Placing in well respected screenwriting contests can bring your writing to the attention of the industry. Here’s our round-up of the best film and television writing contests in the UK and US. We update this list every month and if you subscribe to our newsletter we’ll send you deadline reminders straight to your inbox.
Be sure to send the best possible version of your script by getting professional script development support ahead of time.
DEADLINES IMMINENT
Hamptons International Film Festival Screenwriters’ Lab – Deadline: 15 January 2019 (final). Feature length screenplays only.
The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards – Deadline: 15 January 2019 (early) / 15 February 2019 (regular) / 15 March 2019 (late) / 15 April 2019 (final). Short scripts up to 40pp, feature screenplays 80-120pp, TV drama pilots 50-70pp, TV comedy pilots 25-45pp.
Imagine Impact – Deadline: 20 January 2019 (final). Open to international applicants but must be available to attend an 8-week residential course in L.A from April 1st.
Nickelodeon TV Writing Program – Deadline: 31 January 2019. Spec scripts for one of their listed shows. Open to US and international applicants. Opens 2 January 2019.
London Independent Film Festival Screenplay Contest – Deadline: 1 February 2019 (regular) / 22 February 2019 (final). Short & feature length scripts.
Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Contest – Deadline: 15 February 2019 (late) / 5 April 2019 (final). Screenplays 80-120pp, short script under 40pp, half-hour tv comedy script 22-35pp, one-hour tv drama 45-65pp.
Screencraft Screenwriting Fellowship – Deadline: 1 March 2019 (final). Opens for entries 19 October 2018.
Finish Line Script Competition – Deadline: 4 March 2019 (early) / 16 May 2019 (regular) / 11 July 2019 (late) / 29 August 2019 (final).
TO LOOK OUT FOR AT A LATER DATE:
Funny Women Comedy Writing Award – Deadline: usually March.
Tracking Board Launch Pad Pilots Contest – Deadline: usually March. TV pilot scripts up to 70pp.
New York TV Festival Script Competition – Deadline: usually March. Accepting half-hour comedy and hour-long drama scripts.
European Independent Film Festival Script Competition – Deadline: usually April. Short scripts 5-50pp & feature length scripts 80-130pp. Looking for scripts NOT aimed at mainstream Hollywood film markets.
The Athena List – Deadline: usually April. Feature screenplays 80-120pp featuring a female protagonist.
Edinburgh International Film Festival Talent Lab – Deadline: usually April. Open to screenwriters, producers & directors. Feature films only.
BBC Writersroom: Comedy Room – Deadline: usually April. Looking for 30 minute comedy scripts for film, tv, stage, online or radio.
Scriptapalooza – Deadline: usually April. Screenplays 80-140pp.
Cinestory Foundation Feature Retreat Contest – Deadline: usually April. Screenplay 85-130pages.
Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab – Deadline: usuallyMay. Feature length screenplays. U.S residents only.
Script Pipeline Screenwriting Contest – Deadline: usually May. Feature length screenplays.
Script Pipeline TV Writing Contest – Deadline: usually May. Any length script, pilot of original or spec of existing show.
The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting – Deadline: usually May. Screenplays 90-120pp.
Austin Film Festival Screenplay & Teleplay Competition – Deadline: usually May. Feature scripts 90-120pp, teleplays (original pilot or spec of existing show) 45-70pp, sitcom scripts 22-40pp.
Warner Brothers Writers’ Workshop – Deadline: usually May. Spec script of selected existing shows. Must be available to attend workshops in Los Angeles.
NBC Writers On The Verge – Deadline: usually May. Accepting spec script of selected existing shows. Must be available to attend workshops in Los Angeles.
Disney/ABC Writing Fellowship – Deadline: usually May. Applicants must be able to prove US employment eligibility.
Screamfest Horror Film Festival Screenplay Contest – Deadline: usually June. Feature screenplays 75-130pp in Horror genre.
Screencraft Horror Screenplay Contest – Deadline: usually June. Screenplays up to 140pp.
Sitcom Mission – Deadline: usually June. Submit 15 minute sitcom script for tv, radio or stage.
Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award – Deadline: usually July. Submit 30-60 minute television drama script. Applicants must be under 30 and non-US residents.
Big Break Screenwriting Contest – Deadline: usually July. Teleplays 25-70pp / Screenplays 80-120pp.
Shore Scripts Screenplay Competition – Deadline: usually August. Feature screenplays 80-120pp, tv pilots 15-70pp, short screenplays 3-20pp.
American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest – Deadline: usually September. Screenplays 82-145pp.
Berlinale Talent Campus – Deadline: usually September.
C21/Script Angel Drama Series Script Competition – Deadline: usually September.
Screencraft Drama Screenplay Contest – Deadline: usually September.
4Screenwriting – Deadline: usually September. Accepting screenplays (film or tv), stage plays and radio plays. Open to residents of UK and Ireland. Applicants must be available to attend the course in London on specified dates.
Screencraft Pilot Launch TV Script Contest – Deadline: usually October.
Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition – Deadline: usually November. Accepting feature scripts up to 130pp, tv scripts up to 75pp, short film scripts up to 25pp.
Cinequest Screenwriting Competition – Deadline: usually November 2018 (final). Accepting shorts, features and teleplays.
Screencraft Action & Thriller Screenplay Contest- Deadline: usually October. Screenplays up to 140pp.
Universal Writers Program – Deadline usually October. One-year, paid, feature film development program.
Tracking Board Launch Pad Features Contest – Deadline: usually November.
Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship – Deadline: usually November. Enter via The BlackList.
Blue Cat Screenplay Competition – Deadline: usually December.
Screencraft Family Screenplay Contest – Deadline: usually December 2018.
BBC Writersroom: Drama Room – Deadline: usually January. Scripts over 30′ in length for tv, film, radio, stage or online. UK and Republic of Ireland residents only.
Good luck!
