By: Sarah Chaisson-Warner
Winning or placing in screenplay contests can be an effective strategy for getting noticed by industry insiders and breaking into the film community. But not all screenplay contests are created equal, and pursuing this route can be an expensive, and even unfruitful journey if you’re not careful about where you submit.
To help support your writing endeavors, we compiled this list of the best screenplay contests to enter over the next year.
But wait! You might ask – how are you determining which contests qualify as the “best?”
The list below takes into account several factors:
- Prize packages: We looked at the depth and breadth of the prize packages. Does the contest offer at least three of the most valuable and sought-after prizes – cash, writer development, and access to industry professionals? Similarly, does the contest have prizes for writers who place, but do not win the Grand Prize?
- History of success: We considered how successful the contest has been in helping writers meet goals. Does the contest have a consistent and solid history of helping writers get repped, get staffed, or sell their scripts?
- Transparency: We looked at how much information the contest provides about the judging process. Do they have clear guidelines for entry? Is the judging process clear as well?
- Judges’ credentials: We considered the role of the judges’ panel. Are the judges who are making final decisions respected members of the filmmaking community? Are the judges writers, directors, and producers in their own right? Do they have a solid body of work behind them?
- Feedback: We also looked at what kind of feedback the contest provides. Does the contest simply notify writers who didn’t place with a form letter or do they provide some level of feedback to help writers understand their placement?
Taking into account the above criteria, we offer the following as our Top 5 Best Screenplay Contests to enter:
Overview: Of course, we couldn’t list the Top 5 best screenplay contests without mentioning our own! Our Feature Contest has a proven track record of helping emerging writers achieve their goals of becoming full-time working screenwriters.
Prizes: The Grand Prize Winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize, mentorship with an A-List filmmaker, development with our writer development manager, script circulation to our Industry Roster, industry mentorship, and guaranteed meetings.
There is also an exciting guaranteed option prize (add-on) with Showdown Productions.
NOTE: To be eligible for consideration for the Guaranteed Option Prize you must select the Add-On feature when submitting your Feature screenplay.
The Second Place Winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize, will work with our Writer Development Manager, script circulation to our Industry Roster, Industry Mentorship and guaranteed meetings.
5 Genre Winners (Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller, Comedy, and Drama) will win meetings with top production companies!
All Winners & 10 Finalists will also receive 1:1 support from our Writer Development Manager. Unlike most contests, Shore Scripts carefully formulates a plan of action for every feature screenplay we send out. We start with the writer. We have a call with each winner, finalist, and even many semi-finalists to ascertain what they want for their project and their careers moving forward. This enables us to thoughtfully get you and your work in front of the right industry movers and shakers who are interested in the stories YOU want to tell!
This includes sending scripts to our Industry Roster (which includes over 300 Managers, Agents, Producers, and Directors) whose films and TV Shows have grossed billions of dollars and won numerous awards.
Successes: Through our Feature contest, writers have gained representation, had their projects produced with A-list actors, and gone on to write for Blumhouse, Netflix, Paramount, Film4, NBC, Hulu, & many others. Most recently, Mrs&MrThomas’ winning feature screenplay, THE ASSESSMENT was released earlier this year and starred Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Olse Following their win, our Feature Judge, Oscar-nominated producer Stephen Woolley and his production company Number 9 Films, developed the project with Film4. Dave and Nell also received a paid commission to write the screenplay for THE SECRET INVENTOR’S CLUB from producer Rachel Gold who heard about them through watching their winning video on our website and they signed with our Industry Roster Agents, The Agency.
Judges: Our list of judges can be found here. Our judges are writers, directors, producers, and agents, and are looking for fresh, new talent.
Feedback and next deadline: The next deadline is August 7th, and the final deadline is September 25th. All entries receive short feedback detailing what is working and what could be improved in the script. Additional coverage options are available with purchase.
Overview: The mission of the American Zoetrope Screenplay Competition is to find and promote new and innovative voices in cinema. The competition considers feature-length film scripts, as well as pilot scripts for television/streaming services. Every script is read closely by a select handful of professional readers, and the American Zoetrope staff and Francis Ford Coppola choose a winner from among the ten finalists.
Prizes: The winner receives a grand prize of $5,000. The winner and nine finalists are considered for representation by several high-profile agencies, including CAA, Circle of Confusion, Energy Entertainment, Exile Entertainment, the Gersh Agency, ICM, Oasis Media Group, the Radmin Company, UTA, and William Morris Endeavor. Their scripts will be considered for option and development by the production companies including American Zoetrope, Anonymous Content, Array, Cats & Dogs Productions, and more.
Judges: A handful of American Zoetrope staff and paid professional readers, who are bound by confidentiality agreements, read the scripts. The American Zoetrope staff and Francis Coppola select the winner from 10 finalists.
Next deadline and feedback: The next deadline is July 16. Unfortunately, they are unable to provide notes, coverage, or feedback to entrants. The purpose of the competition is to introduce new writers to industry professionals and thereby help launch or further careers in the industry.
Slamdance Screenplay Competition
Overview: The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is dedicated to discovering and nurturing emerging screenwriters. Since 1997, 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.
Prizes: The Grand Prize winner receives $10,000 in cash, but they also have winners in the Feature, Horror/Thriller, TV Pilot, and Shorts categories that receive $2,000 in cash. The top three screenwriters in each category receive prize packages that include Festival Passes good for all screenings and parties at the Slamdance Film Festival. Additionally, all submitted scripts are eligible for the Mentorship Award, which is an opportunity for one-on-one script development with a small group of professional advisors.
Successes: Recent success stories include Brian Schwab’s 2023 script “Purgatory” which just wrapped production in Wales. Slamdance’s 2018 Grand Prize-winning horror feature Day Shift was released in 2022 as a Netflix original film starring Jamie Foxx. Day Shift became the most watched film in the world during the third week of August 2022. Recent winners Neil Ferron and Jessica Sinyard found representation and management directly through their involvement with the competition.
Judges: Judges for Slamdance aren’t published, but they do note they use a series of readers to evaluate entries.
Feedback and next deadline: The next deadline is June 23. Every entrant receives short feedback from one of their readers. It includes a genre suggestion, a logline, and a paragraph outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your screenplay. If you would like more extensive feedback, you can add-on the additional full coverage report.
Overview: A writer-friendly competition, The Finish Line Script Competition helps showcase your writing skills, connects you with industry experts and lets you submit unlimited new drafts for free. They work internationally and provide access to industry professionals throughout the world. Finish Line is run by an ex-literary manager/producer who has 25+ years of experience in the industry developing writer’s careers.
Prizes:The Grand Prize winner will receive $10,000 as and will either meet in person, Zoom or speak via phone with their industry professionals ranging from literary managers, agents, development execs and producers. The Grand Prize winner will receive free script notes for a year, a filmed table read, and more. This year’s contest also features a 12 week Industry Mentorship with Jenny Frankfurt, founder of Finish Line and ex-literary manager & producer.
The First Runner Up will receive $2,000 and can send their script to 10+ of the industry pros on the list. The First Runner Up will receive free script notes for a year, and more. The Second Runner Up will receive $750 and will have free and complete access to Finish Line knowledge, advice, support and help as they get their script out into the maze that is the entertainment industry. The Second Runner Up can send their script to 6+ of the industry pros on their list and a filmed table read.
Successes: Producer & show runner, Bradley Bredeweg has been attached to DEBBIE, the 2022 TV pilot winner written by Matt Thomas. A top actress is attached to star and produce. 2021 Grand Prize Winner Muke Thangamani signed with Paper Road, Ltd. His script, FLOWERFIELD, is being developed by Jon M. Chu’s Electric Somewhere with Matthew Carnahan attached as showrunner.
Judges: Judges are not published, but the contest guidelines and rules are explained on their website, which includes an informative FAQ page.
Next deadline and feedback: They employ professional consultants to provide 6+ pages of constructive and actionable script development notes and allow writers to complete rewrites and resubmit for free as many times as necessary . If desired, writers can keep receiving notes as would be given at a studio or network, improving scripts as the process moves ahead.
The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
Overview: The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards competition was founded in the fall of 2003 to discover the most exciting new scripts by up-and-coming writers from across the country and around the world and introduce them to Hollywood executives.
Prizes: In the Final Round of competition, out of all the Finalists in all ten genre categories, the Judges will select the Grand Prize Winner. The winning writer will receive $25,000 Cash, free tuition to a Nostos Screenwriting Retreat in beautiful Tuscany, Italy, and a host of other great prizes. Gold Prize winners receive $1,000 in cash and promotional services from Inktip, Roadmap, and more. Silver prize winners and bronze winners receive $500 cash and $250 cash respectively, along with promotional services.
If you win one of the awards, a press release introducing you and your script will be sent to their list of industry contacts, including over 5,000 Hollywood agents, managers, producers, and executives. Any and all inquiries from this media blitz will be sent directly to you or your designated representative, so you will have the opportunity to communicate with these industry execs directly.
Successes: Over the past 20 years, the PAGE Awards competition has earned a reputation for discovering and promoting some of the most talented new screenwriters from across the country and around the world, and since receiving their Awards many of their winning writers are now building highly successful careers in the industry.
Judges: Your script is judged anonymously. When you enter the contest your script will be assigned a number, and the Judges will identify your entry by title and number only. Most importantly, in each round of competition their Judges are assigned scripts based on their personal interests and expertise, so your screenplay will always be evaluated by people who truly understand and appreciate the type of material you’ve written.
Next deadline and feedback: The 2025 contest is closed, but we anticipate the 2026 contest will open in the spring. Feedback is only available at an additional cost.
We hope this list has been helpful and informative! And of course, if you have questions about the Shore Scripts Feature Contest, please reach out to our team: contact@shorescripts.com.
