CTBF launches comedy writing award with Big Talk, LOCO

The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF) has launched a comedy writing initiative in partnership with LOCO London Comedy Film Festival and Big Talk Productions (Shaun Of The Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs The World).

Titled the Betty Box and Peter Rogers Comedy Writing Programme in honour of the legendary producers of the Doctor and Carry On series, the initiative will select four emerging writers, each of whom will receive £10,000 and participate in a personalised six-month programme of industry support as they develop a comedy feature screenplay or six-part comedy series for television.

The scheme aims to discover original, exciting voices by offering a unique launching pad to those passionate writers who are in need of financial and industry support, and who may not otherwise have a chance to develop their craft and careers.

The selected participants will have their work developed by Big Talk Productions and will receive professional support from LOCO and the CTBF, the UK charity for people working behind the scenes in cinema, film and television.

The programme will culminate in a live, fully-cast table read to an industry audience at the 6th LOCO London Comedy Film Festiva in May 2017.

It builds on the CTBF’s ongoing commitment to industry support, alongside the organisation’s flagship initiative, The John Brabourne awards, and the recently launched Richard Attenborough Scholarship.

CTBF president Barry Jenkins said the programme would offer “an exciting opportunity to discover those hidden gems of comedy writers who need support to realise their creative potential”.

The deadline for submissions is Aug 26 2016, with the four chosen recipients set to be announced at a ceremony in October. The application website can be found by clicking here.