12 Best Screenwriting Competitions for Aspiring Writers

Finding the best screenwriting competitions can be the turning point if you want your stories seen by real decision-makers.

We’ve sorted through the noise to highlight contests that give writers what matters—visibility, industry access, mentorship, and honest opportunity.

Whether you’re aiming for Hollywood, streaming, or global recognition, these competitions offer pathways to move your script from private draft to serious industry attention.

1. Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting

This is the gold standard if you want to be recognized by top-level industry professionals and Oscar-caliber insiders. The Academy Nicholl Fellowships hand out up to five $35,000 fellowships to writers who haven’t yet made it in the business—and once you're selected, doors open fast.

Why Nicholl matters if you’re aiming for exposure and credibility:

• Winning scripts get circulated directly to agents, managers, and Oscar voters, putting you in front of decision-makers with real power. Most other contests can’t promise that level of attention or follow-through.

• You must not have earned more than $25,000 from screenwriting—so this competition is laser-focused on launching new talent. If you’re a writer on the verge, this is your springboard.

• Alumni routinely get signed and move to studio assignments. Strong semifinal or finalist placement is often enough to draw serious industry interest, and your script goes through industry-vetted readers, so simply advancing means real validation.

• Entry is limited to original, feature-length scripts. No adaptations, no pre-existing IP—pure, original storytelling required.

The challenge is steep. The reward is access you can’t buy.

Placement at Nicholl is validation that instantly changes how the industry sees your work.

Before submitting, upload your script to WriteSeen for secure timestamping, early feedback, and a trackable record of your creative growth—so when opportunity knocks, you’re ready to show your full journey.

2. Austin Film Festival Screenplay and Teleplay Competition

If you crave real-time networking, workshopping, and feedback, Austin Film Festival is where writers connect, collaborate, and get discovered every year. The conference is legendary for putting new voices in front of producers, buyers, and other working writers.

Who gets the most value?

Writers who want to turn contest placement into face-to-face meetings.

• Finalists and semifinalists see their scripts listed in the exclusive Producers Book, handed straight to industry insiders—your story lands directly in front of people who can move your career forward.

• Multiple categories (feature, short, teleplay, stage, podcast) mean you don’t have to change formats to compete. There’s room for genre and form diversity.

• Top prizes ($5,000 in drama and comedy) are helpful, but the real win is direct access: badges to packed panels, festival films, and meetings. This is the closest most contests come to a full Hollywood festival experience.

• AFF is famous for helping finalists land representation or get staffed via onsite industry connections, with real stories of projects moving fast after the festival.

If you want actionable feedback, instant meetings, and access to a tight-knit creative community, AFF delivers more than most.

3. Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest

For writers targeting commercial US studios and TV markets, Big Break is exactly that. Sponsored by the industry’s most common script software, this contest is a launchpad for those who want to see their work in mainstream production pipelines.

What sets Big Break apart:

• Winners receive $10,000 and get flown to LA for VIP treatment—meetings with agents, producers, managers, and heavy exposure through Final Draft’s media network.

• Extensive categories (11 total) offer every genre a shot. Comedy, horror, TV pilots, features—there’s a fit for nearly every writer.

• Past winners regularly move from contest placement to agency representation thanks to personalized introductions set up by Final Draft staff.

• Finalist or winner status brings real leverage: streaming platforms and traditional studios keep watch here for new voices to bring into their slates.

If you want to break into the studio world or grab an agent’s attention, this is one of the fastest tracks available.

4. PAGE International Screenwriting Awards

PAGE has a proven global track record for new writers who want their stories read by the right people—regardless of where they live.

• Huge prize pool: Over $50,000, with a $25,000 grand prize. Beyond the money, PAGE shares finalist scripts with top managers and producers actively scouting talent.

• Open worldwide to features, shorts, and TV scripts. It’s inclusive and respected everywhere.

• Entry into ten genre categories increases your chances of being noticed—and winning in your niche.

• Even semifinalists and finalists gain exposure. High numbers of alumni quickly land representation, options, or even their first production deals thanks to direct contest promotion.

Writers outside LA or looking to break in from a distance rate PAGE highly for building career momentum.

WriteSeen helps bridge that gap—upload scripts, connect with peers and pros globally, and showcase your talent in a secure, trusted space that works no matter where you’re based.

5. Script Pipeline Screenwriting Contest

Script Pipeline is laser-focused on practical results. If you want your script in front of decision-makers, not just another “honorable mention,” this is a contest that pushes winners directly into industry hands.

Here’s what real entrants have experienced with Script Pipeline:

• Grand prize: $20,000 for the winner, $1,000 for each finalist, plus targeted script circulation to 250+ companies and 1-on-1 development support.

• Alumni have gone on to land deals, get scripts on the Black List, and sell features to major studios. Several have moved from placement to produced credits.

• Quarterfinalist or semifinalist status can spark a wave of script requests thanks to the ongoing circulation pipeline to real companies.

• Feedback is available as an add-on, so you can prep your script to an industry standard along the way.

If you want visibility, actionable support, and a concrete path to industry connections, Pipeline is a clear pick.

The right contest doesn’t just reward you—it actively works to push your story into the hands of people with the power to buy, represent, or greenlight it.

6. BlueCat Screenplay Competition

Not many contests guarantee everyone feedback, but BlueCat does—and that matters for writers seeking to both grow and get on the radar of producers around the globe.

Ideal for writers looking for concrete craft feedback:

• Submit a feature, short, or pilot and every entry receives written feedback. You get actionable insights to move forward, even if you don’t win.

• International reach, including a dedicated Fellini Prize for best non-US script ($2,000). Writers from everywhere are welcomed.

• Winners and select finalists have gone from BlueCat laurels to major studio production and festival spotlights.

• Scripts are shared with more than 400 agents and managers, expanding your reach far beyond a single reading panel.

Writers focused on growth, feedback, and international connections find BlueCat invaluable for both development and exposure.

7. Slamdance Screenplay Competition

Got a script that doesn’t fit the Hollywood mold? Slamdance is the place for unconventional, genre-bending, or fiercely independent voices who want more than just a “maybe” from the mainstream market.

Slamdance stands out for indie-minded creators:

• Grand Prize is $10,000, plus $2,000 prizes for category winners and festival passes that put you in front of real filmmakers and buyers.

• Written feedback is available. Multiple top scripts get circulated to managers, agents, and producers with a taste for out-of-the-box stories.

• Winners join a network that’s helped launch indie filmmakers—Slamdance alumni have moved from competition to film festival debuts and real-world production on the regular.

• Q&A sessions, panels, and a mentorship award keep the focus on long-term indie success, not just a trophy.

Writers with daring ideas, a flair for the unconventional, or big indie ambitions will find Slamdance to be a true incubator for breakthrough recognition.

8. Shore Scripts Feature Contest

This contest is for writers ready to level up with direct access and a hands-on approach. Shore Scripts doesn’t just reward scripts—it works to get them into the right conversations. If you seek personalized opportunities and a straight path to industry, start here.

How Shore Scripts boosts real breakthroughs:

• Cash prizes matter ($5,000 grand, plus genre bonuses), but the true edge: guaranteed industry meetings and your script shared with 300+ producers, managers, execs, and other professionals.

• Unique option prize: Showdown Productions offers a guaranteed option to select winning scripts.

• Shore Scripts calls every finalist to map out a strategy. This isn’t a one-and-done deal—they support you as you pitch, negotiate, and push your project out.

• Global focus. Writers everywhere, especially those outside LA or UK, get exposure. Their network includes US and European industry powerhouses.

Ambitious writers who want direct introductions, mentorship, and draft-to-deal support rate Shore Scripts as a top pick.

WriteSeen gives you a head start—store and protect your scripts, gather feedback, and present polished drafts to industry professionals in one streamlined, creator-first platform.

9. ISA Fast Track Fellowship

For writers who want more than a prize—a year of real mentorship, doors opened, and constant industry feedback—the International Screenwriters’ Association’s Fast Track Fellowship is a game changer.

Why Fast Track fast-forwards your career:

• Fellows get a full week in LA (with meetings at CAA, ICM, and beyond) and then receive a whole year of hands-on professional guidance.

• Direct outcomes: Many past fellows get staffed on shows, option scripts, or score their first union gig as a result of these connections.

• The ISA Development Slate keeps you plugged in. Your win isn’t forgotten after a week.

• This is for writers who want the right faces, not just festival glitz. Expect real feedback on your story, your pitch—and open doors.

The ISA Fast Track is built for writers determined to turn a single script into an ongoing writing career.

10. Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition

Persistence and promotion set Scriptapalooza apart. If you want advocates who pitch your script for a full year, Scriptapalooza puts in the work for writers at all levels—and from every genre.

• $10,000 cash is a strong incentive, but the big win is relentless script promotion. They circulate semifinalist and finalist scripts to their industry network long after announcements.

• Top scripts get matched directly with decision-makers—Scriptapalooza continues pitching even if there’s no first response.

• Writers at every level grow here. The contest also runs TV, short, and coverage competitions for focused development.

• Coverage and workshops are offered (some paid), adding even more craft value.

Choose Scriptapalooza if you want your project in front of as many pros as possible, with repeat follow-ups to keep interest alive.

Consistent, year-round advocacy can turn a finalist script into a production-ready deal.

11. BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition

Writers aiming for UK industry impact can’t ignore the BAFTA Rocliffe program. This is the top entry point for new voices targeting BBC, Channel 4, or the London indie scene.

• Winners’ scripts are performed by professional actors for an invited room full of industry influencers.

• Includes mentorship, masterclasses, and a public showcase. This is especially valuable for writers hungry to land their first TV commission or script option in the UK market.

• No entry fee for many categories, with bursaries to boost access for underrepresented voices.

• Alumni move quickly to BBC and indie development meetings based on live showcase buzz.

UK and European writers: BAFTA Rocliffe is the competition if your aim is professional relationships and public validation.

12. BBC Writersroom Open Call

If British drama or comedy is your goal, the BBC Writersroom Open Call is the best path. The entire process is free, accessible, and designed for writers with bold, original voices.

What you can expect:

• Every script receives at least a 10-page read by trained BBC readers.

• Standouts join the Voices or Drama Room cohort: six months of workshops and network-building at the epicenter of UK TV.

• Many cohort alumni get put straight onto major BBC projects—even without a full spec portfolio. It’s all about authentic, compelling writing.

• Strong focus on equity. Accessibility is baked in, and the field is wide open for both first-timers and seasoned creators.

This is a no-risk, high-impact way to break into UK television, especially if you want professional guidance early in your career.

Use WriteSeen to upload your pilot scripts, showcase your voice, and connect with professionals across the UK and global markets—before your first commission even lands.

How to Choose the Best Screenwriting Competition for Your Voice and Goals

You need more than buzzwords and prize money. The right competition fits your story, strengths, and aims. Think big, but focus on contests that actually lift scripts into the spotlight.

Here’s how to steer clear of distractions:

• Scan prizes but look for what happens next—mentorship, industry reads, networking badges, or script options.

• Deadlines matter. Set reminders for early entry to save money and maximize chances.

• Read the rules. Some require you to be unproduced or outside a region, or prohibit scripts that have already placed in other contests.

• Think about your market target: US, UK, or international? Pick contests known to break writers in those specific arenas.

• Use a submission tracker and prep materials (logline, synopsis, portfolio) in advance.

Winning isn’t the goal. Launching your writing into real conversations is.

Frequently Asked Questions About Entering Screenplay Contests

Every writer has questions when stepping up to the contest circuit. Handle these up front and you’ll compete with confidence.

• Protect your script. Register with the Writers Guild or an equivalent for peace of mind.

• Enter multiple contests unless there’s a restriction. More exposure, more validation.

• You do not have to relocate. Most contests, including global powerhouses, specialize in bringing in writers from anywhere.

• Free contests like BBC Writersroom can rival paid ones for UK-based writers.

• Contests don’t make deals, but they put your name where it must be seen. Focus on contests with strong alumni stories and industry follow-through.

Stay focused. The best prize is always the momentum that comes next.

Conclusion

It’s not just about winning—it’s about setting your writing career in motion with industry attention, validation, and new doors. Each of these best screenwriting competitions can help you climb into conversations that count.

Pick what fits. Polish relentlessly. Use every contest as your launch pad.

We built WriteSeen for creators like you—secure, connected, and motivated. Ready to see your story soar? Start submitting. Aim higher, get seen.