Frequently Asked Questions

who can enter?

Anyone. Dead Ad Society is open to creatives and agencies around the world.

what can i submit?

For Year Three, we’re accepting unproduced TV/commercial scripts — ideas you loved that, for whatever reason, never got made.

Killed by the client. Killed by the budget. Killed somewhere along the way. If you still believe in it, we want to see it.

does the script have to have been presented to a client?

No. What matters is that it’s a great idea that never got made.

can i submit more than one idea?

Yes. You can submit up to three ideas. They can be for the same brand or completely different brands.

If your ideas are very similar, we recommend submitting the strongest one and using your other entries to show us something different.

does it cost anything to enter?

No. There is no application fee.

when is the submission deadline?

Sunday, November 1, 2026.

And no, there won’t be a deadline extension.

what happens if my script is shortlisted?

Shortlisted scripts are brought to life on stage by professional improv actors at the Dead Ad Society live show.

The jury watches the performances, deliberates live and ultimately awards Bronze, Silver and Gold.

do i need to attend the live show?

We hope you will! The Year Three live show takes place Thursday, November 19 at LPR in New York City.

Finalists are encouraged to come and bring friends to pack the audience with people ready to cheer and laugh for their script.

how does the judging work?

The jury reads the submissions and selects a shortlist. At the live show, those scripts are performed in front of the jury and audience.

Blind voting gives the jury an initial read, followed by plenty of debate, discussion and deliberation before Bronze, Silver and Gold are chosen.

what kind of ideas are you looking for?

Great ones.

Dumb, simple and funny has tended to play well in the live format, but it’s not a rule. If the idea is great, that’s what matters.

should i take budget into account?

Sure, within reason — somebody does eventually have to make the thing.

But don’t overthink it. We’re looking for the best idea first.

what does the Gold winner get?

Resurrected. A second chance. Rebirth. Glory.

The Gold-winning script will be fully produced by hungryman with support from our production and post partners.

who pays for the winning spot?

hungryman and our post-production partners.

who directs the winning spot?

A hungryman director will be chosen based on who is the best fit for the winning script and how we can best bring the idea to life.

what about permission from the brand?

We’ll work through that process with the winning creative. Every idea and client relationship is different, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.

what is Producer of the Year?

Dead Ad Society’s Producer of the Year Award celebrates the people behind the work — the producers who protect great ideas, solve impossible problems and somehow make the whole thing happen.