ScreenCraft Short Film Screenplay Competition
Enter Now
About
ScreenCraft's Short Screenplay Competition is one of Hollywood's top contests celebrating short-form screenwriting. With the rise in demand for high-quality short content across new platforms and devices, we’re honoring the craft of short-form narrative screenwriting.
This is your chance to get exclusive guidance from Academy Award-nominated filmmakers and access to industry professionals. Connect with producers, agents, and studios actively seeking fresh talent.
Prices & Deadlines
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Dec 31st
Regular
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Jan 31st
Final
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Standard Entry
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$49.99
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$59.99
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Standard Entry + Feedback
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$109.00
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$119.00
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Benefits
THE PRIZES
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
The overall grand prize winner will be welcomed to the Writer Development Program and receive individualized consulting regarding your portfolio and career goals, and receive introductions with one or more top Hollywood literary managers, execs, or producers who are looking for talented emerging screenwriters.
In addition, the winner's project info and log lines will be recommended in a targeted way to our network of 150+ Hollywood managers, agents, producers and development executives with mandates that match your writing and voice.
ScreenCraft has a proven track record for getting writers signed with managers, agents, and staffed in writing rooms.
They'll receive:
- - Personal Introduction to industry professionals
- - Mentorship with Carlos Lopez Estrada (RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON)
- - Accepted into the Writer Development Program
- - $1,000 cash award
- - An exclusive invitation to a Finalist only workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
FIRST RUNNER-UP
- - $500 cash award
- - Mentorship with Maria Gracia Turgeon
- - Accepted into the Writer Development Program
- - An exclusive invitation to a Finalist only workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
FINALISTS
- - An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
Grand Prize Mentor
Carlos López Estrada
Filmmaker
Carlos López Estrada is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker from Mexico City. His debut film, "BLINDSPOTTING," premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance 2018. Distributed by Lionsgate Entertainment, the film earned Carlos a nomination from the DGA for Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film. His second feature, "SUMMERTIME," premiered at Sundance 2020, and was lauded by Variety's Peter Debruge as "The most inspirational movie of the year." Carlos's third film, DISNEY'S RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON," was a nominee for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards in 2021. In television, he has directed an episode of FX and Marvel’s "LEGION," and is developing an original comedy series titled "SMUGGLERS" at FX. Carlos's diverse portfolio includes music videos for acclaimed artists like Billie Eilish, Katy Perry, and Blink 182. As a producer, he champions emerging talent through his company Antigravity Academy. Their first produced film, "DÌDI (弟弟)," premiered at Sundance '24, where it won the audience award and sold to Focus Features. Currently, Carlos is set to helm the reimagining of the beloved anime "YOUR NAME" for Paramount and Bad Robot.
Mentor
Maria Gracia Turgeon
Producer
Midi La Nuit
Canadian producer and two-time Academy Award nominee Maria Gracia Turgeon co- founded Midi La Nuit with producer/director Annick Blanc in 2015. They’ve produced highly successful short films including Marc-Antoine Lemire's PRE-DRINK (Best Canadian Short TIFF 2017), Fauve by Jérémy Comte (Oscar nominee, Sundance Special Jury Award 2018, Telluride 2018), The Color of Your Lips by Annick Blanc (Canadian screen Awards 2018 ) and Brotherhood by Meryam Joobeur (Oscar nominee, Best Canadian Short TIFF 2018, Sundance 2019). She is currently working on several feature films as Juan Andres Arango’s Donde Comienza el Rio ( L’Atelier Cannes). Her two first feature films will have their premiere this year, Annick Blanc’s feature debut Hunting Daze at SXSW and Meryam Joobeur’s feature debut Who Do I Belong To in competition at Berlinale.
Judges
Nadine Lüchinger
Film Producer
A Swiss film producer based in Zurich, she was nominated for an Oscar® for the short film "ALA KACHUU" at the 94th Academy Awards. She built the feature film and documentary department at Filmgerberei, producing several award-winning projects. Her recent works include the feature-length documentary "EVERYTHING ABOUT MARTIN SUTER. EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE TRUTH" and the short film "UNSER KIND," which qualifies for the 97th Academy Awards.
Kyle Bowles
Creative Executive
MACRO
An LA native from Inglewood, Kyle Bowles is a Creative Executive at MACRO where he realizes his dream of producing films that center people of color on both sides of the camera. His recent credits include serving as Associate Producer on the forthcoming features, FREAKY TALES from Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, and YOUNG. WILD. FREE. directed by Thembi Banks. Prior to MACRO, Kyle began his career at Forward Pass, Gersh, and Mandalay Pictures. Kyle is a graduate of Villanova University, where he began his filmmaking journey making shorts.
Dan Kavanagh
Manager of TV Development
Vertigo Entertainment
Dan Kavanagh joined Vertigo Entertainment in 2019. Since then, he’s worked to identify projects that have sold to Charter, Sony and Village Roadshow among others, while contributing to the development of shows at every major streamer, including Warhammer at Amazon. Previously, he served as Development & Production Coordinator at AMC Networks’ Shudder and Sundance Now, where he helped launch their reboot of Stephen King and George Romero’s Creepshow, which is now in its fourth season.
Giselle Johnson-Morris
Director of Film
Blackmaled Productions
Giselle serves as the Director of Film at BLACKMALED, Malcolm D. Lee's production company known for hits like "THE BEST MAN" franchise and "GIRLS TRIP." Previously, she was a development and production executive at Sony Pictures' Screen Gems, overseeing successful films like "THE POPE'S EXORCIST." Her career also includes stints at Netflix's Original Studio Film team and VICE Studios, where she worked on various high-profile projects.
Jacqui de Padoin Goodman
Director of Development
DeMilo Films
Jacqui oversees creative development for Demilo's film and television projects (known for GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES, MAMA, SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD etc) drawing from her diverse experience in various aspects of the film industry. A Sarah Lawrence College graduate in Creative Writing and Film, she adheres to William Faulkner's philosophy that the most compelling stories explore "the human heart in conflict with itself." Jacqui believes in film's power to entertain, challenge ideals, and reshape our understanding of the world.
Writer Success
Announcements
Rules
At the program's request, Coverfly will automatically remove your title page for you if you include one when submitting to this program.
Submissions are accepted via electronic submission only.
Entry fees are as listed on the site and checkout form. No coupon or discount is applicable on a previous entry.
Optional feedback from a professional reader may be requested at the time of entry. Requests for feedback can be done through Coverfly.
While short scripts may be any length, we recommend scripts be between 2 - 30 pages. Any script submission longer than 30 pages will incur a $1 per page overage fee for each page over 30.
There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit.
Entries must be received on or before the deadline dates by 11:59PM Pacific Time, and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. All entry fees are non-refundable.
All submitted material must be owned by the writer(s), however the material may be based on other works not owned by the writers.
Material must be submitted by the writer. Material written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with consent of the other(s).
If a writing team is chosen as a winner, prizes will be given to the person who submits the project. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing any prizes awarded as they deem fair (whether there is a cash value or not).
Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered material will be allowed for a limited time with a $6 reentry fee through Coverfly. Please proofread your script carefully before submitting.
It is recommended that original material be registered with the WGA or The Library of Congress before submitting to any competition, however we do not require registration.
Contact info may be included on the cover page of the screenplay, however it is not required. ScreenCraft uses Coverfly to manage submissions and automatically removes cover pages before scripts are read by the judges.
ScreenCraft claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remains with the original rights holders.
The decision of the judges will be final and cannot be contested in any manner. There is no score on a scorecard that guarantees advancement to the next level as advancement will be based on all scores in the competition.
In the event a juror, partner organization, or prize partner is no longer able to serve in their specified capacity, ScreenCraft will make its best effort to secure a replacement. ScreenCraft is not responsible for the failed delivery of any prize package by a juror, sponsor, or partner organization.
ScreenCraft reserves the right to change deadline and announcement dates at any time.
ScreenCraft reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
See full rules and eligibility at ScreenCraft