Script Pipeline Pitch Contest
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About
Winner Receives:
$2,500 | extensive script development | industry circulation
The bi-annual 2024 Script Pipeline Pitch Contest is searching for original feature film and TV series ideas to be developed into screenplays and pilots—relevant, diverse, higher-concept stories that could find a home in the current landscape.
One Grand Prize Winner is chosen to receive $2,500 and additional long-term assistance with our in-house creative execs to help develop the script from the ground up. When the work is ready for circulation, we send to specific producers and reps who might align with the material.
All writers retain the rights to their pitch and script. Any genre or budget range, studio-level or indie, is accepted.
*NOTE: as this competition is focused on developing scripts one-on-one with film and TV writers, only submit pitches. Completed scripts may be entered in other Pipeline competitions.
Over $8 million in screenplays and pilots have been sold by Script Pipeline writers as well as numerous scripts produced since 1999, a notable list that includes studio films Stuber by Tripper Clancy and Snow White and the Huntsman by Evan Daugherty. Pipeline Screenwriting finalist Bring Me Back by Crosby Selander sold to Legendary in 2020 for seven figures—one of the all-time biggest spec sales by an unproduced writer. Helen Gaughran's winning script Visitation was produced in 2023, starring Olivia Cooke (House of the Dragon) and Isla Johnston (The Queen’s Gambit). Several Pipeline writers have made The Black List recently, such as Elad Ziv's Court 17, Cauliflower by Daniel Jackson, and Pure by Catherine Schetina, the latter two securing the #1 spot. And writers have signed with multiple top managers and agents over the years, landing with reps at Bellevue, UTA, Kaplan/Perrone, Alibi Management, and more following Script Pipeline development and introductions.
Benefits
Grand Prize Winner (1) - $2,500: July 31st, 2024
The winner also receives:
- - Extensive development and assistance in completing a screenplay or pilot
- - Long-term script circulation to industry and continual guidance connecting with companies
- - Review of additional pitches and completed film or TV material for industry consideration
- - Invitations to private events and Symposium panels hosted by Pipeline
Announcements
Rules
Script Pipeline's criteria is based primarily on the overall originality and relevancy of the concept, preferably hitting a "Goldilocks zone" between commercial/mainstream and something wholly new and different.
We're open to all types of pitches across any genre. Keep in mind, movie and TV entries compete against one another, so if you aren't sure what medium your idea fits best, that's okay.
In the past, selected ideas have ranged from lower-budget indies, to big-budget studio films, to animation, biopics, true stories, weird experimental stuff, and high-concept, mainstream genre material. Anything that feels fresh and universally appealing is fair game.
We highly recommend writers submit more detailed summaries spotlighting the elements that make your project distinct: why this concept, why these themes, and in many cases regarding stories in the public domain or "lower concept" pitches, why you, the writer, are most apt to write that story and what singular vision you can offer.
Oftentimes the concept comes across best in the form of a pitch deck, but that's not a requirement.
Some guidelines:
- - Must submit a full story synopsis and logline, at minimum. This can range from a page in length to a full treatment or pitch deck. We don't necessarily judge on format, we judge on the idea itself. And the best format is usually comprised of a logline, a page-long summary, and any other comments on the originality of the premise or personal connection to the subject matter, if applicable.
- - Do not send full-length screenplays—pitches ONLY.
- - Must be for a scripted film or TV series. No reality, documentary, or game show ideas.
- - Previous Screenwriting, TV Writing, First Look Project, and Pitch Contest winners and finalists (since 2021) are ineligible.
