BAFTA Announces Call for Scripts from Emerging Comedy Screenwriters

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and Rocliffe today announced a call for scripts from emerging comedy screenwriters for two BAFTA Rocliffe New Comedy Showcase events. The successful writers will showcase their work for some of the biggest names in the UK and US television industry at two major international television festivals: in August the BAFTA Rocliffe New Comedy Showcase returns to the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival (GEITF) for a second year; in October it will return to the New York Television Festival (NYTVF) for a fourth consecutive year.

Applications are open at http://bit.ly/BAFTARocliffe to British UK-based comedy screenwriters who have not yet had a television series commissioned, although they may have broadcast writing credits. The successful entries will be selected by an industry jury of comedy professionals from the UK and US. In 2013 the jury included Jennifer Saunders, Jessica Hynes, Caryn Mandabach, Andrew Newman, Margot Gavan Duffy, Jill Offman, Saskia Schuster, Matt King, Kevin Cecil and Kenton Allen.

BAFTA, with its branches in New York and in Scotland, and Rocliffe, are offering this opportunity in partnership with British Airways, GEITF and the NYTVF, and the chosen writers will receive:

• A BAFTA Rocliffe New Comedy Showcase featuring professional actors performing their work in front of an industry audience at GEITF or the NYTVF. Audience members across the festivals will include representatives from BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Sky, Comedy Central, Sky, FOX, FX, VH1, MTV, IFC and major independent production companies;
• Feedback during the event from top television industry guests - gaining vital tips and encouragement. The 2013 NYTVF/BAFTA New York event was chaired by Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation);
• One-to-one development mentoring sessions by top UK and US comedy commissioners and independent production companies;
• A GEITF festival pass and/or a New York Television Festival 'Official Artist' pass;
• Pitch and networking training;
• Travel and accommodation for the festival for which they are selected;
• One-to-one meetings with top UK talent agents;
• Bespoke industry networking opportunities.

Last year's winning writers have built on their BAFTA Rocliffe success to develop their careers in the industry. Examples include writing pair Tony Cooke and Brona C. Titley whose script Nannies was showcased in New York in 2013 and has since been optioned by a UK production company. Cooke and Titley have also gained a development deal with VH1 for a reality TV show called Teen Time Machine and have been commissioned by BBC Comedy to write an original sitcom script for radio called Killer in Kristina. Brona C. Titley described the BAFTA Rocliffe New Comedy Showcase experience as feeling "a bit like winning The Comedy lottery."

Writing pair Andrea Hubert and Ryan Cull, whose script, The Sickness, was showcased in Edinburgh last year, were offered a BBC development deal. They are currently working on a new sitcom as part of a development deal with Objective Productions. Hubert and Cull said: "Winning the BAFTA Rocliffe New Comedy Showcase was instrumental in the development of our writing career; we've Gone from being aspirational writers to professional working ones. It has given us more opportunities and the chance to meet key industry contacts. Everyone has been incredibly supportive and we recommend it to anyone interested in comedy writing."

Andrew Newman, Chair of the BAFTA Television Committee, said: "The BAFTA Rocliffe New Comedy Showcase has become the flagship initiative through which BAFTA develops the wealth of up-and-coming comedy writing talent we have in Britain and presents it on an international stage. We aim to give writers of different backgrounds, from across the UK, an opportunity to break into the industry, helping to strengthen it for the future."

Lisa Campbell, Festival Director of the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, said: "Following on from a successful first year, we're delighted to continue our support for the BAFTA Rocliffe initiative in 2014 by providing a platform for new comedy writers at the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival powered by YouTube. With its audience of 2,000 TV professionals, the Festival can provide a unique opportunity for developing writers - the chance to have their work performed in front of the senior executives who can turn a script into a hit show."

Terence Gray, Founder and Executive Director of the New York Television Festival, said: "The NYTVF was founded for independent artists worldwide to gain access to television decision makers and have a platform to display their work. In The Past years with the BAFTA Rocliffe New Comedy Showcase, we have been blown away by the talent and dedication of UK-based artists participating, and we look forward to seeing the next class of rising indie writers. As we build towards the 10th annual Festival, we are pleased to once again partner with BAFTA and Rocliffe on this exciting initiative. We welcome the chance to showcase these talented artists as well as emerging talent the world over."

Farah Abushwesha, Co-founder of Rocliffe, said: "What this initiative does is give newer voices an even playing field by an anonymous selection process. It has launched careers and created an ever-growing community with an industry spotlight for newer writers to get work and commissions on the merits of their voice, within a structured support system."

The early bird deadline for entries for the BAFTA Rocliffe New Comedy Showcase at the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival powered by YouTube (GEITF) and the New York Television Festival (NYTVF) is Monday 14 April 2014. The final deadline for entries is Monday 19 May 2014. Applicants must submit a ten page extract from their sit-com or sketch show for consideration for the schemes. Each script will be considered for both events albeit different writers may be selected for each event. For full application details, and terms and conditions, go to: http://bit.ly/BAFTARocliffe.

All writers who submit will receive an industry standard report to enable them to progress their idea.

@BAFTA and @rocliffeforum will hold will hold several online tweetups to answer writers' questions, using the #BAFTARocliffe.

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