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A list of upcoming screenplay contests, rated by screenwriters and sorted by deadline. Find the best contest for your screenplay or television script.
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Final Deadline: 04/29/2018
The True Story Screenplay Competition recognizes and showcases true story feature screenplays and television scripts, and provides opportunities for writers to showcase their projects to development executives, producers, agents, and managers. ALL SCRIPT ENTRIES RECEIVE... SCRIPT SHOWCASE A custom project page on the website to showcase your script to development executives, producers, managers and agents.
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Final Deadline: 04/30/2018
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.
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Final Deadline: 04/30/2018
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.
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Final Deadline: 04/30/2018
To shine a spotlight on new, fresh voices writing for television. "I entered my spec script EXTANT in the pilot contest because I'd heard so much about TrackingB and its reputation for helping writers reach the holy grail of representation. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that eight months later I'd be in production, going straight to series on CBS.
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Final Deadline: 05/01/2018
To identify and encourage talented new screenwriters.
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Final Deadline: 05/01/2018
The focus of this eight month program is on opening doors: providing opportunities to build relationships with network executives and show runners; to support new and emerging writers in their efforts to improve their craft; and to develop the interpersonal skills necessary to break in and succeed. The Writers Mentoring Program is not employment and there is no monetary compensation.
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Final Deadline: 05/02/2018
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A PRODUCED SCREENWRITER We will be commissioning at least one short film with A budget up to $15,000 (£10,930). Minimum budget of $9000 (£6550) Plus, the winner will receive a Free Pass to the Edinburgh Short Film Festival. A CALLING CARD All of our Judges, Production Companies & Agents will be sent the final film.
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Final Deadline: 05/08/2018
To recognize excellence in screenwriting of shorts and features in a wide variety of genres.
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Final Deadline: 05/12/2018
To introduce writers to the decision makers of traditional broadcast television, the cable market, and multi-media outlets. Competition winners will have the chance to get their material read by experienced production companies.
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Final Deadline: 05/12/2018
To introduce writers to the decision makers in film and multimedia markets. Top script receives $1,000 and ALL competition winners and finalists will earn the chance to have their scripts read by established production companies and agents.
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Final Deadline: 05/15/2018
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.
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Final Deadline: 05/15/2018
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.
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Final Deadline: 05/15/2018
As Austin Film Festival continues to grow and expand, our vision also widens with the addition of new avenues for storytellers. In 2017 we introduced the inaugural Playwriting Competition. It is open to full-length stage plays and gives playwrights a chance to explore our film and television conference. It will also allow film professionals to discover storytellers who have mastered the art and craft of stage drama.
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Final Deadline: 05/15/2018
Scriptition Screenplay is dedicated to discovering new talent by increasing exposure for unproduced short film and feature narrative screenplays.
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Final Deadline: 05/17/2018
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.
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Final Deadline: 05/19/2018
The ONLY screenplay competition focused exclusively on adapted material. The Adapted Screenplay Competition recognizes and showcases adapted feature and television scripts in ALL genres, and provides opportunities for writers to showcase their projects to industry executives, producers, agents, and managers. ALL SCRIPT ENTRIES RECEIVE.
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Final Deadline: 05/20/2018
To help launch the careers of undiscovered screenwriters and give unprecedented access to studio-level executives.
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Final Deadline: 05/20/2018
The Script Pipeline TV Writing Contest has a single goal: to find the next extraordinary television writer. The talent level has risen dramatically in recent contest seasons, as a fast-growing community of aspiring TV writers have proven their skills with both specs and original pilots.
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Final Deadline: 05/24/2018
The Paris Art and Movie Awards is the leading independent film festival in Paris. The « PAMA » has been ranked, as soon as its second year, the second festival not to miss in Paris, by The Culture Trip Magazine. It is also listed in the TOP 100 film festivals in the world by the leading platform FilmFreeway. We accept short films and feature, in a wide range of categories.
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Final Deadline: 05/25/2018
HollyShorts Film Festival (HSFF) is an annual short film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films and short screenplays from around the globe. The festival showcases the top short films produced 40 minutes or less and is looking for the best short screenplays 20 pages or less.
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Final Deadline: 05/31/2018
For over 30 years, the Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop has been the premier writing program for new writers looking to start and further their career in the world of television. The list of graduates who have gone on to do great things is long: Terrance Winter (Boardwalk Empire), Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives), Greg Garcia (My Name Is Earl) and Felicia Henderson (Soul Food) to name a few.
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Final Deadline: 05/31/2018
Writers on the Verge is a 12-week program focused on polishing writers and readying them for a staff writer position on a television series. We are looking for writers who are “almost there” but need that final bit of preparation with their writing and personal presentation skills. We particularly encourage writers of diverse backgrounds to apply.
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Final Deadline: 05/31/2018
The LAUNCH is a Million Dollar Screenplay Competition for college students with the mission to inspire the next generation of great screenwriters. The LAUNCH will enable one talented screenwriter to realize their dream by having their screenplay made by Hollywood producers as a feature film, with a budget of at least $1,000,000 USD. If you’re a college student anywhere in the world currently enrolled in an accredited two-year, four-year college/university and/or graduate program and have written a feature film you think is great, The LAUNCH wants to read it! You can submit your screenplay for the early submission fee of only $20 USD and every one submitted will receive professional feedback from experienced industry screenplay readers, along with an opportunity to purchase a one-year digital subscription to Variety Premier at a huge discount (save $100 off the $129 subscription price).
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Final Deadline: 06/01/2018
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!
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Final Deadline: 06/07/2018
Grand Prizes: Up to $1 million in option monies from the producers & studios we work with. If an established studio/production company makes an offer on your project, we will fly you to Los Angeles and cover your flight & hotel costs for three days. Through our exclusive arrangement with TALENTSCOUT INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT (TSIM) we can guarantee the contest winner representation.
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Final Deadline: 06/07/2018
We are a team of Canadian artists and industry professionals who are passionate about film and passionate about nurturing, developing, and supporting the next generation of filmmakers and screenwriters from Toronto and around the world. Our mission is to forge a screenwriting competition that will launch the careers of cinema’s next generation of writers and filmmakers.
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Final Deadline: 06/07/2018
Mission: Faith in Film is dedicated to forging a screenwriting competition that will launch the careers of filmmakers focused on adding the element of faith to their films and facilitate established filmmakers in transitioning into making more faith films. Our aim is to build a festival that will introduce faith based films to mass audiences, ultimately, giving them the same multi platform release schedules and revenue streams that traditional studio films and high end independent films enjoy; and to inspire, showcase, support, and develop filmmakers of all faith’s to make great faith based films that leave others touched, moved and inspired; and filmmakers and distributors empowered to make and distribute more faith and family films.
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Final Deadline: 06/07/2018
We love New York and we love film! We especially loves films shot, set, about, or written and produced and starring New Yorkers! And by New Yorker, we mean New Yorkers from the State, the City, and around the world. Even New Yorkers who haven’t made it here yet. We love you all. (And no, you don’t have to be from here to submit your scripts). We are a passionate group of entertainment professionals who care deeply about nurturing, developing, and furthering the careers of the next generation of New York City filmmakers and screenwriters from the U.
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Final Deadline: 06/07/2018
We are a team of artists, writers, directors, and producers that want nothing more than to support the next generation of filmmakers and screenwriters from around the world. Specifically, those storytellers that passionate about telling stories about our communities in the U.S. and abroad, from inner city Atlanta, LA, New York, Oakland, Detroit, Chicago, and Milwaukee to Africa, Brazil, and the Caribbean, to Wall Street and the streets of London to the NBA.
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Final Deadline: 06/07/2018
THE LATINO SCREENWRITING COMPETITION is designed to inspire and empower emerging Latino writers and producers, and any storyteller looking to tell great stories about our varied communities. We are a team of writers, directors, producers, and executives who are passionate about cinema and dedicated to the success of the next generation of talented Latino filmmakers from all over North and South America.
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Final Deadline: 06/07/2018
As one of the few screenwriting competitions for the LGBTQ community, our aim is to discover and recognize the best emerging talent and most original voices from our community in film and television writing from around the world. We are proud to be LGBTQ and even prouder to support the LGBTQ community. Members from our community have long been known for being the best artists in the world and we want to not only recognize them for that, but to support them in being talented as well as a member of our community.
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Final Deadline: 06/15/2018
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.
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Final Deadline: 06/23/2018
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.
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Final Deadline: 06/26/2018
The Capital Fund Screenplay Competition, now in its fourth year of successes, where your scripts are read direct by investors that buy projects and fund films at the studio level domestically and abroad.
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Final Deadline: 06/26/2018
After our inaugural Sci-Fi and Fantasy Contest resulted in our winners getting optioned and commissioned to write scripts for major producers, we are excited to bring back this highly popular screenwriting contest! We are on the hunt for our most talented writers bringing us mystical, magical and intergalactic worlds. As with all our writing contests, we aim to provide you with the tools and resources needed to excel in this industry and grow as a professional.
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Final Deadline: 06/29/2018
Whether you’re writing an epic Thriller or contained Horror, our Hollywood judges have produced some of the most successful horror and thriller films of the last decade. Get your screenplay to these judges and launch your career!
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Final Deadline: 06/30/2018
Season 3: The FILMMATIC Screenplay Awards were created to locate and expose up-and-coming screenwriters, as well as to empower and educate those talented writers still waiting for their invitation to the mainstream industry. The Filmmatic Screenplay Competiton is open to short and feature-length works, screenplays and pilots. 10 Categorical Winners, 1 Overall Winner, and 100 Finalists will be announced at the conclusion of the competition You've worked hard on your screenplay, and our staff and Judges are excited to read your work.
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Final Deadline: 06/30/2018
Now accepting Features, Shorts, Pilots and Docs! Every 6 months, at least one filmmaker will be awarded this production grant of up to $30,000 in production funds. We announce the winner(s) 6 weeks after each final deadline. We are accepting applications from around the world (in English). Whether you have a simple screenplay or a film, pilot or documentary that’s already in production, we want to consider your short screenplay or in-production short film project.
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Final Deadline: 06/30/2018
The NY CIFF CHAUTAUQUA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is an IMDb CERTIFIED FESTIVAL! All current and past winners can now record their awards. Each yearly festival is divided into two sessions of 5 months each.
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Final Deadline: 06/30/2018
If instead of making a film, you've created an episodic series (aka, a TV show) and you want to showcase it to TV executives, agents and producers you have limited options. There are a thousand film festivals but they don't accept episodic shows. So where do you take your series to be seen? You take it to ITVFest. ITVFest (the Independent Television Festival) is a worldwide community of television creators, executives, agents and fans responsible for discovering the best new television programs created on independent (aka, non-network) budgets.
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Final Deadline: 07/01/2018
To discover and encourage both new and long committed screenwriters. Our mission is to take the winning writer's vision from screenplay to screen!
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Final Deadline: 07/09/2018
The fellowship program was developed to honor dedicated writers and to help further their creative process and skills. Writing in itself is a journey and we would like to facilitate the process by giving the fellows the opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded professionals and individuals. Application Requirements: Completed application and fee.
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Final Deadline: 07/10/2018
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 17th year, Shriekfest takes place at the legendary Raleigh Studios, which is the largest independent studio operator in the country.
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Final Deadline: 07/10/2018
One of the best ways to get your screenplay noticed by Hollywood! While it’s no secret that Hollywood loves remakes, sequels and spinoffs, it’s perhaps lesser known that Hollywood loves movies based on free intellectual property in the public domain, such as folk tales, fairy tales, mythology and books and plays published before 1923. For example, folk tales, mythology, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes, Charles Dickens, famous historical figures – and the list goes on.
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Final Deadline: 07/12/2018
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
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Final Deadline: 07/17/2018
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.
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Final Deadline: 07/18/2018
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.
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Final Deadline: 07/20/2018
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 Festival! This allows all of our writers with officially selected scripts, the chance to attend the AoF.
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Final Deadline: 07/27/2018
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.
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Final Deadline: 07/31/2018
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.
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