In the world of screenwriting, there are several ways to gauge if your script is on the right track and to measure your progress as a writer. The two most popular methods are feedback services and screenwriting competitions.
In this article, we'll explore some of the best screenwriting competitions out there and provide our recommendations.
What are the best screenwriting competitions?
The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting
This is the premier screenwriting competition. Organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, it's likely the most prestigious screenwriting contest around. The prize is no small thing: $35,000 fellowships awarded to up to five winners.
However, it's a tough competition, receiving around 5,500 entries each year, which translates to a 0.018% chance of winning. We’d recommend it only if you have a solid, polished script.
PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
PAGE is another fantastic competition that attracts scripts from all over the world. This contest offers the opportunity to receive insightful feedback from the judges who read your script, so you can know exactly what they thought about it.
Plus, the prizes are significant. The winner receives $25,000, free tuition to a Nostos Screenwriting Retreat in Tuscany, Italy, along with gift certificates from Netflix, Amazon, and more.
The downside is that PAGE receives a massive number of submissions. In their 2024 edition, they received 8,753 submissions, so having a well-developed script is crucial to succeed.
SPARK International Screenwriting Competition
In 2021, we made a frustrating discovery. We realized that there are only two types of screenwriting competitions out there:
The small ones, where you have a real chance of winning but that offer no valuable prize at all, and...
The huge ones, which offer great rewards but are nearly impossible to win. That’s why we created Spark.
Spark combines the best of both worlds. It’s a small competition, meaning your chances of winning are real, yet we also offer a valuable prize—cash—so the winner actually gets something worthwhile.
Plus, we disclose the number of submissions we receive for full transparency. We’re very proud of Spark, which is why we want to share it with you.
Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest
This contest is run by the creators of Final Draft, the industry-standard screenwriting software, which adds to their reputability. It offers a wide variety of prizes for winners, ranging from cash to trips.
Although there's no public information about the number of participants, we’ve heard they receive over 15,000 entries every season.
Most screenwriting competitions are not good
While the competitions mentioned above aim to bring value and support screenwriters, there are many others (probably 95% of them all) that are predatory, only seeking to take money from naive writers.
Although those contests are often small and winnable, they charge for every submission without offering any real prize for the winners, which is why we would strongly recommend you to think twice before spending your hard-earned money with them.
As always, we encourage you to do your own research.
What to look for in a screenwriting competition?
Look for competitions that will add real value by helping you move forward in your screenwriting career—whether that’s through gaining reads or meetings, or by offering a motivating cash prize (along with the rewarding validation of being the winner).
These opportunities can provide both encouragement and tangible progress as you continue on the long but inspiring journey of screenwriting.
Happy writing!