The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is dedicated to discovering and nurturing emerging screenwriters. Since 1995, the competition has established a strong track record for introducing writers to members of the entertainment industry who have gone on to produce, option and represent submitted work. Like the Film Festival, the Screenplay Competition is a place for new, bold, and raw voices. We are looking for scripts that take risks, refuse compromise, and go places where Hollywood hacks fear to tread.

This year, in addition to our regular prizes, we are introducing the inaugural Slamdance Screenplay Mentorship Award. Slamdance loves finding diamonds in the rough. We read many amazing scripts that— with some polish and finishing—could be finalist contenders and stand a better chance of getting produced. Show More

The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is dedicated to discovering and nurturing emerging screenwriters. Since 1995, the competition has established a strong track record for introducing writers to members of the entertainment industry who have gone on to produce, option and represent submitted work. Like the Film Festival, the Screenplay Competition is a place for new, bold, and raw voices. We are looking for scripts that take risks, refuse compromise, and go places where Hollywood hacks fear to tread.

This year, in addition to our regular prizes, we are introducing the inaugural Slamdance Screenplay Mentorship Award. Slamdance loves finding diamonds in the rough. We read many amazing scripts that— with some polish and finishing—could be finalist contenders and stand a better chance of getting produced. We think it's time to step up and take action on often-heard reader comments like "if only the writer made another pass, cut down 10 pages, fixed a few holes...it'd be a script to die for!" That's why we have decided to launch the Slamdance Screenplay Mentorship Award. In addition to awarding the best screenplays submitted to Slamdance, our readers will nominate unique scripts that, with a little more development and support from a team of alumni, could turn into production ready ventures. From these nominations, we will select the inaugural 2021 Mentorship Award winner who will receive personal mentorship through Slamdance's alumni network and screenwriting consultants.