CLAIMING THE PRIZE

    8.1 If you are the winner of the prize, you will have 5 days to claim the prize from notification of your win. If you do not claim the prize by this date, your claim to the prize will become invalid at the sole discretion of the Promoter.

    8.2 The prize may not be claimed by a third party on your behalf.

    8.3 Promoter will make all reasonable efforts to contact the winner. If the winner cannot be contacted or is not available or has not claimed their prize within 5 days of the notification, Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant selected from the shortlist of entrants.

    8.4 Promoter does not accept any responsibility if you are not able to take up the prize.

    9 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

    9.1 Insofar as is permitted by law, Promoter, Partner, their agents or distributors will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate the winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking up the prize except where it is caused by the negligence of Promoter, Partner, their agents or distributors or that of their employees. Your statutory rights are not affected.

    10 OWNERSHIP OF COMPETITION ENTRIES AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

    10.1 Ownership of all Competition entries and any accompanying material submitted to Promoter will remain with the submitting entrant unless and until agreed otherwise between Promoter and entrant. No entry or related material will be returned to the entrant. All such material will, however, be destroyed within 6 months of the Closing Date and no record of it will be kept by Promoter or any related party.

    10.2 By submitting your Competition entry and any accompanying material, you hereby grant to the Promoter a limited, non-revocable, royalty free licence to use the entry and all your intellectual property rights therein and in all related materials for the purposes of administering the Competition, including sharing this with all relevant third parties involved in the Competition.

    11 DATA PROTECTION AND PUBLICITY

    11.1 Promoter will only process your personal information as set out in its privacy policy.

    12 GENERAL

    12.1 If there is any reason to believe that there has been a breach of these Terms, Promoter may, at its sole discretion, reserve the right to exclude you from participating in the Competition.

    12.2 Promoter reserves the right to hold void, suspend, cancel, or amend the prize Competition where it becomes necessary to do so, including if any law or regulation is inconsistent with these Terms or where any law or regulation makes Promoter's performance of these Terms impossible, unlawful, illegal or unethical.

    12.3 These Terms and conditions shall be governed by the law of England and Wales, and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

  • TERMS OF USE FOR COMPETITION SITE

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    We may transfer our rights and obligations under these terms to another organisation. We will always tell you in writing if this happens and we will ensure that the transfer will not affect your rights under the contract.

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