The Writers Guild of America has announced that the 75th Annual Writers Guild Awards, which honor outstanding writing in film, television, new media, news, radio/audio, and promotional categories, will be presented on Sunday, March 5, 2023.
Before we get to the key dates, it’s important to note that the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have made some changes to the eligibility and submission criteria for some of the Writers Guild Awards categories this year, as outlined here:
Limited Series
Limited Series will no longer submit in the Original Long Form and Adapted Long Form categories. Limited Series must now use the Series form to submit for WGA Awards consideration.
The Guild will apply the same voting rules to the Limited Series category that it applies to the Drama, Comedy, and New Series categories: the five Series which receive the most votes in each category will become the respective category nominees, and all writers employed to perform writing services on the Series will be eligible to be nominated and/or win.
Limited Series are not eligible to compete for New Series awards consideration.
Television & New Media Motion Pictures
With the migration of Limited Series to the Series voted categories, the Original Long Form and Adapted Long Form script submission categories have been combined into one script submission category: Television & New Media Motion Pictures.
A Television or New Media Motion Picture is a motion picture, over one hour in length, which is broadcast on network or cable television or is exhibited on a streaming service, regardless of its original or adapted classification.
A New Media Motion Picture that has/had a theatrical release and a simultaneous streaming exhibition must submit in the Original Screenplay or Adapted Screenplay category.
Animation
WGA contractual coverage is now required for all animated television and new media script submissions.
Original Short Form New Media and Adapted Short Form New Media categories have been combined into one Short Form New Media category
Short Form New Media series with episodes less than 15 minutes in length will now submit in one combined category, regardless of their original or adapted classification.
Below, you can find key dates for this year’s Writers Guild Awards as well as a call for submissions and information regarding eligibility periods. Click here for more detailed information on eligibility criteria and submission guidelines for all categories.
2022-2023 MEDIA TIMELINE
SEPTEMBER
Tue. Sept. 6 – Submissions Open in ALL Categories: Screenplays (Original, Adapted, Documentary), Series (Drama, Comedy, Limited, New), TV-Radio/Audio-New Media Scripts, and Paul Selvin Award (WGAW)
NOVEMBER
Fri. Nov. 18 – Deadline for submissions: Series (Drama, Comedy, Limited, New); TV-Radio/Audio-New Media Scripts, and Paul Selvin Award (WGAW)
DECEMBER
Mon. Dec. 5 – Preliminary Series (Drama, Comedy, Limited, New) online voting begins
Fri. Dec. 9 – Deadline for submissions: Screenplays (Original, Adapted, Documentary)
Mon. Dec. 26 – Deadline for Preliminary Series (Drama, Comedy, Limited, New) online voting
JANUARY 2023
Mon. Jan. 9 – Preliminary Screenplay (Original, Adapted, Documentary) online voting begins
Wed. Jan. 11 – Television, New Media, News, Radio/Audio, and Promotional Writing Nominations Announced
Mon. Jan. 23 – Deadline for Preliminary Screenplay (Original, Adapted, Documentary) online voting
Wed. Jan. 25 – Screenplay (Original, Adapted, Documentary) Nominations Announced
FEBRUARY 2023
TBA – Beyond Words: Writers Guild Awards-nominated screenwriters panel
MARCH 2023
TBA – “And the Nominees Are…” Writers Guild Awards nominees panel
Sun. Mar. 5 – 75th Annual Writers Guild Awards
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
TV-Radio/Audio-New Media Script Submissions
Submission deadline: 5:30 p.m. (PT) on Friday, November 18, 2022
Drama, Comedy, Limited and New Series
Submission deadline: 5:30 p.m. (PT) on Friday, November 18, 2022
Submission deadline: 5:30 p.m. (PT) on Friday, November 18, 2022
Original and Adapted Screenplay
Submission deadline: 5:30 p.m. (PT) on Friday, December 9, 2022
Submission deadline: 5:30 p.m. (PT) on Friday, December 9, 2022
For specific questions about the Writers Guild Awards submissions process, including which category to submit your program in, please contact WGAW Senior Awards Administrator Jennifer Burt at 323-782-4569 or email: [email protected].
AWARDS ELIGIBILITY PERIODS
TV & New Media eligibility period: First broadcast or exhibited between Jan. 1, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2022
News & TV Documentary categories only (6, 7A, 7B, 10, 11, 12, 16): First broadcast or exhibited between Nov. 1, 2021 and Oct. 31, 2022
Theatrical Screenplay eligibility period: Exhibited theatrically in Los Angeles for one week between Jan. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2022
Documentary Screenplays: Exhibited theatrically in Los Angeles or New York for one week between Jan. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2022
For more information about the 2023 Writers Guild Awards submission process, guidelines, and official entry forms, please visit the WGA’s website or click here.
