The dream of every aspiring screenwriter is to see their words come alive on the big or small screen. While talent and persistence are crucial, breaking into the highly competitive film and television industry often requires a launchpad—a powerful, industry-recognized stamp of approval. Screenwriting competitions provide exactly that, offering not just cash prizes but, more importantly, unparalleled industry exposure, professional feedback, and representation opportunities. For emerging talent, selecting the right contest to submit to is a strategic career move. This ultimate list compiles the best screenwriting competitions that consistently deliver on their promise of discovering and championing new voices.
The Gold Standard: Industry-Defining Competitions
These competitions are the most prestigious in the industry. Placing well in any of them is often a career-launching moment, instantly opening doors to agents, managers, and major production companies. They are highly competitive, but the rewards are transformative.
The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting
The Nicholl Fellowships is arguably the most prestigious screenwriting contest in the world. Administered by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organization behind the Oscars), it offers up to five $35,000 fellowships to amateur screenwriters who have not earned more than a minimal amount of money writing for film or television.
Why it matters: The Nicholl is the gold standard for credibility. Being named a Fellow is a game-changer, guaranteeing a script and the writer’s name will be circulated to the highest levels of the industry. Many past winners have gone on to have major studio careers, writing and producing blockbuster films and critically acclaimed television shows. The fellowship is designed to support the writer financially as they develop new material.
Austin Film Festival (AFF) Screenplay Competition
Known affectionately as the “Writers Festival,” the Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition is one of the largest and most well-respected contests globally. It has a stellar reputation for genuinely focusing on the craft of storytelling.
Why it matters: Beyond significant cash prizes, the true value lies in the access. Winners and finalists are invited to the annual festival and the acclaimed Screenwriters Conference, where they are actively introduced to literary agents, managers, and producers in a relaxed, non-competitive setting. The emphasis is on building a community and making real connections that lead to representation and deals.
Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest
Sponsored by Final Draft, the industry-standard screenwriting software, the Final Draft Big Break Contest is a highly commercial competition that focuses on finding marketable, high-concept feature films and TV pilots.
Why it matters: This contest acts as a direct pipeline to mainstream Hollywood. Winners receive substantial cash prizes, the latest software, and, crucially, a trip to Los Angeles for high-profile meetings with top-tier production company executives, managers, and agents, including those from major agencies like CAA and UTA. It is an excellent choice for writers targeting commercial studio and network markets.
High-Value Contests for Direct Industry Access
While the competitions above are top-tier, the following list includes best screenwriting competitions with proven track records for connecting writers directly to industry decision-makers, offering invaluable feedback, or catering to specific markets.
PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards are highly recognized as a top source for new screenwriting talent, both domestically and internationally. The competition offers multiple genre categories, giving a broader range of scripts a chance to shine.
Why it matters: PAGE stands out for its global reach and impressive prize pool, including a $25,000 Grand Prize. Finalists’ scripts are actively circulated to top managers, agents, and producers who are actively scouting the contest for new projects, leading to a high percentage of finalists securing representation or development deals.
Script Pipeline Screenwriting Contest
Script Pipeline has built a solid reputation as a focused development and submission service that actively connects writers to the industry. They host separate contests for Feature and TV Writing.
Why it matters: Their primary goal is to bridge writers with Hollywood. Script Pipeline boasts a track record of facilitated script sales and secured representation. Winning scripts, and often high-ranking placements, receive long-term script circulation and development assistance from the Script Pipeline team, demonstrating a commitment to the writer’s career beyond just the cash prize.
BlueCat Screenplay Competition
The BlueCat Screenplay Competition, founded by screenwriter Gordy Hoffman, is beloved for its dedication to the craft and development of the writer.
Why it matters: BlueCat’s unique selling point is its feedback-first philosophy. Every single submission receives a written analysis/feedback report as part of the entry fee. This makes it an invaluable resource for emerging writers looking to understand their script’s strengths and weaknesses and improve their work for future submissions.
Niche and Development-Focused Opportunities
Beyond the major contests, emerging writers should also consider labs and niche competitions that offer hands-on development and cater to specific genres or markets.
Sundance Screenwriters Lab
The Sundance Screenwriters Lab is more of an intensive development incubator than a traditional competition. It’s highly focused on unique, independent voices in feature filmmaking.
Why it matters: Selection for the Sundance Lab is a massive endorsement of a writer’s talent and vision. It provides an all-expenses-paid, five-day writers’ retreat where emerging writers work intensively on their script with professional advisors. The support, mentorship, and prestige associated with the Sundance Institute are unparalleled for launching an indie career.
ScreenCraft Competitions
ScreenCraft offers a wide variety of genre-specific contests, including categories for Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Short Film, and TV Pilot.
Why it matters: By offering genre-specific categories, ScreenCraft increases an emerging writer’s chances of winning within a focused field. They connect winners to top agents, managers, and producers who are specifically looking for that type of material, making it a highly targeted and effective submission strategy. Past winners have signed with major agencies and written for Netflix and Blumhouse.
ISA Fast Track Fellowship
Hosted by the International Screenwriters Association (ISA), the Fast Track Fellowship focuses on giving new writers a dedicated week of mentorship and pitching opportunities.
Why it matters: This fellowship is ideal for writers who have a strong script but lack the network. Fellows are flown to Los Angeles for a week of personalized mentorship, pitching practice, and meetings with industry professionals, providing a fast track to creating essential professional relationships.
Strategic Submission: Your Next Steps
Entering best screenwriting competitions shouldn’t be a shot in the dark; it should be a strategic part of your career plan.
- Align with Your Script: Choose a contest that aligns with your script’s tone, genre, or the type of career you want (e.g., Nicholl for prestige feature film, AFF for community, Final Draft for commercial TV).
- Check the Track Record: Always research the contest’s past success stories. Did winners just get a cash prize, or did they secure representation and get their project produced? The latter is the true measure of a top competition.
- Budget for Feedback: If you can afford it, competitions like BlueCat are excellent for development notes that can help you refine your script for the next round of submissions.