"Big Break" International Screenwriting Contest Judges Chosen

Final Draft, Inc., publisher of Final Draft, the #1-selling scriptwriting software, announces jury members for its 9th annual Big Break International Screenplay Contest. These stellar jury members represent award-winning writers and development executives. They will judge the top-10 scripts in September, and the top-three winners will be announced at an awards event in October.

The 2008 judges are:

- Dana Stevens--Writer: Life or Something Like It; For Love of the Game; City of Angels
- Benderspink management/production--A History of Violence; The Ring; Red Eye
- Blake Snyder--Author: Save the Cat!: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
- Bruce Feirstein--Writer: The World is Not Enough; Tomorrow Never Dies; GoldenEye

[u]About Final Draft, Inc.'s Big Break International Screenwriting Contest[/u]
The Big Break contest is an annual, global screenwriting competition designed to promote emerging creative talent. The winner is awarded $15,000 cash plus meetings with industry professionals and a year-long mentorship through CineStory. Now in its ninth year, the Big Break contest has become one of the most popular in the nation because of its generous payout and previous winners' successes.

Winners and finalists alike have had their screenplays optioned and produced, and have secured high-profile representation as well as lucrative writing deals. The first contest's winner, Dawg, by Ken Hastings, was produced and shot by Gold Circle Films (starring Elizabeth Hurley and Denis Leary). The 2004 winner Rylend Grant was quickly signed by CAA and secured a six-figure deal to write for an A-list actress and an Oscar® -winning director. 2005 winner Julia Van Develder's The Escape Artist is in pre-production after being optioned by a U.K. production company with an award-winning director attached. The Big Break 2007 winner Robert Frisbee was quickly signed by Benderspink management.

For more information about the Big Break contest, visit http://www.finaldraft.com/big-break.