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
Big Break Screenwriting Contest – Deadline: 17 July 2018 (final). Teleplays 25-70pp / Screenplays 80-120pp.
Finish Line Script Competition – Deadline: 18 July 2018 (final).
Shore Scripts Screenplay Competition – Deadline: 31 July 2018 (regular) / 31 August 2018 (final). Feature screenplays 80-120pp, tv pilots 15-70pp, short screenplays 3-20pp.
Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition – Deadline: 13 August 2018 (early) / 10 September 2018 (regular) / 8 October 2018 (late) / 5 November 2018 (final). Accepting feature scripts up to 130pp, tv scripts up to 75pp, short film scripts up to 25pp.
Screencraft Pilot Launch TV Script Contest – Deadline: 15 August 2018 (early) / 3 October 2018 (final).
Screencraft Action & Thriller Screenplay Contest – Deadline: 24 August 2018 (early) / 25 October 2018 (final). Screenplays up to 140pp. Opens for entries 25 July 2018.
C21 / Script Angel Drama Series Script Competition – Deadline: 31 August 2018. Pilot script (max 60pp) and series pitch (1-3 pages). Winning writer receives £10,000 script option. All six finalists receive exposure to the international drama community at Content London.
Berlinale Talent Campus – Deadline: 3 September 2018. Opens for applications 2 July 2018.
Screencraft Drama Screenplay Contest – Deadline: 15 September 2018 (final).
Screencraft Family Screenplay Contest – Deadline: 2 November 2018 (early) / 30 December 2018 (final). Opens for entries 2 October 2018.
Screencraft Screenwriting Fellowship – Deadline: 11 January 2019 (early) / 1 March 2019 (final). Opens for entries 19 October 2018.
TO LOOK OUT FOR AT A LATER DATE:
Tracking Board Launch Pad Features Contest – Deadline: usually September.
American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest – Deadline: usually September. Screenplays 82-145pp.
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.
Cinequest Screenwriting Competition – Deadline: usually November. Accepting shorts, features and teleplays.
Screenwriting Goldmine: Deadline: usually December.
Funny Women Comedy Writing Award – Deadline: usually December.
Hamptons International Film Festival Screenwriters’ Lab – Deadline: usually January. Feature length screenplays only.
Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Contest – Deadline: usually January. Screenplays 80-120pp, short script under 40pp, half-hour tv comedy script 22-35pp, one-hour tv drama 45-65pp.
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.
Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab – Deadline: usually January. Feature length screenplays. U.S residents only.
Nickelodeon TV Writing Program – Deadline: usually January. Spec scripts for one of their listed shows. Open to US and international applicants.
Blue Cat Screenplay Competition – Deadline: usually February.
London Independent Film Festival Screenplay Contest – Deadline: usually March. Short & feature length scripts.
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 Script Call – 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.
The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards – Deadline: usually April. Short scripts up to 40pp, feature screenplays 80-120pp, TV drama pilots 50-70pp, TV comedy pilots 25-45pp.
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.
Good luck!
