Screenwriting Contests that focus specifically on the sci-fi genre, or that offer a special award for sci-fi scripts.
Subscribe to the MovieBytes Screenwriting Contest Newsletter for weekly screenplay contest deadline alerts!
Final Deadline: 12/31/2019
The Oregon Short Film Festival is a showcase of independent short films from around the world. We accept short screenplays of all genres that are 40 pages or less. Action Comedy Dark Comedy Drama Experimental Family Fantasy Horror Romantic Comedy Science Fiction
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 01/04/2020
Breaking Walls is a contest for thriller screenplays with contacts at established Hollywood literary representation and production companies who have agreed to consider the full winning script and the top finalists' loglines. Well-written thrillers are always an excellent way for writers to show Hollywood pros a combination of commerciality, unique voice, and a clear understanding of effective feature film narrative.
Overall rating: 
Final Deadline: 03/08/2020
The International Horror Hotel fosters creativity within genre writers and filmmakers, providing a platform for them to share their work and gain recognition. Our main focus is in connecting those working within the horror (and sub-genre) community, helping them to expand their network and gain contacts to strengthen their work. The 2020 festival will be held June 11th-14th at Mentor Holiday Inn - 20 minutes from downtown Cleveland (OH).
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 03/31/2020
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 the options of a short version of their script being produced by The MIX, and the film will then get a guaranteed premiere at the Richmond International Film Festival.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 05/15/2020
To recognize excellence in screenwriting of shorts and features in a wide variety of genres.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 08/31/2020
Introducing Season 2 / 2020 of “Your Script Produced!” International Film / TV / Short Film Screenwriting Competition sponsored by Doval Bacall Films. The sponsor will fully finance, develop, package and produce the Grand Prize Winning Feature Script for $250,000.00. We've raised the stakes! Season 2 will accept Features, TV Scripts, AND SHORT FILM SCRIPTS! Winners will be promoted in the Variety Magazine and/or THR! Grand Prize winners can direct their own script! (Feature grand prize winner must have valid experience and approved by our sponsor.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 09/20/2020
We like "quirky" scifi and fantasy characters including monsters, aliens, space invaders, body snatchers and zombies. We like space-related fantasies along the lines of Gravity (2013) and Daniel Espinosa's Life (2017). We like SciFi Thrillers like The Thirteenth Floor (1999). We would love to showcase your expose similar to Peter Hyams' Capricorn One, a 1977 government conspiracy thriller film about a Mars landing hoax.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
IFFF builds a peaceful global family through the discovery and sharing of quality stories by emerging artists and productions companies.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
Contest founded in 1988 to provide an opportunity to compete with talent from around the world. The 42nd Annual WorldFest offers Cash Awards, Special Screenplay Master Classes, significant mentoring and project development opportunities during the ten-day festival. More than 550 international filmmakers and writers attend each year. All Remi Nominees receive VIP Gold All Access Passes to the Festival and the Master Classes (A $800 value).
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 05/15/2019 (expired)
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.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 07/23/2019 (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.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 07/31/2019 (expired)
To make Hollywood more accessible than ever before to more aspiring global screenwriters, Filmmakers is forming strategic alliances with the powers that be in Film and TV Script Writing; who are in search of top Screenplays & Writers... Filmmakers Championing Emerging Artists. FilmMakers International Screenwriting Awards has been in existence since 2000 (formerly known as The Radmin Company / FilmMakers.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 08/30/2019 (expired)
The objective of the Moondance International Film Festival is to inspire, motivate, promote and encourage the best writers & independent filmmakers, from every country in the world, and to inspire a greater understanding about the vital role of the arts in enhancing creativity, community spirit, and the preservation of our cultural heritage.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 06/15/2019 (expired)
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.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 07/10/2019 (expired)
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.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 05/15/2019 (expired)
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.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
The Eerie Horror Screenplay Competition offers beginning, aspiring and veteran screenwriters in the horror genre a chance to have their work recognized by people in the industry and beyond and to provide recognition and exposure for screenwriters in the horror, science fiction and suspense genres. The finalists and top 3 winning screenplays will be announced on all Eerie Horror Film Festival websites and winner's information will be forwarded to industry professionals for consideration.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 12/17/2018 (expired)
To discover the best un-produced short screenplays by talented writers and present their work to LEADING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 09/17/2018 (expired)
Each script must be written in the same genre and style that would have been suitable to conform with episodes for either THE TWILIGHT ZONE or NIGHT GALLERY. More specifically this means displaying traits of either a horror or a science fiction genre, while exhibiting strong traditional or contemporary social themes. Serling taught at Ithaca College from 1967 until his death in 1975.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 04/30/2019 (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.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
Zed Fest was formed to acknowledge and encourage new independent filmmakers and screenwriters. We noticed that there are a lot of talented and promising filmmakers and screenwriters that tend to get snubbed by other festivals and competitions simply because they are low budget or less polished. We want to give them the recognition that they deserve and try to help them build upon their abilities.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 11/07/2019 (expired)
Since 2009, Fresh Voices has been proud to provide a microphone to exciting new voices that deserve to be heard and memorable stories that must be told. Now celebrating our big 10th Annual Screenplay Competition, we are grateful to have had the opportunity to help guide dozens of talented writers to secure literary representation, option agreements and other writing assignments, providing the stepping stones and advancing the careers of many of our winning writers.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 06/27/2019 (expired)
Emerging Screenwriter Award Winner (Selected from 7 Genre Award Winners) ISA Development Slate Invitation 1 Year ISAConnect with access to Writing Gigs and Industry Pros Accepted Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Historical/Bio, Horror/Thriller, Mystery/Crime, Sci Fi/Fantasy Our goal is to help you, the emerging screenwriter develop as a storyteller, show off your talents to the industry, and provide you with a cash prize to propel you along in your screenwriting career.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
The New York Screenplay Contest is a global screenwriting contest designed to launch careers and provide recognition and network opportunities to the world's best new voices in screenwriting for film and television. The New York Screenplay Contest awards its winners with cash, prizes, sponsorship packages, and meetings with leading industry professionals.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
The Roswell International Sci-Fi Film Festival and Digital-shootout (RISF) is looking for your short scripts to make into a movie. The RISF 2013 Digital Film Shoot-Out is the only filmmaking experience dedicated to bringing a screenwriters vision from “script to screen” in one week. The RISF Digital Film Shoot-Out will provide crew and equipment (A $50,000 dollar value) to five filmmakers who have the opportunity to direct their winning short that will screen at the RISF Digital Film Gala at the end of the week! This is a non-union, non-pay opportunity, but the RISF committee will be provided lodging, on-set meals, IMDB credit and “significant exposure” at the international film festival.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 11/01/2019 (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.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 10/30/2019 (expired)
To discover innovative, marketable, high-concept projects for studio-level development, including feature screenplays, TV material, and media content.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 04/05/2019 (expired)
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.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
Do you have an unproduced screenplay? Is it genre based? Then let’s have a look! We’re looking for FEATURE screenplays in this submission category, and those that are based in Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or Horror. No time for romantic comedies here… unless they involve alien love. Then we're digging it.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
The Golden Blasters (The National Irish Science Fiction Film Awards) is a film festival dedicated to short science fiction, fantasy and horror stories. We aim to bring the best speculative fiction around and expose more people to the wonderful art of the short film.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
Screenplays must be feature length no less than 80 pages and no more than 120 pages. All screenplays must be written in English. Screenplays should be in 12 point Courier font and pages must be numbered. Only online PDF submissions will be accepted. Any revisions after submission will not be accepted. Genres may only be HORROR SCI-FI ACTION SUSPENSE
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 07/31/2019 (expired)
To make Hollywood more accessible than ever before to more aspiring screenwriters, 1st TV Script Writing Competition is forming strategic alliances with the powers that be in Film & TV, who are on the lookout for exceptional talent and TV scripts. The 1st TV Script Writing Competition is presented by FilmMakers Magazine. It wasn't that long ago that for a writer to get discovered he or she had to reside in or around Hollywood.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 09/30/2018 (expired)
The universe is an infinite expanse of limitless possibility, teeming with unknown worlds and untold stories. The blank page opens, a white inexhaustible void, punctuated only by the monolithic black cursor. What wonders lie in its indefinable depths? Other Worlds is dedicated to fostering and promoting creativity in Science Fiction at every stage of development, so we are proud to announce our annual SciFi Screenwriting Contest is now currently open and accepting submissions! The contest runs concurrently with the film program, and will award prizes for the top feature, short or teleplay.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 03/31/2019 (expired)
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.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
The intent of MiSciFi is to showcase the best in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Comedy, and other imaginatively-themed films from around the world. This celebration is set in the trendy and progressively global megalopolis of Miami Florida. Our creative and inspirational environment is ideal to explore films that ponder the infinite possibilities our multiverse holds.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 07/12/2018 (expired)
GenreBlast is an international independent genre film festival coming to you from the awesome Alamo Drafthouse Winchester in beautiful Winchester, VA! GB3 will happen Sept. 6-9, 2018 and will feature the best of truly independent films from around the world - specializing in action, horror, sc-fi, fantasy, martial arts, grindhouse, exploitation, Korean thrillers, Japanese gangster flicks, Chinese action movies, French horror, midnight movies, shoestring budget weird cinema, and everything under the sun! We really welcome all genres of interesting, original, exciting and daring moviemaking! All countries and walks of life are welcome here! We also have a fantastic screenplay contest that is growing larger every year! In our third year, we will really highlight screenwriters by hosting a screenwriting seminar and even having live script readings with professional actors! Our discussion panels at GenreBlast 2 were a big hit and we're bringing them back again for the threequel! Raw, uncensored real talk about indie filmmaking, gender bias, distribution, criticism, and much more will come your way from the mouths of some of the best indie talent out there! After-parties, lively conversation, networking galore, TONS of movies, informative Q&A's and the chance to make new lifelong industry friends - all nestled in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley hamlet of Winchester, VA! Your movie will be shown in front of a lively, enthusiastic crowd of cinephiles and industry peers that don't walk around with their heads up their asses 24/7! What a refreshing way to attend a film fest! Come September, you'll wish you were at GenreBlast! #alltheflavors
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
The Screenwriters Capital is based in Greater Sacramento. We are looking for talented screenwriters near and far to help great aspiring writers realize their dreams. We look forward to reading your scripts and wish you luck!
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: Contact contest for deadline info.
We are accepting Feature Screenplay and Short Script entries worthy of the title: 'Best Horror', 'Best Sci-Fi' and 'Best Thriller'.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 05/01/2019 (expired)
Past Winners/Finalists working with Good Fear + Film Management, Baker Entertainment Group, Wonder Woman producer Stephen Jones, talent agent Shawn Burns, producer Mitchell Peck and more! Thanks to the plethora of streaming options and a renewed interest in the genres, fantasy and sci-fi films have never been hotter. More and more production companies, managers, and agents are looking for writers working with fantasy and sci-fi ideas.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 06/30/2019 (expired)
Script Summit is a festival dedicated to supporting screenwriters. You will have the opportunity to connect with directors, producers, and other writers at the Script Summit Networking Event. The Summit also hosts Q&A panels, seminars, table reads of selected scripts, an awards dinner, and over $1,500 in cash prizes! We are very excited to announce that we have partnered with the famous Action on Film MEGAfest! This allows all of our writers with officially selected scripts, the chance to attend the AoF.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 06/05/2019 (expired)
Tired of being overlooked by fests? Searching for one that truly celebrates independent work and the dedication it requires? Then you've found the right place! While Hollywood keeps regurgitating the same junk over and over, indie filmmakers strive to do something different. Something original. They may not always be successful but at least they tried.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 10/31/2019 (expired)
Filmmatic coined a slogan, "Hidden screenplays never get produced". As writers, we spend a lot of our precious time crafting unique scripts, yet we hardly ever employ an equal level of passion when attempting to get our work into the "right hands". The exposure and prestige one can gain from placing or winning a screenplay competition is invaluable, but what do you say this time around we also get you PITCHING! Let's get proactive, let's pick a production company that makes sense for our project, tell them we were a Pitch Now Finalist or Winner, and get them to review our work, now not later ;) All 100 finalists will be able to pitch to a studio or production company of their choice via Virtual Pitch Fest! The competition is open to feature-length and short works, screenplays and teleplays.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 05/15/2019 (expired)
This competition honors emerging screenwriters from around the world with feature length screenplays worthy of production regardless of gender, race, religion or nationality.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 07/01/2018 (expired)
A FutureFemme is someone who doesn’t ask for permission. A FutureFemme doesn’t need anyone to open doors for her. A FutureFemme ignores an irrelevant establishment. A FutureFemme knows her worth, her value, and her goals. A FutureFemme doesn’t take no for an answer. A FutureFemme creates iconic, inspirational content on no one’s terms but her own.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 02/28/2019 (expired)
Part workshop and part contest, we’re searching for undiscovered writers interested in honing their skills across various mediums. The ideal writer has a unique, creative, innovative, and specific voice, as well as a collaborative spirit. While this contest is specifically geared toward audio dramas, we're looking to establish relationships with the next generation of writers interested in building a career in the entertainment field.
Overall rating:
Final Deadline: 09/20/2019 (expired)
The Filmmatic TV Pilot Awards were created to locate and expose up-and-coming TV and web-series writers, as well as to empower and educate passionate and talented screenwriters still waiting for their invitation into the mainstream industry. Competition is open to TV pilots, webisodes and inventive TV-series scripts of all genres. Season 4 results will post by November 15, 2019.
Overall rating:
