Final Draft’s Big Break is an annual, international feature and television screenwriting contest designed to launch the careers of aspiring writers.

Big Break rewards screenwriters in 11 categories the chance to win up to $80,000 in cash and prizes, including a trip to Los Angeles for a series of A-list industry meetings with managers, producers and executives. 

Winners and finalists alike have had their screenplays optioned and produced and have secured high-profile representation as well as lucrative writing deals. 

Now Accepting Short Scripts: We're excited to introduce a new short-form script prize! As the appetite for premium short content surges, alongside a global elevation in the significance of short filmmaking within the industry, we are celebrating the artistry of short-form narrative screenwriting.

Feedback Notes Available: Feedback helps you get an objective perspective into your story. Receive actionable insight on your script to help elevate your project to the next level.

Ready for your Big Break? Submit today.

PRIZES

2 Grand Prize Award Winners: One Feature Grand Prize and one TV Grand Prize winner will be selected from the 11 Feature Genre and TV Format award winners.

Each Grand Prize Award Winner:
Winners receive the prizes below plus the prizes listed under the Category Winners section. 

• $10,000 Cash 

• Apple iPad 
• Roundtrip airfare to Los Angeles plus 3 night hotel accommodation

• Dell XPS Laptop

•  Meetings With Managers, Producers and Executives

Attend networking events and meet the industry.

• UCLA Extension Masterclass
• 1-year subscription to ScriptHop

• Writer brand assessment and 60-Minute Career Prep Webinar with screenwriting career coach Lee Jessup

• Copy of Save the Cat! Story Structure Software and book

•Query Letter or One-Sheet analysis and a personalized, signed copy of The Screenwriter’s Bible by Dave Trottier

• • Final Draft Go™ App for iPhone and iPad.

Additional prizes for TV Grand Prize winner:

• Script Consultation from Jen Grisanti Inc.

• One-hour career coaching session with Carole Kirschner to create a personalized game plan for leveraging the contest win.

Award Categories

Feature Awards

• • Action/Adventure
• • Comedy/Rom-Com
  

• Diversity

• Drama

• Family/Animated

• Period/Historical/War

• Sci-Fi/Fantasy

• Thriller/Horror

Television Awards
• Diversity
• Half-Hour Pilot
• Hour-Long Pilot

We celebrate 11 Category Winners who will receive:

• $1,000 Cash

• Final Draft 13

• New York Film Academy - Attend multi-week online immersive program in both film & television writing

• 5 Career coaching sessions with screenwriting coach Lee Jessup

• 60-minute webinar with screenwriting career coach Lee Jessup on how to capitalize on your Big Break win

• Participation in a 6-Week Teleseminar from Jen Grisanti Inc.

• A 4-month InkTip Pro Membership - As an InkTip Pro Member, thousands of filmmakers can find and read your scripts, and you'll be able to pitch directly to production companies every week

• Free entry to any Script Pipeline Season – Feature or TV

• One year subscription of MasterWriter software

• Free Big Break Contest entry for 2025

• Script coverage from Big Break readers

• A Copy of Save The Cat! Strikes Back by screenwriter Blake Snyder.

• 6 month subscription to ScriptHop

Short Script Winner:

• $1,000 Cash

• Final Draft 13

• Feedback on a verbal pitch or pitch deck, plus a 1-hour feedback session with Seed & Spark

• Free Big Break Contest entry for 2025

• A 4-month InkTip Pro Membership - As an InkTip Pro Member, thousands of filmmakers can find and read your scripts, and you'll be able to pitch directly to production companies every week

• 6 month subscription to ScriptHop

• One year subscription of MasterWriter software

Short Script Finalists:
• One-on-one consultation with Seed & Spark on crowdfunding, producing, and distribution

JURY

Gary King
VP of Development, Paramount Television Studios

Amanda Alley
Creative Executive, Skydance Media

Andrew Bergamo
Creative Executive, The Donners' Company

Gabrielle Utsey

VP, Development, POV Entertainment

Jeff Portnoy

Literary Manager, Bellevue Productions

Scott Stoops

Literary Manager, Good Fear Content

Lauren Deitch

Manager for Drama Series Development, Netflix

Jon Hersh

Literary Manager, Housefire Management

Jason Lubin

Manager & Producer, First Story Entertainment

Jesse Hood

Executive, ACE Entertainment

Alex Barnes

Development Executive

Diego Rey

Manager & Producer, Underground Films

Trent Anderson

Manager, Anonymous Content

Allie Loh

President Content & Acquisitions, Zero Gravity

Brian Spink

Manager & Producer, Realm

Zack Zucker

Manager & Producer, Bellevue Productions

Mireia Vilanova

Producer, Cartuna

Jen Ray

Partner & Literary Manager, Heroes & Villains Entertainment

Zach Bianco

Development Exec. / Producer, Feigco Entertainment

Lisa Alford
Development Executive, Johnson Production Group