AFIN International Film Festival
Poster for The Real Thing, written by Matthew Papadopoulos, AFIN 2019

Screenplay AFIN 031

The Real Thing

Written by Matthew Papadopoulos

AFIN 2019 Nominee

  • 2019
  • 112pp
  • Australia
  • English
Australian Student Film
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Wrote this screenplay? Let us know to add or correct the credits or details. Writer sign-in opens with the claim email at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.

Synopsis

A virgin college student creates his virtual perfect girlfriend but then meets her real-life lookalike who is anything but perfect and must grow up fast or fall into ‘the rabbit hole' forever.

What makes this one special

  • 49 awards at other festivalsHollywood Screenplay Awards (2023) · Hollywood Screenplay Awards (2023) · Best Script Award - London (2022) and 46 more
  • Programmed at 141 other festivals
  • Nominated for Best Original Screenplay
  • A student film

Also selected at

49 awards, 6 nominations, 70 finalist placings, 16 official selections across 141 other festivals

  1. WinnerHollywood Screenplay Awards (2023)Winner: Best Australian Screenplay · Hollywood, California USA · 2023
  2. WinnerHollywood Screenplay Awards (2023)Winner: Best Comedy Screenplay · Hollywood, California USA · 2023
  3. WinnerBest Script Award - London (2022)Winner: Best Australian Screenplay · London, GBR · 2022
  4. WinnerOTB | Only The Best Film Awards (2022)Winner: Special Award - Comedy Feature Film · Miami, Florida USA · 2022
  5. WinnerOTB | Only The Best Film Awards (2022)Winner: Jury Award - Comedy Feature Film · Miami, Florida USA · 2022
  6. WinnerThe Indie Gathering International Film Festival (2022)Winner: 1st Place Rom-Com Feature Script · Cleveland, Ohio USA · 2022
  7. WinnerVenus Community Awards (2022)Winner: Screenplay · Istanbul, TUR · 2022
  8. WinnerAmerican Filmatic Arts Awards (2020)Winner: Honorable Mention - Feature Screenplay · New York, New York USA · 2021
  9. WinnerAustralasia's Film Festival of Time: Sci-Fi / Animation / Horror (2020)Winner: Judges' Choice Screenplay · Melbourne, AUS · 2021
  10. WinnerBridge Fest (2020)Winner: Best Student Feature Screenplay (Annual Competition)) · Vancouver, British Columbia CAN · 2021
  11. WinnerCircus Road Screenplay Contest (2021)Winner: Honorable Mention - Screenplay · Sherman Oaks, California USA · 2021
  12. WinnerFullshot Cine Mag Fest (2021)Winner: Best Screenplay/Script (Produced and Unproduced) · Online Festival/Awards Event · 2021
  13. Winner'FILM LOT' The Film Club Australia (2020)Winner: Screenplays · Melbourne, AUS · 2020
  14. WinnerAthens International Monthly Art Film Festival (2020)Honorable Mention: Best Original Script · Athens, GRC · 2020
  15. WinnerBridge Fest (2020)Winner: Best Screenplay · Vancouver, British Columbia CAN · 2020
  16. WinnerCanadian Cinematography Awards (CaCA) (2020)Winner: Best Screenplay · Toronto, Ontario CAN · 2020
  17. WinnerDepth of Field International Film Festival (Winter) (2020)Winner: 1st Place (Gold) Screenplay · Nassau, Delaware USA · 2020
  18. WinnerEuropean Cinematography AWARDS (ECA) (2020)Winner: Best Screenplay · Amsterdam, NLD · 2020
  19. WinnerFlorida Comedy Film Festival (2020)Winner: Pearl Screenplay Award · Boca Raton, Florida USA · 2020
  20. WinnerHollywood Blood Horror Festival (2020)Winner: Best Original Screenplay · Los Angeles, California USA · 2020
  21. WinnerHollywood Gold Awards (2020)Winner: Silver Award - Feature Script · Los Angeles, California USA · 2020
  22. WinnerKošice International Monthly Film Festival (2020)Winner: Honorable Mention - Best Feature Script · Košice, SVK · 2020
  23. WinnerLit Laughs International Comedy Film Festival (2020)Winner: Runner Up - Feature Comedy Screenplay · Harrogate, GBR · 2020
  24. WinnerLondon Greek Film Festival (2020)Winner: Odysseus Award - Best Feature Screenplay · London, GBR · 2020
The remaining 117 festivals
  1. WinnerLos Angeles Cinematography AWARDS (LACA) (2020)Winner: Best Screenplay · Los Angeles, California USA · 2020
  2. WinnerLos Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards (2020)Winner: 2nd Place Best Screenplay (Feature) · Los Angeles, California USA · 2020
  3. WinnerMetropolitan Film Festival of NYC (2020)Winner: Best Script · Winnetka, California USA · 2020
  4. WinnerNew Media Film Festival (2020)Winner: Best Script · Los Angeles, California USA · 2020
  5. WinnerNew York Movie Awards - Monthly Festival (2019)Winner: Best Feature Script · New York, New York USA · 2020
  6. WinnerQueen Palm International Film Festival (2020)Winner: Bronze Award - Best Concept Feature Script · Palm Springs, California USA · 2020
  7. WinnerRedwood Shorts & Scripts (2020)Winner: Best Romantic Script · Sunnyvale, California USA · 2020
  8. WinnerScreenplay Festival (2020)Winner: Honorable Mention - Movie: Comedy · Sherman Oaks, California USA · 2020
  9. WinnerTagore International Film Festival (2020)Winner: Feature Script · Birbhum, West Bengal IND · 2020
  10. WinnerVegas Movie Awards (2020)Winner: Honorable Mention - Best Feature Script · Las Vegas, Nevada USA · 2020
  11. WinnerVegas Movie Awards (2020)Winner: Award of Excellence - Best 1st Time Screenwriter · Las Vegas, Nevada USA · 2020
  12. WinnerVenice Film Awards - Monthly Competition (2020)Winner: Best Feature Script · Venice, ITA · 2020
  13. WinnerWILDsound FEEDBACK Film and Screenplay Festival (2020)Winner: Top WILDsound Festival Screenplays of 2019 · Toronto, Ontario CAN · 2020
  14. WinnerWriteMovies Romance and Comedy Award 2020Winner: Honorable Mention · Los Angeles, California USA · 2020
  15. WinnerAtlanta Comedy Film Festival (2019)Winner: Best International Feature Screenplay Award · Atlanta, Georgia USA · 2019
  16. WinnerBloodstained Indie Film Festival: Sci-Fi Horror Action (2019)1st Place Award Nominee: Feature Script · Tokyo, JPN · 2019
  17. WinnerFestigious International Film Festival (2019)Winner: Honorable Mention - First Time Screenwriter (Feature) · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  18. WinnerHollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival (2019)Winner: 3rd Place Screenplay (Feature) · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  19. WinnerLos Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood (Winter) (2019)Winner: Best Script · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  20. WinnerLos Angeles Film Awards (2019)Winner: Best First Time Screenwriter (Feature) · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  21. WinnerLos Angeles Movie Awards (2019)Winner: Best Script · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  22. WinnerMarina del Rey Film Festival (2019)Winner: Best Screenplay - International · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  23. WinnerTake it Easy Film Festival (2019)Winner: Screenplay (Feature) · New York, New York USA · 2019
  24. WinnerVisionfest Screenwriting Competition (2019)Top 10: Feature Screenplay · New York, New York USA · 2019
  25. WinnerWILDsound FEEDBACK Film and Screenplay Festival (2019)Winner: Screenplay (Feature) · Toronto, Ontario CAN · 2019
  26. NomineeAustin Revolution Film Festival (2020)Award Nominee: Feature Screenplay [TBD] · Austin, Texas USA · 2021
  27. NomineeSiren Screenwriting Festival (2021)Award Nominee: Feature Screenplay · Bondi Beach, New South Wales AUS · 2021
  28. NomineeThe Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards (2021)Award Nominee: Best Genre Script · London, GBR · 2021
  29. NomineeAustin Spotlight Film Festival (2020)Award Nominee: Screenplay Feature · Austin, Texas USA · 2020
  30. NomineeLos Angeles Film Awards (2019)Award Nominee: Screenplay of the Year · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  31. NomineeTop Indie Film Awards (2019)Award Nominee: Best Feature Script · Tokyo, JPN · 2019
  32. Finalist1st Annual Romantic Comedy Screenwriting Contest (2022)Quarter-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2022
  33. FinalistHot Springs Screenplay Competition (2022)Quarter-Finalist · Hot Springs, Arkansas USA · 2022
  34. FinalistInroads Screenwriting Fellowship (2022)Quarter-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2022
  35. FinalistOutstanding Screenplays Feature Competition (2021)Semi-Finalist · Online Event · 2022
  36. FinalistScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship (2022)Semi-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2022
  37. FinalistStoryPros Awards Screenplay Contest (2022)Semi-Finalist · Woodland Hills, California USA · 2022
  38. FinalistWiki: The World's Fastest Screenplay Contest! (2022)Semi-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2022
  39. FinalistFilmmatic Comedy Screenplay Awards (2021)Semi-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2021
  40. FinalistLonely Wolf International Film Festival (2021)Semi-Finalist: Feature Screenplay (Written/Unproduced) · London, GBR · 2021
  41. FinalistPage Turner Screenplays (2021)Quarter-Finalist: Feature Script - First 15 · Santa Monica, California USA · 2021
  42. FinalistSan Francisco International Screenwriting Competition (2021)Quarter-Finalist · San Francisco, California USA · 2021
  43. FinalistScriptation Showcase (2021)Semi-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2021
  44. FinalistSTORYLINE DaVinci International Film Festival (2021)Semi-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2021
  45. FinalistStoryPros Awards Screenplay Contest (2021)Semi-Finalist · Woodland Hills, California USA · 2021
  46. FinalistThe Great American Script Contest (2021)Finalist: Feature Script · Los Angeles, California USA · 2021
  47. FinalistThe Script Lab Free Screenplay Contest (2021)Quarter-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2021
  48. FinalistToronto Independent Film Festival of Cift (2021)Finalist: Best Unproduced script for a long feature film · Toronto, Ontario CAN · 2021
  49. FinalistWeScreenplay Feature Contest (2021)Semi-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2021
  50. FinalistAccord Cine Fest (2020)Finalist: Best Feature Script · Tamil Nadu, IND · 2020
  51. FinalistAustin Screenplay Awards (2020)Quarter-Finalist: Feature Script · Austin, Texas USA · 2020
  52. FinalistCreative World Awards Screenwriting Competition (2020)Quarter-Finalist: Comedy Feature Screenplay · Marina del Rey, California USA · 2020
  53. FinalistFilmmakers International Screenwriting Awards (2020)Finalist [TBD] · Hollywood, California USA · 2020
  54. FinalistFlorence Film Awards - Monthly Competition (2020)Finalist: Feature Script · Florence, ITA · 2020
  55. FinalistInroads Screenwriting Fellowship (2020)Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2020
  56. FinalistMiami Screenplay Awards (2020)Semi-Finalist: Feature Script · Miami, Florida USA · 2020
  57. FinalistNear Nazareth Festival (NNF) (2020)Semi-Finalist: Best Screenplay · Afula, ISR · 2020
  58. FinalistNew York Cinematography AWARDS (NYCA) (2020)Finalist: Best Screenplay · New York, New York USA · 2020
  59. FinalistRed Flight Pictures Screenplay Awards (2020)Semi-Finalist: Student Screenplay · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA · 2020
  60. FinalistRed Flight Pictures Screenplay Awards (2020)Finalist: Screenplay (Feature) · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA · 2020
  61. FinalistRhode Island International Film Festival (2020)Semi-Finalist: Screenplay Competition · Providence, Rhode Island USA · 2020
  62. FinalistScreenCraft Comedy Screenplay Contest (2020)Quarter-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2020
  63. FinalistScreenwriting Master Contest (2020)Quarter-Finalist: Feature Screenplay · Online Event, USA · 2020
  64. FinalistScript Summit (2020)Finalist: Feature Comedy Screenplay · Royal Oak, Michigan USA · 2020
  65. FinalistSoCal Film Awards (2020)Finalist: Screenplay · Huntington Beach, California USA · 2020
  66. FinalistSOMEDAY… Screenwriting Competition (2019)Finalist: Screenplay [TBD] · Danbury, Connecticut USA · 2020
  67. FinalistStoryPros Awards Screenplay Contest (2020)Semi-Finalist · Woodland Hills, California USA · 2020
  68. FinalistStoryPros International Screenplay Contest (2020)Semi-Finalist · Woodland Hills, California USA · 2020
  69. FinalistStudent Los Angeles Film Awards (2020)Finalist: Best Student Screenplay · Hollywood, California USA · 2020
  70. FinalistSWN Screenplay Competition (2020)Finalist · London, GBR · 2020
  71. FinalistThe Golden Script Competition (2020)Semi-Finalist: Feature Screenplay · Glasgow, GBR · 2020
  72. FinalistVegas Movie Awards (2020)Semi-Finalist: Best Screenwriter (Best 6) · Las Vegas, Nevada USA · 2020
  73. FinalistWriteMovies Screenwriting Contest Winter (2020)Semi-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2020
  74. Finalist24th Annual Fade In Awards First Ten Pages Competition (2019)Semi-Finalist · Beverly Hills, California USA · 2019
  75. FinalistAtlanta International Screenplay Awards (2019)Quarter-Finalist: Feature Script · Atlanta, Georgia USA · 2019
  76. FinalistAustin Comedy Short Film Festival (2019)Finalist: Best International Feature Screenplay Award · Austin, Texas USA · 2019
  77. FinalistChanging Face International Film Festival (2019)Finalist: Best Feature Screenplay · Sydney, AUS · 2019
  78. FinalistChicago Screenplay Awards (2019)Semi-Finalist · Chicago, Illinois USA · 2019
  79. FinalistCreative World Awards Screenwriting Competition (2019)Preliminary Finalist · Marina del Rey, California USA · 2019
  80. FinalistFeel The Reel International Film Festival (2019)Finalist: Screenplay · Glasgow, GBR · 2019
  81. FinalistFestigious International Film Festival (2019)Finalist: Best Feature Screenplay · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  82. FinalistFilmmatic Comedy Screenplay Awards (2019)Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  83. FinalistFinal Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest (2019)Quarter-Finalist · Burbank, California USA · 2019
  84. FinalistGenre Celebration Festival (2019)Finalist: Best Feature Screenplay · Tokyo, JPN · 2019
  85. FinalistGeorgia Shorts Film Festival (2019)Finalist: Best International Feature Screenplay Award · Atlanta, Georgia USA · 2019
  86. FinalistHouston Comedy Film Festival (2019)Finalist: Best International Feature Screenplay Award · Houston, Texas USA · 2019
  87. FinalistLaunch Pad Feature Competition (2019)Second Round Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  88. FinalistLos Angeles CineFest (2019)Semi-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  89. FinalistLos Angeles Film Awards (2019)Finalist: Best Feature Screenplay · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  90. FinalistMoondance International Film Festival (2019)Finalist: Feature Screenplay · Boulder, Colorado USA · 2019
  91. FinalistNew York City International Screenplay Awards (2019)Quarter-Finalist: Feature Script · New York, New York USA · 2019
  92. FinalistPage Turner Screenplays (2019)Finalist: Feature Screenplay · Santa Monica, California USA · 2019
  93. FinalistPitch Now Screenplay Competition (2019)Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  94. FinalistSan Pedro International Film Festival (2019)Finalist: Screenplay · San Pedro, California USA · 2019
  95. FinalistScreenCraft Comedy Screenplay Contest (2019)Quarter-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  96. FinalistScreenplay Festival (2019)Semi-Finalist · Sherman Oaks, California USA · 2019
  97. FinalistScriptapalooza Screenplay Competition (2019)Quarter-Finalist · Los Angeles, California USA · 2019
  98. FinalistStoryPros Awards Screenplay Contest (2019)Finalist · Woodland Hills, California USA · 2019
  99. FinalistStoryPros International Screenplay Contest (2019)Finalist · Woodland Hills, California USA · 2019
  100. FinalistTMFF - The Monthly Film Festival (2019)Finalist: Screenplay · Glasgow, GBR · 2019
  101. FinalistZed Fest Film Festival & Screenplay Competition (2019)Semi-Finalist · Burbank, California USA · 2019
  102. SelectionCoverfly (2022)The Red List - Comedy Genre/Format · Los Angeles, California USA · 2022
  103. SelectionCoverfly (2021)The Red List - Comedy Genre/Format · Los Angeles, California USA · 2021
  104. SelectionOaxaca FilmFest (2021)Official Selection: Global Script Challenge · Oaxaca, MEX · 2021
  105. SelectionToronto Film Magazine Fest (2021)Official Selection: Best Screenplay · Toronto, Ontario CAN · 2021
  106. SelectionAfter Hour Film Festival (2020)Official Selection: Best Screenplay · Online Event USA · 2020
  107. SelectionAustin Revolution Film Festival (2020)Official Selection: Student Screenplay [TBD] · Austin, Texas USA · 2020
  108. SelectionJaipur International Film Festival (2020)Official Selection: International Screenplay Competition · Jaipur, IND · 2020
  109. SelectionPrix Royal - Monthly Screenplay Awards (2020)Official Selection: Best Feature Script · Bordeaux, FRA · 2020
  110. SelectionSilicon Beach Film Festival (2020)Official Selection: Silicon Beach Film Festival Screenplay Submissions · Los Angeles, California USA · 2020
  111. SelectionAction on Film MegaFest Annual Film Festival and Writers' Competition (2019)Official Selection: Feature Script · Las Vegas, Nevada USA · 2019
  112. SelectionBRIDGES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (2019)Official Selection: Feature Screenplay · Corinth, GRC · 2019
  113. SelectionCINEMAFEST (2019)Official Selection: Screenplay · Ellington, New York USA · 2019
  114. SelectionCKF International Film Festival (2019)Official Selection: Screenplay/Script · Swindon, GBR · 2019
  115. SelectionIndie Suspense Horror Sci-Fi Film Festival (2019)Official Selection: Feature Script · Apopka, Florida USA · 2019
  116. SelectionPortland Comedy Film Festival (2019)Official Selection: Feature Screenplay · Wilsonville, Oregon USA · 2019
  117. SelectionRome Independent Prisma Awards (2019)Official Selection: Best Feature Screenplay · Rome, ITA · 2019

Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.

Writer's Biography

Matthew Papadopoulos Writer

I'm an Australian screenwriter. My first spec script - The Real Thing - is a Romantic Comedy/Sci-Fi/Coming-of-Age feature with themes about the now and near future that will be hotly debated. In a past life, I studied Philosophy (my M.A. thesis - The Ontological Status of Space - is listed by the National Library of Australia). A former Time Out critic in his competition feedback had this to say: "The Real Thing is a classic screwball comedy. Like Bringing Up Baby, a nerdy protagonist is brought under the spell of an assertive love interest. Its whip-smart dialogue crackles like Hepburn and Grant. But there’s a modern twist updating this classic form." and, in his opinion... "The writer has kept it small enough in scope that it could find financing at the lower end of the budget scale. These kinds of stories are too rarely made nowadays. But in the hands of the right producer, it could do well on the indie circuit." If this sounds like an unabashed advertisement for my screenplay, it's because it is... Oh, and I used to write short stories as a teenager that, according to experts who knew about this stuff, "nailed the psychological horror genre and will make money". But lest you think I'm getting nostalgic, so will the screenplay... producers, take note.

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The Real Thing was an official Nominee for Best Original Screenplay at the AFIN International Film Festival 2019, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.

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