Pittsburgh Shorts and Script Competition, a program of the Three Rivers Film Festival, has earned a reputation for presenting the best international contemporary short films and scripts in the Pittsburgh region. We are dedicated to the art of short film, which we know starts on the page. That’s why we boost writers through a script competition in partnership with Carnegie Screenwriters where we continually seek out new voices. We pride ourselves on our reasonable entrance fees, cash prizes, travel assistance, and all-festival and all-conference passes for finalists. The winner of the Script Competition will receive a $500 prize and a 1-hour consultation with a Roadmap Writers executive.  In addition, all writers who submit a script to the competition receive a free educational webinar of their choice from Roadmap Writers plus a 10% discount on any additional program at RoadmapWriters.com.

The festival includes after parties, networking opportunities, and other fun events. We also have a filmmakers’ conference with sessions led by industry executives.

Our 2025 script competition juror will be announced soon!

·  Cash Prizes - first place: $500, second place: $250, third place: $150, fourth place: $100.

·  First place winner receives a 1-hour consultation with a Roadmap Writers executive.

·  All four finalist scripts are given a well-attended staged reading performed by professional actors.

·  Synopses of finalist scripts and writers' names are listed publicly on our website and in our program guide.

·  Finalists receive laurels to use in their own marketing.

·  Finalists receive a complimentary all-festival badge including admission to the 2025 Filmmaker Conference.

·  Travel assistance is offered to any finalist who wishes to attend the festival.

·  Finalists receive free submissions to all future festivals.