Resources

Breakthrough with
ScreenCraft’s Prestigious
Writing Competitions

Breaking in as a writer should be about how well you can write—not how well you can network. That’s why our competitions set out to uncover the best writers out there and help them launch their screenwriting careers.
Sign Up for Reminders
ScreenCraft Writers Discovered by:

Open Competitions

Filter by genre
True Story

True Story Competition

The demand for films and television series based on existing IP has never been higher, and our prestigious industry jury is ready to read the next hit true stories, biographies and public domain adaptations. Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman joins as this year's VIP Mentor!

Clock

Final Deadline - March 31

Apply Now!
Remind Me
Comedy

Comedy Competition

Open to both screenplays and pilots, our comedy competition has led to writers getting signed and projects getting made - like Netflix's global hit WEDDING SEASON. This year's competition includes a partnership with execs at Funny or Die!

Clock

Regular Deadline - March 31

Apply Now!
Remind Me
Feature

Feature Competition

Jury includes literary reps from Bellevue, Buchwald, and others. This year's Grand Prize Mentors include Oscar-winner David Rabinowitz (BLACKKKLANSMAN), Hugh Welchman (LOVING VINCENT), Rose Gilroy (PROJECT ARTEMIS) and Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin (MULAN).

Clock

Early Deadline - March 31

Apply Now!
Remind Me
Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Competition

Our prestigious jury includes execs from Zero Gravity Management, Pride of Gypsies, and industry pros behind great franchises like STAR WARS and X-MEN. SEVERANCE writer Kari Stringham-Drake joins as Grand Prize Mentor!

Clock

Early Deadline - March 31

Apply Now!
Remind Me

ScreenCraft’s Writer Success Stories

Meet the writers who used ScreenCraft competitions to break into the film and TV industry.
  • Alex Boyd

    Hired on CW’s “The Flash”
    "People really do make it in this industry,” says screenwriter Alex Boyd. “When I moved to LA to start my writing career, I knew zero people in the industry. So when I took the traditional mailroom route, I felt like I was the only person around without any connections. Even when I wrote something I was proud of, I often felt like it was wasting away on my hard drive with nobody to read.”

    In 2021, Alex entered ScreenCraft’s TV Pilot competition. He won. “I had been submitting to competitions for years now with some success, but I was particularly excited to enter ScreenCraft because of the genre-specific categories," he says. Since winning, Alex was hired to write an episode of CW’s “The Flash.”
    See More
  • Tommy Wright

    Signed with Bauman Management
    "As writers it’s always challenging to distinguish yourself from others,” says screenwriter Tommy Wright, who was awarded a 2021 ScreenCraft Film Fund grant. He has since signed with a literary manager at Bauman Management. “I think ScreenCraft does an excellent job of encouraging and identifying unique talent and can put them in very advantageous situations which in turn breeds success."
    See More
  • Nabil Chowdhary

    Signed with Writ Large Management
    After winning the grand prize in the 2019 ScreenCraft Sci-Fi Screenplay Competition for his project POD, Nabil Chowdhary was introduced to manager Bash Naran at Writ Large and subsequently signed with him. “Within hours of winning, I was put in touch with Bash," says Nabil. "Three weeks later, we were officially working together. ” 

    In December of 2019, Nabil’s work was named to both The Hit List and The Black List as one of the best screenplays of the year. "I was in constant communication with the ScreenCraft team, seeking advice and looking for guidance on how to navigate this very new situation for me. They couldn’t have been more helpful."
    See More
  • Nicole Ramberg

    Signed with Bellevue Productions
    “Winning a ScreenCraft competition — and ScreenCraft’s immediate assistance putting me in touch with managers afterward — was the foot in the door that I needed to jumpstart my Hollywood writing career,” says Nicole Ramberg, who signed with Bellevue Productions after success in the ScreenCraft 2020 Action Adventure screenplay competition. 
    See More

Opening Soon

Action & Adventure

Action & Adventure Competition

Joe Robert Cole, co-writer of BLACK PANTHER and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, joins as our VIP Mentor alongside jurors from Zero Gravity, Thunder Road, Buchwald and more...

Opening March 31

Remind Me
Film Fund

Film Fund Competition

Receive up to $30k in grant funds! Dan Gilroy (ANDOR) returns as our Grand Juror. Open to a wide range of projects and formats. Winner's have screened at Cannes, Sundance, & SXSW.

Opening March 31

Remind Me

Opening Later

TV Pilot

TV Pilot Competition

We welcome Emmy-winning writer, creator, showrunner Damon Lindelof (WATCHMEN, THE LEFTOVERS, LOST) as our Grand Juror! ScreenCraft winners have been staffed on shows like ALL RISE, WILLOW, THE FLASH, GOOD TROUBLE, ALL AMERICAN and more.

Remind Me
Short Story

Short Story Competition

Our jury features professionals from across the entertainment and publishing industries. Past winners have signed with top agents and had their worked optioned.

Remind Me
Fellowship

Fellowship Competition

7 days of intensive professional meetings. 3 months of career consultation. A once in a lifetime opportunity.

Remind Me
Horror

Horror Competition

Our jury is scary good, featuring agent Daniel Perry (Buchwald), screenwriter Guy Busick (SCREAM 5, READY OR NOT), and more. “The industry’s #1 horror screenplay contest.” – IndieWire

Remind Me
Animation

Animation Competition

We welcome FAMILY GUY showrunners Richard Appel and Alec Sulkin as Grand Jurors! Past finalists and winners have signed with literary managers and secured shopping agreements.

Remind Me
Stage Play

Stage Play Competition

Grand Prize Winner will be mentored by Tony Award-winning & Academy Award-nominated playwright Jeffrey Whitty (Avenue Q). Past winners have signed with CAA, WME, A3 Artists, and more!

Remind Me
Cinematic Book

Cinematic Book Competition

Author/producer Sara Shepard (PRETTY LITTLE LIARS) joins as our VIP mentor! Jury includes Showrunner Charlie Craig, and industry professionals from Appian Way, Verve, & Howland Agency.

Remind Me
Family

Family Competition

ScreenCraft's industry leading Family-friendly Screenplay Competition has led to winners signing with literary managers and optioning their scripts. This year's jury includes reps and execs from Gotham Group, Walden Media, Stagecoach, Neshama Entertainment and more!

Remind Me
 Virtual Pitch

Virtual Pitch Competition

Take advantage of a unique opportunity to pitch directly to an A-list jury of industry insiders online and open to writers worldwide!

Remind Me
Short Film

Short Film Competition

What do George Lucas, Neill Blomkamp, and Lynne Ramsay all have in common? They started their careers off of a short script. We want to help build new great careers for amazing short script writers.

Remind Me
Drama

Drama Competition

Writers from this competition have signed with CAA, Brillstein, Circle of Confusion, and have gone on to be nominated for Emmys and staff on TV shows. The results speak for themselves: this is Hollywood’s best Drama Screenwriting Competition.

Remind Me

Subscribe and stay up to date on all competitions!

  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

2024 Competitions Calendar

Fellowships

Fellowship
Oct - Feb

Formats

Animation
May - July
Feature
Mar - May
Short Film
Nov - Jan
Stage Play
Aug - Oct
TV Pilot
July - Sep

Genres

Comedy
Feb - Apr
Drama
June - Aug
Family
Oct - Dec
Horror
Aug - Oct
X

Select Your Deadline Reminders

Select at least one competition below and we'll send you simple email reminders through Coverfly a day before each deadline. No spam, promise.
X

Animation Deadline Reminders

We'll send you a simple email reminder through Coverfly a day before each deadline. No spam, promise.
Your success is our #1 priority. We provide aspiring writers industry access, free resources and inspiration, and a community to support you through every step of your creative journey.

Writing Competitions

Success Stories