About the Awards

The WGSA Muse Awards recognise and reward outstanding writing in film, television, documentary, stage, radio, animation, mobile/web series categories. Scripts may be that of PRODUCED or UNPRODUCED work. This competition is only open to members of the Guild and form part of our mission to protect, empower, and develop South African performance writers.

The WGSA Muse Awards are for South African performance writers bestowed by their peers. They shine the spotlight on and recognise the contribution made by the often faceless and unappreciated creators and originators of entertainment content.

Winner & Finalists

Please click here to view Entry Guidelines and Categories

Deadlines

The upcoming deadlines and entry fees for the 2024 submission period:  Opening of the 2024 WGSA Muse Awards is 1 April 2024, closing of the 2024 WGSA Muse Awards is 31 May 2024. No extensions will be granted.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Judging for the 2024 WGSA Muse Awards will commence between 15 June 2024 and 20 August 2024.
• Semi-finalists, and finalists’ announcements will be no later than 30 August 2024.
• WGSA Muse Awards Ceremony is set to take place on Saturday, 2 November 2024. The ceremony will either be in person or online.

Prizes

Winners

• WGSA Muse Awards Trophy
• Winners Certificate
• Goodie bag (highest value to date, R 10,000.00)
  • Free script registration (new or renewal)
  • Free one-year WGSA membership
  • Free entry into the following year’s WGSA Muse Awards (terms and conditions apply)
  • Vouchers and other writer-related goodies!
• Unproduced works showcased on WeFilmGood

Finalists

• WGSA Muse Awards Finalist Certificate
• Discounted offers (sponsor dependent)
  • Discounted script registration (new or renewal)
  • Discounted WGSA membership
  • Discounted entry into the following year’s Muse Awards (terms and conditions apply)
• Unproduced works from all finalists will be showcased on WeFilmGood

Semi & Quarter-Finalists

• Announced on relevant social media platforms
• Announced to our networks and contacts

PLEASE NOTE: Prizes (excluding trophies and certificates) are sponsorship-dependent and awarded at the discretion of the Muse Awards Committee:

Special Awards

• PIJ Foundation Best Emerging Writer Award, sponsored by the Paul Ian Foundation, is presented to a student or candidate member who has amassed the highest single score in the competition. The past winner walked away with a cash prize, mentorship, courses, and a Final Draft subscription,
• WGSA Special Services Award acknowledges exceptional and selfless service to the WGSA and performance writers in South Africa by a member of the guild or individual.
• Federation of African Screenwriters (FAS) Best Original Feature Film Screenplay Award is presented to members who are not resident in the Republic of South Africa, but who reside on the African continent, or offshore territories like Mauritius, Zanzibar, and Madagascar. A writer who has amassed the highest single score in the competition:
  • • o Entries will be for original feature film screenplays only. No episodic works for television or any other format will be accepted. The running time for screenplays must be no shorter than 80 minutes, and no longer than 120 minutes in running time.
    • o Entries may be of any genre but must be original. No adaptations will be considered.

PLEASE NOTE: Special Awards are sponsorship dependent and or awarded at the discretion of the Muse Award Committee

Entry Process

Please make sure you familiarise yourself with the WGSA Muse Awards submission process before you enter. Please note that only WGSA members may enter.

Before You Enter

1. Have a copy of your ID/Passport scanned to your computer
2. Have a copy of your screenplay or script ready:
   1. Unproduced Screenplays or Scripts must be registered with the WGSA Script Registry or a recognised script registry before submission.
   2. Screenplay or Script Ownership. If you no longer own (or are not the sole owner of) the screenplay or script rights, please obtain written permission from the current owner or co-owners to enter their screenplay or script. This permission document must be submitted with the entry form. An example of this permission can be accessed here.

PLEASE NOTE:  In the case of multiple writers or owners, all the writers must sign one permission letter.

1. Screenplays and Scripts Formatting. Please make sure you adhere to internationally accepted industry and presentation standards otherwise your entry will be disqualified. There is no refund if your entry is disqualified.

3. Make sure the screenplay or script is named correctly:
   1. Must only be identifiable by the Title (in capitals) on the front page.
   2. Underneath the Title, unproduced work must have a second line which reads: “WGSA Script Registration Number [fill in the relevant registration number]”
   3. Every page must have a page number in the header on the top right, in line with the Title of the work.
4. Make sure you understand the WGSA Muse Awards Entry Categories & Guidelines.

PLEASE NOTE:  Before you can submit your entry, you need to make the necessary payment. You will not be able to access the form otherwise. Proceed to Payment.

Short notes on your script will be available on request after the Muse Awards Ceremony. Should you require a Judges Review, you may request that on the entry form. A one page Judges Review is available at an additional R100.00

How to Enter

1. Have the necessary supporting documentation ready:
   • ID/Passport scanned and ready for upload
   • Proof of payment (saved from when you made payment)
   • Screenplay or script (named correctly and if unproduced, see WGSA Script Registry)
   • Signed permission letter (if applicable)
2. Fill in the WGSA Muse Awards Entry Form.

How to Pay

Thank you for your interest in entering the WGSA Muse Awards. Please use your Name and Surname/MUSE  as reference for the proof of payment. Choose your preferred method of payment:

PLEASE NOTE: We no longer accept CASH PAYMENTS to our account.

1) Direct Bank Deposit via EFT

Banking Details

WGSA Business Cheque Account
FNB, Randpark Ridge
Branch No: 250655
Account No: 62886952467

USE YOUR “NAME AND SURNAME/MUSE” AS BENEFICIARY REFERENCE

2) PayFast

WGSA Muse Entry

R 150.00 per entry

WGSA Muse Entry & Judges Review

R 250.00 per entry

3) Payment via SnapScan

Submissions WGSA Muse Entry: R 150.00 per entry WGSA Muse Entry & Judges Review: R 250.00 per entry

Muse Awards Entry Form

Please make sure you have your proof of payment ready before you fill in the application form. Your entry will not be processed without this. In order to proceed to the submission form, members must login.

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Become A Judge

Adjudication for the next edition of the WGSA Muse Awards will commence between 15 June 2024 and 20 August 2024. Judging is by application – Please APPLY HERE. For more information, please contact muse@writersguildsa.org.

Previous WGSA Muse Awards Judges

Thank you to all our hardworking judges who read (sometimes watched) and always decided on the best entries in the competition. You are awesome!

Judging Process

Judging is jury-based, multi-phased, and “blind”. When we receive your entry, we will assign your script a number, and our Judges will identify your screenplay solely by its title and script number. There are two stages in the judging process:

• In stage one every script is evaluated by three judges, who mark it according to the competition judging criteria as established by the Muse Committee. Scores are then averaged to reach a final mark for every script.
• A minimum average score of 60% or more is required for a script to advance to the semi-finals in each category.
• The three finalists in each category are those who score the highest points on average in stage one.
• If there are no entries with a score of 60% or above, no award will be made in that category.
• The three finalists in every category proceed to the final round. Final round judges are typically selected for their reputations as internationally recognised writers and producers.
• The work with the highest average score in the final round will be the winner in every category.

PLEASE NOTE:  All the results are audited and verified by the WGSA appointed accountants.

Judging Criteria

The following are some of the guidelines the WGSA Muse Award judges use to analyse and score screenplays and scripts during the competition (and apply to some categories more than others):

Story Idea

• Is there a clear theme/premise?
• Is this a fresh unique story idea for you?
• Is there an audience for this screenplay? Niche audience appeal is also acceptable.

Character

• Are the characters fresh and unique for you?
• Does the character have a clear outer goal, need, and a flaw?
• Is the character three dimensional, emotional, and memorable?

Dialogue

• Is the dialogue filled with exposition?
• Does the dialogue deliver information concisely and effectively?
• Do characters speech patterns convey a sense of tone, place, and time?

Structure

• Is there a sense of pace?
• Is there conflict and are there stakes?
• Does the story display a sense of structure? Unconventional, non-linear structures count.

World

• Is the world authentic?
• Does the writer establish a tone and atmosphere?
• Do characters speech patterns convey a sense of tone, place, and time?

Become A Sponsor

The following are our sponsorship packages (branding and event benefits included). Download the WGSA Muse Awards Proposal here. To reserve your sponsorship package, please contact accounts@writersguildsa.org.

Headline Sponsorship

Platinum, Gold, and Bronze Sponsorship

Associate and Prize Sponsorship

Contact Us

If you have questions or need more information about sponsorship opportunities, please do not hesitate to contact muse@writersguildsa.org.