The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is accepting entries, which are due by May 1, for the 2009 Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition. As many as five $30,000 fellowships will be awarded through the program later this year.

The competition is open to any individual who has not earned more than $5,000 from the sale or option of a screenplay or teleplay or received a fellowship or prize of more than $5,000 that includes a “first look” clause, an option or any other quid pro quo involving the writer’s work. To enter, writers must submit a completed application form, one copy of their original screenplay in English and a $30 entry fee.

Last year’s competition drew more than 5,000 entries.

Enter Your Screenplay!

UK, April 3, 2009 - Sam Raimi told SCI FI Wire that the script for Spider-Man 4 should be completed by summer.

He said: “Right now, [screenwriter] David Lindsay-Abaire is working on a draft of the new picture, and he’s hard at work, and hopefully we’ll see something in about three months.” This places the film on track for its May 6, 2011 release.