The Del Shores Foundation Writers Search aims to elevate and expose the unknown voices of LGBTQ+ writers in the Southern United States. Our goal is to celebrate specifically queer voices telling whatever stories they have to tell. This Writers Search is open to writers of stage plays, screenplays, short films and web series who currently live in the South and who identify as LGBTQ+.
The Del Shores Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit with a mission to find and facilitate the development of new southern queer artistic voices through bringing together artists and working professionals, amplifying new work and connecting artists to platforms for the creation of the work.
Del Shores is an openly gay and award-winning writer, director and producer originally from Texas. He has created successfully across studio and independent film, network and cable television and live theatre. His eight plays have led to five film adaptations and his southern, gay franchise Sordid Lives began as a play in 1996 and spawned a cult-hit film in 2000, a LOGO TV series in 2008 and a marriage equality-themed sequel in 2017.
**SUBMISSION FEE WAIVERS AVAILABLE**
Our Del Shores Foundation Writers Festival is presented annually with Winners and Finalists in all categories sponsored to attend. The weekend included private workshops for the writers with industry professionals, public panels and live stage readings of all three winning scripts featuring local actors. Our first festival was in Dallas, TX in 2022, followed by Atlanta in 2024at Out Front Theatre, and our 2025 festival was held in March at the Terrific New Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama.
See information on our most recent festival here: www.delshoresfoundation.org/writersfestival2025
See an overview video here:
https://youtu.be/nVayqy7PoeM?si=lw2QkPemSOcCpqOd
CASH AWARDS will be given to a single winner in each category:
Short Film/Web Series – $1,000 Award
Screenwriting – $3,000 Award
Playwriting – $3,000 Award
All category Finalists – $250
All category Semifinalists – $100
- If a Del Shores Foundation Writing Festival is presented in 2026, the winning script in each category may receive a staged, public reading at the festival.
ADDITIONAL GRANTS
- Grants will be made available associated with each category to promote the development of each winner.
- Short Film/Web Series – a grant of $2,000 to the production budget of the winner if produced within one year of winning the award.
- Screenwriting – travel and accommodations provided to the winner for a three-day trip to Los Angeles to meet with production companies.
- Playwriting – a $10,000 grant to the production budget of the first professional theatre company Del Shores Foundation partner to produce the world premiere of the winning play.
- See website Terms & Conditions for more information on these grants.
- Finalist Play Reading Series Grant - up to $1500 to one of our theatre partners to produce a one-night stage reading of a play finalist script.