Slamdance Screenplay Competition
Enter Now
About
The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging writing talent. We welcome screenplays in every genre, on any topic, from anywhere in the world.
We provide a small paragraph of constructive feedback for every entrant. More in-depth coverage is available for an additional fee.
Since 1995, the competition has established a strong track record for introducing writers to members of the entertainment industry who have gone on to produce, option and represent submitted work. Like the Film Festival, the Screenplay Competition is a place for new, bold, and raw voices. We are looking for scripts that take risks, refuse compromises, and go places where most fear to tread.
Our competition consists of four categories.
• Feature
• Horror/Thriller
• TV Pilot
• Short
Awards are given to the top three scripts in each category. The Grand Prize Winner is selected from these top 12 scripts.
Prices & Deadlines
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Jun 6th
Regular
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Jul 18th
Late
|
Jul 25th
Final
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|---|---|---|---|
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Feature Screenplay (41-110 pages)
|
$70.00
|
$80.00
|
$90.00
|
|
Feature Screenplay (41-110 pages) + Standard Coverage (within 60 days)
|
$170.00
|
$180.00
|
$190.00
|
|
Feature Screenplay (41-110 pages) + Express Coverage (within 21 days)
|
$220.00
|
$230.00
|
$240.00
|
|
Feature Screenplay (111-140 pages)
|
$90.00
|
$100.00
|
$110.00
|
|
Feature Screenplay (111-140 pages) + Standard Coverage (within 60 days)
|
$190.00
|
$200.00
|
$215.00
|
|
Feature Screenplay (111-140 pages) + Express Coverage (within 21 days)
|
$240.00
|
$250.00
|
$265.00
|
|
Horror/Thriller (41-110 pages)
|
$70.00
|
$80.00
|
$90.00
|
|
Horror/Thriller (41-110 pages) + Standard Coverage (within 60 days)
|
$170.00
|
$180.00
|
$190.00
|
|
Horror/Thriller (41-110 pages) + Express Coverage (within 21 days)
|
$220.00
|
$230.00
|
$240.00
|
|
Horror/Thriller (111-140 pages)
|
$90.00
|
$100.00
|
$115.00
|
|
Horror/Thriller (111-140 pages) + Standard Coverage (within 60 days)
|
$190.00
|
$200.00
|
$215.00
|
|
Horror/Thriller (111-140 pages) + Express Coverage (within 21 days)
|
$240.00
|
$250.00
|
$265.00
|
|
TV Pilots (up to 45 pages)
|
$55.00
|
$60.00
|
$65.00
|
|
TV Pilots (up to 45 pages) + Standard Coverage (within 60 days)
|
$145.00
|
$150.00
|
$155.00
|
|
TV Pilots (up to 45 pages) + Express Coverage (within 21 days)
|
$185.00
|
$190.00
|
$195.00
|
|
TV Pilots (46-80 pages)
|
$60.00
|
$70.00
|
$80.00
|
|
TV Pilots (46-80 pages) + Standard Coverage (within 60 days)
|
$150.00
|
$160.00
|
$170.00
|
|
TV Pilots (46-80 pages) + Express Coverage (within 21 days)
|
$190.00
|
$200.00
|
$210.00
|
|
Short Screenplays (up to 10 pages)
|
$40.00
|
$45.00
|
$50.00
|
|
Short Screenplays (up to 10 pages) + Standard Coverage (within 60 days)
|
$130.00
|
$135.00
|
$140.00
|
|
Short Screenplays (up to 10 pages) + Express Coverage (within 21 days)
|
$170.00
|
$175.00
|
$180.00
|
|
Short Screenplays (11-40 pages)
|
$55.00
|
$60.00
|
$65.00
|
|
Short Screenplays (11-40 pages) + Standard Coverage (within 60 days)
|
$145.00
|
$150.00
|
$155.00
|
|
Short Screenplays (11-40 pages) + Express Coverage (within 21 days)
|
$185.00
|
$190.00
|
$195.00
|
Benefits
Awards & Prizes
A total of $18,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the winners this year.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a total of $10,000 in cash.
The winners of the Feature, Horror/Thriller, TV Pilot, and Short categories will each receive $2,000 in cash.
The top three screenwriters in each category will receive prize packages that include Festival Passes good for all screenings and parties at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah in January 2024.
The winning Horror/Thriller feature and Feature screenplays will receive $5,000 each in legal services from Pierce Law Group, LLP.
One entry from the competition will be awarded the Slamdance Screenplay Mentorship Award.
Production companies, studios, top agencies and managers request to read our top scripts.
Additionally, all submitted scripts are eligible for the Mentorship Award.
What is the Mentorship Award?
Founded in 2018, the Mentorship Award is an opportunity for one-on-one script development with a small group of professional advisors. Our readers nominate unique scripts that, with a little more development and support from a team of alumni, could turn into production-ready ventures. From these nominations, we will select the 2023 Mentorship Award winner, who will receive personalized feedback through Slamdance's alumni network and screenwriting consultants.
The mentorship process is broken into two distinct parts: revision and professional development. In part one, the writer will receive in-depth coverage from a panel of advisors, who will then work with the writer on sharpening, honing and refining their script. In part two, the writer will have an open forum to ask questions and discuss possible “next steps” for their work career in the form of representation, production and/or sales.