Aito Media together with Storytel: AitoStory writing contest is now on

Storytel Finland and Aito Media are collaborating to find new entertaining, addictive, engaging and world-shaking stories and turn them into audiobooks, e-books, TV series and movies.

Storytel and Aito Media announced AitoStory writing competition aiming to find new stories for audiobooks, e-books, TV series and movies. Companies are looking for original crime, suspense, comedy, or children’s story, which includes an addictive starting point or an interesting twist.

Storytel will publish the winning script as an audio and e-book and Aito Media will redeem the option for at least one script for a TV drama series and / or film adaptation.

The entry is open to all professional and amateur writers (over the age of 18) in Finnish language only. The scripts participating in the competition must not have a publishing, option or other publication agreement. The participation period 1.10.2020–13.2.2021.

To participate in the AitoStory competition, the writers must provide a logline (a summary of the story in a couple of sentences), a sufficiently detailed synopsis (1-2 strips) and a sample of about 40 strips (approx. 2000 characters / strip) from the beginning of the script. The winner will be announced on May 28, 2021.

The final jury of the competition includes Kaisa Pylkkänen, JP Koskinen, Hannu Kontturi, Mirka Vesala and Ella Piesala.

Kaisa Pylkkänen is a screenwriter professional with extensive experience. She has brought many successful series to the Finnish living rooms (eg Uutishuone, Pientä laittoa, Käenpesä, Itse valtiaat) for more than 20 years.

JP Koskinen is a versatile, award-winning author who has written more than 40 books for both adults and children. In addition, he has written several books published only as audiobooks.

Hannu Kontturi is a screenwriter and director who has developed a wide range of drama, reality and entertainment series during his over ten-year career.

Mirka Vesala is a Publishing Manager at Storytel Finland.

Ella Piesala is the Head of Drama at Aito Media, and in charge of all drama productions.

The winning prize is 12 000 €, of which the winner will receive 6 000 €. The rest of the prize money may be distributed by the jury among the participants as they see fit. The winner's prize amount includes a prepayment for the audio and e-book. All prize amounts also include an option for a movie or TV drama adaptation.

Competition deadline is February 13, 2021. To participate send the logline, synopsis and manuscript to the same pdf file attached to aitostory@storytel.com. Enter your name, address, e-mail address, phone number, and nickname in the e-mail. Only add your nickname to all document pages in the pdf. The final jury of the competition will evaluate the final scripts so that they only know the competitor's nickname.

Storytel is one of the world’s leading audiobook and e-book streaming services with a vision to make the world a more empathetic place with great stories to be shared and enjoyed by anyone, anywhere and anytime."

Aito Media is a TV and film production company, making entertainment with a purpose.

Contact details for more information:

Head of Drama Ella Piesala, Aito Media, ella.piesala@aitomedia.fi

Publishing Manager Mirka Vesala, Storytel, mirka.vesala@storytel.com