Catch your big break: The best screenwriting competitions to enter in 2019
Screenwriting competitions remain one of the few reliable entry points for writers trying to move past query letters and into actual rooms. Studios still favor material that already carries outside validation, and fellowships and contests supply that signal through cash, coverage, and direct introductions. The landscape has shifted since the original 2019 list, with some programs tightening access and others expanding virtual options, yet the core promise stays the same: a finished script can still open doors when the right readers see it.
ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship
ScreenCraft’s Screenwriting Fellowship continues to connect emerging writers with producers, agents, and managers through its annual development track. Past winners have moved into staffing roles and signed with major agencies after completing the program. Writers submit feature or original television scripts on a rolling basis, with periodic windows announced through the site. The early deadline for recent cycles has already passed, but later rounds remain open for those polishing final drafts.
PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
PAGE International Screenwriting Awards marks its ongoing run with $50,000 distributed annually across categories. Industry readers at agencies and production companies review winning entries, and past recipients have landed writing assignments on series and features. The 2026 cycle runs with a final deadline of May 8 and winners announced October 15. Early entry discounts apply for those who submit before the last window.
WeScreenplay
WeScreenplay operates as a coverage service while running its own slate of feature, short, and television contests each year. The Diverse Voices initiative continues to prioritize stories from writers of color, women, and writers over forty, with recent partnerships including Color Farm Media to increase visibility for those entries. Submissions open in cycles; writers can sign up for notifications when the next round activates.
Slamdance Screenplay Competition
The Slamdance Screenplay Competition accepts entries across all genres and locations. The 2025 cycle awarded $18,000 in total prizes, with the grand prize set at $10,000 plus a Roadmap Writers membership. 2026 submissions opened in March and run through an August late deadline, with announcements scheduled for October. Every entrant receives basic feedback, and optional deeper coverage remains available.
Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting
The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting awards up to five $35,000 fellowships each cycle to unproduced writers. The program shifted in 2025 to a primarily partner-driven model, with public submissions now capped at 2,500 scripts routed through the Black List and Writers Guild Foundation portals. The 2025-2026 fellows include Katla Sólnes, Leo Aguirre, Lynn McKee, Omar Al Dakheel and Elie El Choufany, and the writing team Sara Crow and David Rafailedes. Winners participate in awards week activities and must complete a new feature during their fellowship year.
The Launch
The Launch focused on college students with a million-dollar production budget for the grand prize winner along with eight $100,000 grants. The program announced finalists and provided feedback to entrants in prior cycles. Writers interested in updates can follow the producers’ social channels for any future announcements.
Film Independent Screenwriting Lab
Film Independent Screenwriting Lab pairs selected fellows with creative advisors for an intensive workshop focused on a single feature screenplay. The 2026 fellows were recently announced, and applications for the 2027 cycle open June 29 with a non-member deadline of August 31. Guest filmmakers join sessions to discuss craft and career paths, and the program concludes with a retreat for additional feedback.
Sundance Screenwriters Lab
Sundance Screenwriters Lab remains the best-known intensive for independent feature writers. Participants spend five days revising scripts with established mentors in a setting that emphasizes creative risk. The 2026 Development Track applications were processed during the prior cycle, and the core lab continues with related grant opportunities for selected projects.
Big Break Screenwriting Contest
Big Break Screenwriting Contest accepts seven feature and four television categories each year. Winners receive cash, software, and flights to Los Angeles for meetings with managers and producers. The 2026 cycle closed after submissions, with quarterfinalists announced in the following weeks. Past grand prize recipients have reported options and staffing placements after the industry roundtables.
Film Daily Screenwriters Prize
Film Daily Screenwriters Prize keeps entry fees accessible while awarding cash and professional meetings. The program continues to highlight topical stories around mental health, race, class, and LGBTQI experiences. Writers can check the site for the next submission window.
Emerging Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
Beyond individual contests, dedicated fellowships now target underrepresented writers with structured mentorship. Humanitas New Voices Fellowship and CAPE New Writers Fellowship run labs that pair participants with industry advisors and production support. WeScreenplay’s Color Farm partnership has increased entry numbers from writers of color in recent cycles, showing measurable movement toward broader representation in the applicant pools.
Impact of Nicholl Program Restructuring
The shift to partner-driven submissions at the Nicholl program changed access for independent writers who previously submitted directly. Most entries now route through university programs or approved labs, while the public portal through Black List and the Writers Guild Foundation caps at 2,500 scripts. Writers without institutional affiliation must monitor those portals closely when the window opens.
Success Metrics and Career Outcomes
Recent cycles show concrete movement from contest wins to staffed rooms. ScreenCraft fellows have signed with agencies and landed positions at Netflix, Apple TV+, and ABC. Big Break participants have secured options and sales after the Los Angeles meetings. Aggregated placement data across programs demonstrates that consistent finalists tend to accumulate representation and assignments within two years of winning.
How to Choose and Submit Strategically
Programs serve different goals. Nicholl offers prestige and funding. Big Break and Slamdance deliver cash plus direct meetings. Sundance and Film Independent prioritize intensive development time. Writers should match their current draft stage and career targets to the right list rather than submitting everywhere at once. Tracking deadlines on a single calendar prevents missed windows.
Virtual and Hybrid Lab Formats Post-2020
Most labs now include virtual or hybrid components. Sundance Intensive sessions added remote workshops, and Film Independent incorporated online advisor meetings. WeScreenplay runs fully virtual labs alongside in-person options. Writers outside Los Angeles can participate without travel costs, though some programs still require a final in-person retreat for selected fellows.
