Dallas International Film Festival's Screenwriting Competition
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About
The 19th annual Dallas International Film Festival is a global adventure that features premiere screenings, nightly red carpets, eye-opening documentaries, intriguing short films, filmmaker panels, award presentations, daily filmmaker happy hours, and an enhanced filmmaker hospitality program that includes city tours and a Festival Lounge where filmmakers, screenwriters, film industry leaders, celebrities, sponsors, and our audience can all come together to discuss film.
DIFF supports the beginning and end of the creative filmmaking process from script to screen. DIFF partners with Event Horizon Films to host an annual screenwriting competition where writers can submit their shorts, features or TV pilot scripts. Winning screenwriters are exposed to high-profile industry experts and receive a variety of prizes and networking opportunities.
The DIFF Screenplay Competition has been featured by Final Draft, recognized by Script magazine and named a top "15 Submission-Worthy Screenwriting Competition” by MovieMaker magazine.
A harsh Hollywood reality is that most scripts are lost in the slush pile. Those who are lucky to have their scripts read by a producer, agent, manager or studio head may never know whether it was given the infamous pass, consider, recommend rating. We break the mold by providing these ratings on ever feature, pilot or short submitted to our team of readers, as well as offering detailed feedback to improve overall marketability.
All scripts are reviewed by readers currently working at top representation companies with the potential to get signed at any time.
- William Morris Endeavor (WME)
- Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
- United Talent Agency (UTA)
- Zero Gravity Management
- The Gotham Group
- Artist First
- Innovative Artists
- Authentic Talent + Literary Management
- And more
Advancing scripts are read and judged by Oscar winners, Emmy winners and/or blockbuster screenwriters. Scorecard and first scene sketches are included with every submission.
Benefits
Every submission receives a scorecard from a major representation company reader and an illustration of the script’s first scene.
Grand Prize Winners receive:
- Produced and Premiered Film at DIFF for Best Short
- A table read of Best Feature, Best Pilot and Best Short performed during DIFF by qualified actors
-InkTip Subscription
-Special access to select DIFF events
-Circulation to representation company professionals
-Recognition on the Festival Red Carpet and trophy at the awards presentation
-Additional prizes to be announced
2025 Finalists on Coverfly
Announcements
Rules
Submissions are accepted via electronic submission on the submission platform described below only, between the dates provided for the competition.
Entry fees will vary depending on each deadline. Please review the fees and dates of the competition via the submission page.
Short screenplays must be a minimum of 5 pages and a maximum pages 35, subject to that which is set forth regarding eligibility.
There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit, but each project must be submitted separately from any other projects including with the payment of separate submission fees.
Entries must be received on or before the deadline dates by 11:59PM Central Time on such dates, and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. Entry is not deemed to be made, including for the purposes of all deadlines, until the submission fee payment is made in full. All entry fees are non-refundable.
All submitted material must be original with, and all rights must be wholly owned by, the individual(s) listed as the writer(s) on and for such material as submitted.
Material must be submitted by the writer. Material written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with written consent of the other(s) thereto. All writers must be credited on the title page of the material.
If a writing team is chosen as a winner or a finalist or otherwise receives any prize or award, prizes and awards will be given to the person who submits the project. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing the prize and/or award as agreed upon by the members of such writing team. Each team further agrees that any such agreements and actions are and will be in accordance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Each of the members of any such writing team will be required to execute releases and other documentation as referenced herein or as otherwise required in connection with the prizes and/or awards.
Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered material will not be allowed for the Script to Screen Category. Please proofread your script carefully before submitting.
It is recommended that original material be registered with the WGA or The Library of Congress by the writer before submitting to any competition, however we do not require registration for submission.
Contact info may be included on the cover page of the screenplay, however it is not required.
Script to Screen category winner will not be allowed to submit the script as submitted to this competition or as otherwise further amended to other competitions or festivals.
All ownership and rights to each of the scripts submitted to this contest, with the exception of the winning script of the Script to Screen category, remains with each of the applicable original rights holders.
