The Vail Screenplay Competition is a vehicle for aspiring screenwriters to have their scripts recommended to established film producers, managers, and agents who are actively working at the top level of the film industry. 

The top finalist screenplays will be shared with industry executives from Miramax, Untitled Entertainment, Fremantle, LD Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Anonymous Content, Spyglass Media Group, Cold Iron Pictures, Paper Street Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Village Roadshow, NBC Universal, and MGM.

Past Vail Film Festival special guests include Olivia Wilde, Aaron Paul, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Smith, Michelle Monaghan, Harold Ramis, Zach Braff, Julie Delpy, Jane Seymour, Christina Ricci, Tim Daly, Jesse Eisenberg, Luke Wilson, Allison Janney, Tate Taylor, Josh Lucas, Aya Cash, Michael Imperioli, Sophia Bush, Krysten Ritter, among others.

The Vail Screenplay Competition is a signature program of the Colorado Film Institute, producer of the annual Vail Film Festival, now entering its 20th year. The Colorado Film Institute is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, supported by sponsorships, donors, and grants, including support from Colorado Creative Industries and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

The top finalist screenplays will be shared with industry executives from Miramax, Untitled Entertainment, Fremantle, LD Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Anonymous Content, Spyglass Media Group, Cold Iron Pictures, Paper Street Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Village Roadshow, NBC Universal, and MGM. 

1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place feature, short, and television screenplay winners will be included in a national press release, and will have their scripts recommended to key decision-makers at leading entertainment companies. All top placing screenplays will also be listed on the Vail Film Festival website as the top placements of the 2023 Vail Screenplay Competition. All semifinalists and quarterfinalists will also have their scripts listed on the Vail Film Festival website.