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
Finish Line Script Competition – Deadline: 16 May 2019 (regular) / 11 July 2019 (late) / 29 August 2019 (final).
Tracking Board Launch Pad Pilots Contest – Deadline: 18 May 2019 (late) / 31 May 2019 (final). TV pilot scripts up to 70pp.
Shore Scripts Screenplay Competition – Deadline: 31 May 2019 (early) / 31 July 2019 (regular) / 31 August 2019 (final). Feature screenplays 80-120pp, tv pilots 15-70pp, short screenplays 3-20pp.
Warner Brothers Writers’ Workshop – Deadline: 31 May 2019. Spec script of selected existing shows. Must be available to attend workshops in Los Angeles.
NBC Writers On The Verge – Deadline: 31 May. Accepting spec script of selected existing shows. Must be available to attend workshops in Los Angeles.
Disney/ABC Writing Fellowship – Deadline: 31 May. Applicants must be able to prove US employment eligibility.
Big Break Screenwriting Contest – Deadline: 18 June 2019 (regular) / 9 July 2019 (late) / 23 July 2019 (final). Teleplays 25-70pp / Screenplays 80-120pp.
Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award – Deadline: 3 July 2019 (final). Submit 30-60 minute television drama script. Applicants must be under 30 and non-US residents. Opens 24 April 2019.
TO LOOK OUT FOR AT A LATER DATE:
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.
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.
Hamptons International Film Festival Screenwriters’ Lab – Deadline: usually January. Feature length screenplays only.
Nickelodeon TV Writing Program – Deadline: usually January. Spec scripts for one of their listed shows. Open to US and international applicants.
Screencraft Screenwriting Fellowship – Deadline: usually March.
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.
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.
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.
The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting – Deadline: usually May. Screenplays 90-120pp.
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.
Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab – Deadline: usually May. Feature length screenplays. U.S residents only.
Good luck!
