Emerging Screenwriters Sci-Fi & Fantasy Screenplay Competition
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Emerging Screenwriters
Emerging Screenwriters Sci-Fi & Fantasy Screenplay Competition
2025
Active Since 2021
Do you have a great sci-fi or fantasy script that's ready for the industry? This contest is a celebration of traditional and idiosyncratic sci-fi and fantasy narratives.
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About
Do you have a great sci-fi or fantasy script that’s ready for the industry?
Was E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL about an alien visitor or a family drama that explored a child’s understanding of the world? In STAR WARS, when Luke Skywalker swung across a ledge with a princess in his arms, where did the sci-fi end and the fantasy begin? And should THE TRUMAN SHOW even be called a sci-fi film for bending the technology of its setting to tell its story?
This contest is a celebration of traditional and idiosyncratic sci-fi and fantasy narratives.
Accepting Features and Pilots
Benefits
Grand Prize Winner
- $1,500 Cash
- Script Consultation with an ISA Story Executive
- Consideration for the ISA Development Slate
- Development Evaluation on a Different Script ($199 Value)
- Pitch Deck Consultation ($150 value)
- An ISA Pitch Practice Session ($35 value)
- 12 Month ISAConnect Membership
- Script will be considered for our industry contacts such as Max, Disney+, LuckyChap, CAA, ABC Signature, MGM and more.
Finalists
- 6 Month ISAConnect Membership
- 2 Script University Courses ($200 value)
- Script will be considered for our industry contacts such as Max, Disney+, LuckyChap, CAA, ABC Signature, MGM and more.
Coverfly Program Insights
Coverfly vets all programs on its platform, but not every program is right for every writer.
Program Insights help you decide where to submit your work.
2025 Finalists on Coverfly
Top 7%
Feature
· Thriller
· 86 Pages
After waking up in an inescapable prison, five strangers with different spiritual beliefs find their lives in peril and must work together as they face an existential crisis when confronted by The Devil--become the saviors of humanity or the harbingers of Armageddon.
Lodi, NJ
The "swiss army knife of writing", Xavion Niles is a LGBTQ freelance writer turned published author whose motto is, "Box? We break those". He also focuses on representation for sections of society that is usually backburned and puts them at the forefront of his tales because EVERYONE deserves to shine or be the hero/heroine/romantic lead. Though he...
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Top 6%
TV Script
· Drama
· 58 Pages
After a teen internet sleuth known for her viral true crime content dies under mysterious circumstances, she is brought back to life by a Necromancer and tasked with solving a series of murders - including her own.
Brooklyn, New York
No bio available.
Top 1%
Feature
· Sci-fi
· 106 Pages
When humanity becomes immune to death, a frantic nurse must traverse a dangerous and unstable Midwest to find a mysterious medical facility before her diabetic daughter slips into a permanent coma.
Los Angeles, CA
Nathan Patton is an award-winning writer and college dropout from the rural South. After briefly touring the tri-state area with his failed rock band, he went back to school where he received a James Michener Fellowship and an MFA. His script, GREENWOOD, was previously optioned, and he currently has producers attached to three of his recent script...
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Announcements
Apr 23rd
Quarterfinalists
May 7th
Semifinalists
May 21st
Finalists
Jun 4th
Grand Prize Winners
Rules
- All meetings or consults will be virtual.
- All writers from all countries are welcome to submit, however, all scripts must be submitted in English, and application fees must be paid in U.S. dollars.
- Script must be the original work of the submitting writer and may not be encumbered by any third party.
- Scripts that have been sold, produced for a profit, or are currently under option are not eligible.
- Original full-length feature screenplays and TV Pilots only are accepted. Anything else, including but not limited to short scripts or web series, novels, short stories, stage plays, musicals, treatments, synopses, reality show concepts, documentaries, and/or spec scripts for existing TV series are not eligible. Script submissions must be an original screenplay or teleplay.
- Screenplays adapted from the submitting writer’s own self-published books, plays, or other source materials are eligible if the writer retains all rights to the work.
- Adaptations from other works are permissible provided the writer has written permission by the owner to adapt the material.
- Adaptations of works in the public domain are permissible.
- Co-written material will be accepted. However, any and all prizes issued will be based on a single applicant.
- Multiple submissions are accepted by one writer, however if one or more screenplays of the same writer tie, only one screenplay (the decided “best”) will be selected to determine the chosen winner.
- The writer understands that script feedback can take up to 90-days turn-around time and may not be received before the end of the final application deadline.
- The ISA cannot guarantee that feedback for the writer’s script will be received within enough time to resubmit during the same season.
- Applicants must submit materials and payment online only.
- Once a script has been submitted, substitutions of new drafts or corrections may only be accepted within 24 hours of the original application. A revised draft of a script may be accepted after 24 hours if it is entered as a new application with the appropriate fee.
- Promotional discounts or waivers offered may only be utilized at the time of submission.
- Promotional discounts or waivers offered may not apply on all submission platforms (i.e. Film Freeway).
- Writers under the age of 18 years old must have parent or legal guardian’s permission to participate.
- Decisions of the Judges are final and may not be disputed. The Judges will adhere to our competition guidelines; however, the competition and its administrators may not be held responsible for any errors or omissions on the part of the Judges.
- The writer understands that it is his/her sole responsibility to register material to be submitted with the U.S. Copyright Office and/or with the Writer’s Guild of America or the appropriate agency in his/her country.
- Applicants awarded a placement understand and accept that the ISA will be free to use his/her name and likeness for advertising or promotional purposes without additional consideration.
- Writers retain the rights to their screenplay.
- Applicants are non-exclusive to this competition and may submit their screenplay to any other person, competition, producer, agent, publisher, and/or organization.
- No transfer, substitution or cash equivalent for prizes is allowed.
- The ISAConnect Membership prize may only be used within 90 days and may not be combined with any current free membership.
- Length requirements are as follows: 1). Full-Length Features: 70-120 pages. 2). TV Pilots: Up to 70 pages.
- If applicant orders feedback a $1 per page fee may be charged separately over 120 pages, not including the Title Page, or the reader may only read the first 120 pages.
- Standard title pages should be included: listing the script title, name of author(s), telephone number, and email address. Applicants will not be disqualified if it is not included.
- Under no circumstances should the writer include name or contact information within the body of the script.
- ISA is not responsible for any applicant errors or omissions on any submitted application materials.
- Synopses, casting suggestions, letters, resumes and photos will not be considered. TV Pilot submissions may include standard supplementary materials, such as lists of recurring characters and future episodes.
- The writer accepts without reservation that the submitted logline and screenplay will be reviewed by ISA staff and/or panel of Industry Judges for evaluation and that any one of these employees, or judges may have been or may be exploring ideas similar to the submitted material, and the applicant hereby waives any claim that the ISA, its staff or judges may have misappropriated any ideas or portions of the submission, logline or screenplay.
- There are no refunds for any reason after 24 hours from submission.
- The writer understands and accepts without reservation that he/she is an independent contractor and that ISA Administrators are not responsible for withholding any taxes or payments to any government agency, at any level, be it state, local or federal.
- By submitting to this competition, the writer’s email address will be added to the contest database as well as the International Screenwriters’ Association newsletter for weekly updates, contest promotions and other notifications. The writer may unsubscribe at any time.
- It is our full intention to fulfill all prizes as posted. However, due to an unlikely event, act of God or other, we reserve the right to update or edit prizes.
- BY ENTERING THE CONTEST YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THESE RULES.