This year’s Grand Prize by collaborative studio JuntoBox Films is the largest offered by Slamdance to the winning writer in the 19 years of the competition’s history.

In addition to the $10,000 cash, JuntoBox Films is committing a minimum of $50,000 towards production financing with the option to fully fund the grand prize winner. 

“For those determined and talented independent voices out there in the world we have stepped up to provide a tremendous opportunity for a filmmaker to develop their work in a wholly independent production,” said Slamdance president and co-founder Peter Baxter.

“For nearly 20 years, Slamdance has been a champion of the independent filmmaker,” said Philippe Caland, founder and co-chairman of JuntoBox Films. “The 2013 competition is right in step with JuntoBox’s goal of discovering and producing unique stories from filmmakers around the world, and we’re looking forward to reviewing the fascinating screenplays Slamdance is known to foster.”