Ilfeld Grants aim to nurture and support emerging artists, writers, and performers who push creative boundaries and blend disciplines. Our first application cycle will focus on supporting new writing for the stage.
Future submission cycles will support other creative media.
The Ilfeld Prize
Nurturing emerging artists, writers, and performers who push creative boundaries and blend disciplines. Our first application cycle will focus on supporting new writing for the stage.
For Emerging Talent
Each winner will receive a £5,000 award, along with the option of participating in our mentoring program, a workshopped table read, and having their playscript published.
The first submission window was from June 1 to September 1, 2024, and was open to writers based in the United Kingdom.
Submissions are now closed for this year.
Applications are free and can be made via this webpage during the submission window. Applicants will be required to submit a short bio, contact info, and attach their playscript. Applicants must be over 18.
Contact info
Entry Requirements
Submissions for 2024 are now closed! Please check back next year!
The competition is open to anyone resident in the United Kingdom. The minimum age is 18 years. There is no requirement for a minimum or maximum level of experience.
The script must be an original, unpublished and unproduced piece of work. Adaptations and translations are not eligible. It cannot have been produced in any form, anywhere in the world, apart from a maximum of three public readings or showcases.
We will accept only one submission per entrant. The script must be at least 8500 words, with a projected running time of at least 55 minutes.
Scripts should be submitted in Microsoft Word or PDF formats only. Please include page numbers on every page.
The entrant must exclusively own and control all copyright-related rights to the play script.
Entry into the Prize constitutes acceptance of these terms.
About Etan Ilfeld
Etan Ilfeld is a cultural entrepreneur, angel investor, and philanthropist. He is the founder of Watkins Media, Tenderbooks, Watkins Mind Body Spirit Magazine, PlayStrategy.org, and the owner and managing director of the Mind Sports Olympiad. He's also the inventor of The Synchronicity Oracle and Diving Chess.
FAQ
We plan on awarding several grants depending on the quality of the submissions.
Absolutely. If a script breaches a requirement we will discard it.
We want to celebrate new playwrights. We also hope to support them both financially through our grant and via potential mentorship in the industry.
A good story of course, but also something novel. Mixing genres and disciplines is also encouraged. Surprise us!
We plan to announce our longlist of candidates within four months of the submission deadline.
Yes, but the prize will be split.
As the writer you retain all copyright and other intellectual property rights in your script at all times. You can also withdraw from the Prize at any time.
The facilitators and management of the Ilfeld Prize reserves the right to disqualify any candidate at their discretion if continuing their participation would contradict the philanthropic spirit of the prize. All decisions are final, and by entering, entrants waive the right to challenge these decisions.
You can contact us at info@ilfeldprize.com