Where Screenwriters Reign!

Lets hear it for the screenwriters people! The backbone, yet often overlooked, of the film industry. Screenwriters are a group of people who would love to have their work recognized and produced but the struggle is real! Founded in 2019, The Florida Script Challenge is aiming to help change that. We ourselves are screenwriters and have been for six years now. We know the struggle for screenwriters and the struggle of getting your work in front of the right set of eyes. We’re here to give you an avenue to have your work judged by your peers in screenwriting and hopefully help get your work noticed by someone that can help get it made. We will help you promote your work in any way that we can so hopefully the right people lay their eyes on it and help you reach your dreams in screenwriting!
For each of our Top 3 Category Finishers as well as the Hurricane Award and Screenwriter of the Year Award, you will a receive a personalized crystal trophy! You can see examples from previous winners on our website and here on FilmFreeway!

We’re very excited to again, partner with Final Draft for the 2023 contest! This years winner will again receive a copy of Final Draft 12 screenwriting software!

We are also happy to announce that every entry (if accepted) into the 2023 Florida Script Challenge is automatically eligible for all awards, including the category awards as well as the Hurricane Award and the Screenwriter of the Year Award. You will never have to pay extra fees for trophies, certificates or entries into extra categories. We continue to look for new and exciting ways to celebrate our amazing screenwriters. As we get updates for the 2023 contest we will immediately share them here!

We are thrilled to partner with Suzanne Gundersen and Screenwritenow for the third year in a row in 2023! Suzanne offers consulting services to help screenwriters overcome obstacles that might prevent them from completing screenplays, get them pitch ready and transform them into writing gold! For the upcoming contest the Hurricane Award Winner and the Screenwriter of the Year will receive (TWO) One hour consulting sessions with Suzanne! Also, each of our top three finishers in BOTH the Feature and Short Categories will receive a 30 minute consulting session with Suzanne!

We're very pleased to announce our newest sponsor for the Florida Script Challenge! Virtual Pitch Fest or VPF! Starting in 2023 we will be awarding our winners the ability to pitch to producers and studios!

Our Hurricane Award winner will receive 10 pitches

Our Screenwriter of the Year will receive 10 pitches

First place in each category will receive 5 pitches

Second place in each category will receive 3 pitches

Third place in each category will receive 3 pitches

Each semi-finalist and finalist will receive 1 pitch

We thank Virtual Pitch Fest for their sponsorship and cannot wait to see the results next year! New submission window opens July 4, 2022!

VPF is a platform for TV/Film professionals seeking scripts and writers to represent. With VPF, writers can submit Written Pitches to 500+ networks/studios, producers and agents with the assurance of a guaranteed response.

Awards & Prizes

Our 2023 Hurricane Award will be named the Hurricane ‘Mark’ Award after our 2022 winner, Mark Perlick!!
Hurricane Award Winner - Trophy, Certificate, Final Draft 12 Download, (2) One hour consulting sessions with Suzanne Gundersen and 10 pitches from Virtual Pitch Fest

Screenwriter of the Year - Trophy, Certificate, (2) One hour consulting sessions with Suzanne Gundersen and 10 pitches from Virtual Pitch Fest

Short Screenplay First Place - Trophy, Certificate, One 30 minute consulting session with Suzanne Gundersen and 5 pitches from Virtual Pitch Fest
Short Screenplay Second Place - Trophy, Certificate, One 30 minute consulting session with Suzanne Gundersen and 3 pitches from Virtual Pitch Fest
Short Screenplay Third Place - Trophy, Certificate, One 30 minute consulting session with Suzanne Gundersen and 3 Pitches from Virtual Pitch Fest

Feature Screenplay First Place - Trophy, Certificate, One 30 minute consulting session with Suzanne Gundersen and 5 pitches from Virtual Pitch Fest
Feature Screenplay Second Place - Trophy, Certificate, One 30 minute consulting session with Suzanne Gundersen and 3 pitches from Virtual Pitch Fest
Feature Screenplay Third Place - Trophy, Certificate, One 30 minute consulting session with Suzanne Gundersen and 3 pitches from Virtual Pitch Fest

All Semi-Finalists and Finalists will receive a certificate and 1 pitch from Virtual Pitch Fest

Rules & Terms

Short screenplays and Feature Screenplays of any genre will be accepted. Screenplays submitted must be writers original work. Short Screenplays must be NO LONGER than 30 pages. Feature Screenplays must be between 60 and 120 pages in length. All submissions must be in English.

Only projects submitted through FilmFreeway will be considered in the Challenge.

Screenplays will be judged on originality, plot, character development and story. There is no limit on number of submissions per writer but each submission will require its own entry fee.

Works in progress will NOT be considered. Work must be completed before submission.

Official Selections will be announced on or before May 5, 2023.
Semi-Finalists will be announced on May 12, 2023.
Finalists will be announced on May 19, 2023.
Winners will be announced on May 27, 2023.

* By submitting your screenplay, take note that:

All Entry Fees are non-refundable.
Submitter grants us authorization to share and promote information for projects submitted. Submitter will be given credit for all material submitted as it is their own intellectual property and will remain so.

Submitter agrees they have read and understood all the terms and conditions, rules and guidelines before submitting a project.

All determinations and decisions are made solely by the Florida Script Challenge directors and jurors.

All decisions are final.

44 Reviews
Overall Rating
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Value
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  • Kelly Green

    It was a really great festival. Thank you for putting me into the Semi Finalist. It was lovely to see my success go that far for my screenplay. :)

    June 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Kelly! We appreciate you and are glad you had a great experience with us!

  • Kelly Brady

    I had a fantastic experience. As one of my first festivals, I found the experience affirming. The rules were clear, submission was uncomplicated and communication was excellent.

    June 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Kelly! We're glad you enjoyed your experience with us and hope to see more work from you in the future!

  • Samantha Hallenus

    The festival is very supportive and the communication was great.

    June 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you! We try to be as accommodating and supportive to our submitters as we would expect a festival to be if we were submitting ourselves. We appreciate your support!

  • Sean Sullivan

    I was very pleasantly surprised with the Florida Scrip challenge. It's hard to break into these Celebrity script shows so I was really glad when they recognized Hollywood Cat. Hollywood cat also has trouble breaking in even though his name is Hollywood. Hollywood cat is very happy.

    May 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Sean! We’re glad you enjoyed your experience with us!

  • Harvey Goodman

    Really a good event with great attention to every detail. Dallas and Crow seem bound to develop this into a premier screenwriting contest in short order. Highly recommend

    May 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Harvey! It was a pleasure to read your work! We hope to see more soon!