HollyShorts Screenwriting Competition
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About
The Academy Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival (HSFF) is an annual short film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films and short screenplays from around the globe. The festival showcases the top short films produced 40 minutes or less and is looking for the best short screenplays 30 pages or less and TV pilots 50 pages and under.
The 12th annual HollyShorts Screenplay Contest is part of the 20th annual HollyShorts Film Festival (August 7-17 2025). We are looking for short screenplays 30 pages or less. All Quarter, Semi, and Finalists will be announced and invited to the festival with an all access pass. Top 5 screenplays will be announced/awarded at the HollyShorts Awards Ceremony and the winning scripts receives production deals courtesy of 88th Street Productions. ISA story prize rounds out the top 5. The completed shorts will screen at the 2026 HollyShorts Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theatres and receive automatic distribution on Bitpix!
Prices & Deadlines
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Jan 17th
Earlybird
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Mar 21st
Regular
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May 2nd
Late
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Jun 2nd
Extended
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Short Screenplay
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$40.00
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$50.00
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$60.00
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$75.00
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Short Screenplay + 1 Page of Feedback Notes
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$70.00
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$80.00
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$90.00
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$110.00
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Female Short Screenplays
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$40.00
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$50.00
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$60.00
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$75.00
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Television Pilot
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$40.00
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$50.00
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$60.00
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$75.00
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Feature Screenplays
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$50.00
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$60.00
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$70.00
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$80.00
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Female Short Screenplay Entry + 1 Page of Feedback
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$70.00
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$80.00
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$90.00
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$110.00
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Television Pilot Entry + 1 Page of Feedback
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$70.00
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$80.00
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$90.00
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$110.00
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Feature Entry + 1 Page of Feedback
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$80.00
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$90.00
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$110.00
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$120.00
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Benefits
Awards & Prizes
Best Short Screenplay
The first place winning short screenplay will get produced by our production company sponsors 88th Street Productions, to be completed and screen at the HollyShorts Film Festival in 2025. Finished film will get an automatic screening at HollyShorts, including Academy Award Qualified by HSFF and distribution on Bitpix! Top winner will also receive a meeting with Alta Global Media and Festival Formula for festival strategy consultation.
Sponsors
Seattle Film Summit + 88th Street Productions + Bitpix
Cash Award Value: $10,000 U.S. Dollar
Value of Goods/Services: $20,000 U.S. Dollar
*all completed winning scripts get automatic distribution on Bitpix
ISA Story Award
ISA prize
Sponsor: ISA
Value of Goods/Services: $1,000 U.S.
Best TV pilot
Optioned by 88th Street Productions.
Value Goods/Services: $2,000 U.S. Dollar
Quarter and Semi Finalists
All Quarter and Semi finalists get invite to attend the festival, all access pass.
Value of Goods/Services: 1,000 U.S. Dollar
Best Female Screenplay
$1000 cash for the shoot and Becine providing rental camera gear for the shot for the winner of Best Female Screenplay, along with guaranteed screening at HollyShorts and distribution on Bitpix along with Academy Award qualification by HSFF!
Value of Goods/Services: $5000 U.S. Dollar
Script Compass Award
$10,000 value script consulting prize for this award
Announcements
Rules
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