A list of categorized screenplay contests, ranked and sorted by screenwriters. Find the best contest for your screenplay or television script.
Subscribe to the MovieBytes Screenwriting Contest Newsletter for weekly screenplay contest deadline alerts!
Final Deadline: 05/01/2018 (expired)
To identify and encourage talented new screenwriters.
Significance rating: 
Final Deadline: 04/15/2019
The PAGE Awards competition was established in the fall of 2003 by an alliance of Hollywood producers, agents, and development execs. Our goal: to discover the most exciting new scripts by up-and-coming writers from across the country and around the world. And due to the success of our winning writers, the PAGE Awards competition has rapidly become one of the most important sources for new screenwriting talent within the Hollywood community and worldwide.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 02/12/2019
Do you have a great script but don't have the access to the industry to move it forward? That's what we're here for. The ISA Fast Track Fellowship gives two undiscovered screenwriters a direct line to meet with and be mentored by eight top executives in Los Angeles. We'll fly you to LA and provide you the experience of a lifetime by connecting you to top industry contacts seeking to work with writers like you.
Significance rating: 
Final Deadline: 04/15/2019
CineStory is a national non-profit dedicated to nurturing emerging screenwriters through mentorship programs. Winners of our competition have gone on to pen films such as IRON MAN, CAKE, THE CHILDREN OF MEN, BALLAST, KING OF CALIFORNIA and 11:14. One of the main goals of the CineStory Feature Retreat is to select up-and-coming screenwriters for our four-day intensive program held in the Fall.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 04/29/2019
Scriptapalooza was founded in 1998 with the goal of helping as many writers as possible through the competition. We have over 90 production companies, agents and managers reading all the entered scripts. (A complete list of participants is on Scriptapalooza's website.) We actively push the Semifinalists, Finalists, Runners-Up and Winners for a full year with the intention of creating opportunities for the writers.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 05/15/2019
The Ultimate Runway Now in our 25th year, the Austin Film Festival has been catapulting writers into life-changing careers for over two decades. Whether your dream is to sign a contract, land an agent, learn from an industry icon, or take home the coveted Bronze Typewriter Award, it’s simple: you can’t win if you don’t enter.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 12/04/2018 (expired)
This season we're taking the Feature/Pilot winner to Park City during during the Sundance Film Festival in 2019. Like those Table Read winners who have received Oscar Nominations, or have premiered their produced scripts at a major film festival like Cannes, Table Read My Screenplay will help to motivate your passion for writing through the film festival and showcase experience, put $1500 cash in your pocket, give you the opportunity to confidently network with the title of “Grand Prize Winner,” and a support mechanism for layering a long-term career with an invitation to be a part of the elite ISA Development Program Slate.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 11/02/2018 (expired)
Cinequest voted Best Film Festival by USA Today Readers. The Cinequest Screenwriting Competition continues to empower global screenwriters through discovery, recognition and opportunity. Cinequest loves writers, and we welcome you to submit your screenplay or teleplay to our renowned competition. The Top 10 Finalists receive many empowering benefits including: All Access passes to the Cinequest Film & VR Festival and the exclusive Writers Celebration, plus exposure to leading industry players and inspiring luminaries.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 07/11/2019
It’s a fact that rewriting your screenplay or television pilot is an absolutely essential part of the successful process of perfecting story, character, structure, tone and theme. It’s from that reality that The Finish Line Script Competition was created. The Finish Line redefines the screenwriting competition, embracing the rewrite as an essential component in any successful screenplay, and incentivizing every entrant to dig deeper, find their best draft, and win.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 08/10/2018 (expired)
MISSION: To provide industry exposure and support to television screenwriters who are looking to have their stories told. FEEDBACK: We believe that writers need feedback to improve, which is why we provide the judges’ score cards to every entrant at no additional charge. PROMISE: We promise to give all scripts two rounds of scores and there will be a total of six rounds of scores to ensure fairness and transparency.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 10/15/2018 (expired)
Diverse Voices strives to provide a contest that is purely focused on promoting and encouraging diverse voices in Hollywood. The contest encourages stories that are told from perspectives that are often underrepresented in Hollywood today. This includes writers of color, women writers, writers with disabilities, writers over 40, writers in the LGBTQ+ community, and any other voices and stories that are currently underrepresented in Hollywood.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 10/30/2018 (expired)
The 8th annual Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF) is a competitive festival that accepts feature and short screenplays, teleplays, and screens more than 120 international cutting edge film premiers making it one of the Mid-Atlantic's largest international competitive festivals. RIFF provides six days of industry panels, Q&As, industry mixers, live music performances, the FLOW Creative & Pitch Conference, and entertainment mixers that bring the spirit of Hollywood to beautiful Richmond, Virginia at the Bowtie Criterion/Movieland and the historic Byrd Theatre.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 12/21/2018 (expired)
MISSION: To provide industry exposure and support to feature screenwriters who are looking to have their stories told. FEEDBACK: We believe that writers need feedback to improve, which is why every single entry receives FREE FEEDBACK PROMISE: We promise to give all scripts two rounds of scores and there will be a total of six rounds of scores to ensure fairness and transparency.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 11/15/2018 (expired)
Created by Dr. Ted Baehr, founder, publisher and executive producer of MOVIEGUIDE® and founder and chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission, and Dr. Jack Templeton, the primary purpose of the prize is to further the influence of moral and spiritual values within the film and television industries. Seeking to promote a spiritually uplifting, redemptive worldview, MOVIEGUIDE® announces the Kairos Prize that will help inspire first-time and beginning screenwriters to produce compelling, entertaining, spiritually uplifting scripts that result in a greater increase in either man’s love or understanding of God.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 03/31/2019
"100 Screenplays" is a unique contest brought to you by "Screenplay Festival," one of the longest running and highest rated screenplay competitions on MovieBytes. We accept one hundred scripts into each contest, and quickly get the results to you. "!00 Screenplays" is a fast, targeted screenplay contest where every writer who enters goes in knowing exactly how many scripts will be in the competition, and every writer knows that there will be results less than a month after the contest closes.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 03/31/2019
Whether you’re writing a contained science fiction drama or an epic fantasy saga, we want to read your feature film script. The jury is out of this world — with judges who love sci-fi movies — from top companies including 20th Century Fox, Sony and Lionsgate! Don’t miss the industry’s #1 sci-fi & fantasy feature screenplay contest.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 08/01/2018 (expired)
Awards Ceremony at a Film Festival! Screenplay Festival winners get that rarest of experiences for a writer; applause from an audience. Our winners get to come out from behind the keyboard and be celebrated! Now Accepting Television Scripts! The writers spoke, and we listened. We have now added four categories to our contest for television scripts.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 01/20/2019 (expired)
The BlueCat Screenplay Competition, now in its 21st year, is accepting submissions for its 2019 competition. Founded in 1998 by award-winning writer Gordy Hoffman, BlueCat has supported thousands of screenwriters through written analysis provided to all entrants, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the film and television industry.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 07/27/2018 (expired)
The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging writing talent. We welcome screenplays in every genre, on any topic, from anywhere in the world. A unique feature of the competition is providing constructive feedback for every entrant. In addition to this, we also offer a more intensive coverage service for a supplementary fee.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 05/30/2019
To help launch the careers of undiscovered screenwriters and give unprecedented access to studio-level executives.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 06/01/2018 (expired)
Whether you have a romantic comedy or an action-comedy blockbuster, we want to read your script. Our jury is looking for funny feature film screenplays with strong command of the craft, lots of heart and fresh comedic voices. All entries are eligible for optional feedback from a studio-trained professional reader. Our judges are some of the top comedy producers in the industry!
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 07/30/2017 (expired)
The Contest Of Contest Winners joined the 2016 Sunscreen Film Festival (Florida/Los Angeles) to bring increased visibility and networking opportunities to winners! And this year 2017 the festivals and the contest will be putting writers with filmmakers in new ways!! There are hundreds of screenwriting competitions, but which screenplay from among the winners of all of these quality competitions is the best of the best? The Contest of Contest Winners (CCW) answers that question and shines the spotlight on many accomplished, award-winning screenplays in what amounts to a definitive last review of the elite.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 02/28/2019
Introducing the Emerging Screenwriters SHOOT YOUR SIZZLE Competition Brought to you by the International Screenwriters’ Association Not only does this contest catapult you right onto the ISA Development Slate, but you’ll receive over $25,000 in funds, equipment and the support you need to shoot a proof of concept, otherwise known as a sizzle reel.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 04/10/2019
Creative World Awards (CWA) is an international screenwriting contest that is well known for having the writer's interest at heart when it comes to development and industry promotion. Production: CWA brings an exciting production opportunity to the Grand Prize Winner. This year’s winner will have a short version of their script produced by The MIX, and the film will then get a guaranteed premiere at the Richmond International Film Festival.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 11/11/2018 (expired)
Open to writers of all levels and backgrounds, the StoryPros International's objective is to recognize, support and promote your work with financial rewards, software and services -- as well as providing an open door to industry professionals with guaranteed reads and promotion to our network of contacts. Past entrants and winners have gone on to representation, options, assignments and sales.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 05/11/2018 (expired)
To find the best GENRE scripts. Genre scripts are bought and produced more than 10 to 1 over the serious drama, tentpole or quirky scripts that usually win screenplay contests. This contest pits genre scripts only against scripts within their genre, and seeks to identify and promote to the industry the very best in each genre -- in other words, the scripts with the very best chances in the marketplace.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 04/05/2019
The Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition leverages one of the oldest and largest film festivals in the U.S. Each year, NashFilm draws hundreds of filmmakers, musicians and industry to ten days of films, panels, red carpet events, live music showcases and parties. NashFilm is an Academy® Award Qualifying Festival in three short film categories.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 07/17/2018 (expired)
Big Break is an annual, international feature and television screenwriting contest designed to launch the careers of aspiring writers. Big Break rewards screenwriters with over $80,000 in cash and prizes, including a trip to Los Angeles for a series of A-list executive meetings. Winners and finalists alike have had their screenplays optioned and produced and have secured high-profile representation as well as lucrative writing deals.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 10/16/2018 (expired)
We don't offer any of the usual screenplay contest smoke and mirrors. No coverage from someone being paid $10 per script (please ask Mom). No cash (please ask Grandma) or writing clinics from gurus who have never sold a screenplay (Dad?). What our winners do receive is: INDUSTRY ACCESS AND INDUSTRY READS.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 11/07/2018 (expired)
Since 2009, Fresh Voices has distinguished itself as a screenplay competition designed to discover, empower and promote the next generation of storytellers, writers and filmmakers. As the name would suggest, Fresh Voices has done this by identifying writer's with a unique and memorable voice that demands to be read. Now in our ninth year, we have helped guide dozens of talented screenwriters to secure literary representation, option agreements and other work-for-hire writing assignments that have been the stepping stones to significant careers Will you be Hollywood's next success story? Enter now and let your voice be heard!
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 09/01/2018 (expired)
The mission of the American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest is to find and promote new and innovative voices in cinema. Every script is read closely by a select handful of professional readers, and Francis Ford Coppola selects a grand prize–winner from among the top ten finalists. The grand prize–winner receives a cash prize, and the scripts of all top ten finalists are sent by Zoetrope to leading production companies and talent agencies for consideration.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 09/26/2018 (expired)
Stage 32's screenwriting contests have gained a reputation as some of the "most worthwhile screenwriting contests to enter." The reason for this is simple: We provide unparalleled access to industry executives and work directly with our winning writers in an never ending quest to help them find success.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 04/22/2019
Our intention is to help open doors for the aspiring television writer. There are four categories you can submit to, which include 1 hour existing spec scripts, 1/2 hour existing sitcom spec scripts, original pilots, and reality programs. This competition is designed with the TV writer and crossover screenwriter in mind. The participants we have chosen to read the winning scripts are individuals from established production companies.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: Monthly.
WILDsound Monthly Screenplay Festival offers screenwriters at all levels the fantastic opportunity of hearing their scripts read out loud using Top Professional Actors and seen by 10000s of people online, including producers and agents. At least 5 winning readings done every single month. Click the website info and watch the winning videos.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 08/31/2019
OUR FOCUS IS TO DISCOVER THE BEST NEW SCREENWRITING TALENT FROM AROUND THE WORLD How do we do that? 36 Oscar, Golden Globe, EMMY & BAFTA Winning Judges will read the final round of submissions. 100+ Production Companies, Agents & Managers are signed up to read each year’s best scripts. 50+ Directors are on our roster to read the best Feature screenplays.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: Ongoing - submit anytime.
Submit a TV SPEC SCREENPLAY or ORIGINAL TV PILOT (monthly deadlines) and get the chance to see your script read out loud at our Screenplay Festival using professional actors. Shown online on the YouTube channel that garners 1000s of views. CLICK the website link for examples of past winners. A great way to get your words out there and obtain the Agent you're looking for or just get your script seen by more people.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 06/15/2019
Screamfest was formed in order to give filmmakers and writers in the horror/sci-fi genres a venue to have their work showcased to people in the industry. We are very proud that the majority of the films showcased now have distribution. Writers have garnered representation due to the festival.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 08/04/2018 (expired)
The Action on Film 14h Annual Film Festival celebrates and honors WRITERS of all genres and formats like no other festival does. Now in our 13th year, our Film Festival has garnered a solid reputation as being one of the premier Writing competitions. The AOF has created a solid community of Filmmakers and Writers from around the globe. Always looking to embrace and recognize writers, AOF is on the cutting edge looking to create a vehicle for our writers to be seen and honored.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 01/20/2019 (expired)
DEADLINE EXTENSION - NOW OPEN UNTIL 01/20/2019! With an increased Grand Prize, discounted prices on our script report services, and more, enter our Winter 2019 Screenwriting Contest to win a major breakthrough in your writing career: Our Grand Prize is now $2500, up from $2000! A year of free script development worth up to $3200 Guaranteed pitching to industry Exclusive prizes from InkTip Get free entry to the contest when you commission a script report – discounted prices until January 13th! Through our exclusive arrangement with TALENTSCOUT INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT (TSIM) we can guarantee the contest winner representation.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 07/12/2018 (expired)
GRAND PRIZE WINNING EMERGING SCREENWRITER Receives CASH ISA DEVELOPMENT SLATE INVITATION SCRIPT READS BY INDUSTRY REPS Our goal is to help you, the emerging screenwriter develop as a storyteller, show off your talents to industry, and provide you with a cash prize to help propel you along in your screenwriting career. The new season of the Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Competition is proud to announce that the Grand Prize Winning screenplay is guaranteed to be read by literary managers and executives! You will also receive an invitation into the ISA Development Slate, where the team will work with you to further package and champion your winning script to more industry execs for a full year! 8 writers have signed option agreements or signed with an agency in the past 18 months.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: Monthly.
FULL FEEDBACK on the first moments of your screenplay from our committee of Professional Screenwriters, Production Heads and Script Consultants. Are you just starting off your screenplay and want immediate feedback on your first scenes/first moments of your script?
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 07/15/2019
To discover and honor the new voices of independent film. Screenplays will be judged on creativity, innovation, vision, originality and the use of language. The key element is that of communication and how it complements and is transformed by the language of film.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
To assist the aspiring screenwriter in realizing his/her dream of becoming a professional screenwriter. To eliminate industry chokepoints that stifle creativity and impede screenplay access to managers,agents & producers.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 07/31/2018 (expired)
To make Hollywood more accessible than ever before to more aspiring screenwriters, Filmmakers.com is forming strategic alliances with the powers that be... Championing Emerging Artists. FilmMakers International Screenwriting Awards has been in existence since 2000 (formerly known as The Radmin Company / FilmMakers.com Screenplay Contest) and its association with the Radmin Company has been going on since late 2000.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 07/31/2018 (expired)
To promote and support new talent by creating real and original opportunities.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 12/21/2018 (expired)
$15,000 in Cash Prizes. $10,000 1st Place Cash Prize for Feature screenplays! The Vail Film Institute launched the Vail Film Festival Screenplay Competition in order to find and foster the next generation of the film world's most innovative and creative screenwriters. With the realization that every great film needs a great story, the festival is dedicated to supporting talented screenwriters by utilizing the resources of the Vail Film Festival to foster the winning screenwriters through networking opportunities, and film industry access.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 07/10/2019
CALL FOR ENTRIES! Shriekfest, the Los Angeles Horror/SciFi Film Festival continues its tradition as Los Angeles' Premier horror film event, presenting an exciting program of films each fall with beautiful Los Angeles as its backdrop. Now, in its 19th year, Shriekfest takes place at the legendary Raleigh Studios, which is the largest independent studio operator in the country.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
The Oaxaca FilmFest Screenwriter Competition Is Now Accepting Submissions. The international film festival was founded in the City of Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico, in 2010 and is a uniquely successful collaboration between the private and public sector. The festival has Grown to be one of the Largest International Film Festivals in Latin America and part of this success is due to the Festival's creation of a highly competitive screen writing competition.
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: 08/31/2018 (expired)
The Cynosure Screenwriting Awards seek to expand the scope of mainstream cinema by recognizing and rewarding screenplays in two distinct categories: screenplays which feature compelling female protagonists; and screenplays that showcase diversity (ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, disability, etc.).
Significance rating:
Final Deadline: Last Day of any calender month
We pick the best and most marketable (in our opinion of course) CLIENT SCRIPT and announce it with shameless prominence on the MAIN page of our web site. Our winner will also be invited to POST their log line, link and even a scene or two (if you so choose) from your winning work to which we’ll add our GLOWING REVIEW and convert the whole thing into professional “COVERAGE” (FOR FREE) which can be used for submission purposes as well as being POSTED on our site.
Significance rating:
