Inspired by Science - new screenwriters' competition launches

The competition is aimed at encouraging the development of film or TV drama, which engages the audience with issues around biomedical science, in an innovative, entertaining and accessible way.

"Writers have an amazing ability to bring ideas, thoughts and knowledge to life in a way that's exciting and entertaining as well as being informative", explains David Chamberlain, Manager of the London Screenwriters' Festival. "This new award recognises their talent and encourages them to look to biomedicine as a source for fresh, exciting and distinctive ideas."

"Medical science offers an embarrassment of riches in terms of inspiration for screenwriters," says Daniel Glaser, Head of Special Projects at the Wellcome Trust. "We look forward to building links between the winning screenwriter and experts in fields as diverse as global pandemics, the ethics of genetics and consciousness and the human brain."

The award will enable a drama idea to be developed into a high impact, well-researched proposal - known in the business as a 'treatment' - to be utilised in securing further development.

The winner of the award will be announced at the inaugural London Screenwriters' Festival. The winning writer will receive £5,000 and will be assisted over a period of six months by the Wellcome Trust Broadcast team in developing their proposal. They will be given access to some of the UK's leading scientists to aid their research and fulfil the promise of their best ideas.

Ten shortlisted finalists will each receive complimentary invitations to the Festival, which runs from the 29-31 October 2010.

The deadline for entries is midday on 15 October 2010.