The Academy Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival (HSFF) is an annual short film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films and short screenplays from around the globe. The festival showcases the top short films produced 40 minutes or less and is looking for the best short screenplays 30 pages or less and TV pilots 50 pages and under.

The 13th annual HollyShorts Screenplay Contest is part of the 21st annual HollyShorts Film Festival (August 13-23 2026) We are looking for short screenplays 30 pages or less. All Quarter, Semi, and Finalists will be announced and invited to the festival with an all access pass. Top 5 screenplays will be announced/awarded at the HollyShorts Awards Ceremony. ISA story prize rounds out the top 5. The completed shorts will screen at the 2027 HollyShorts Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theatres and receive automatic distribution on Bitpix!

Best Short Screenplay
The first place winning short screenplay will get prizes courtesy of 88th Street Productions, Festival Formula, Alta Global Media, and Bitpix. The Finished film will get an automatic screening at HollyShorts and distribution on Bitpix!
Top winner will also receive a meeting with Alta Global Media and Festival Formula for festival strategy consultation.

Sponsors: 88th Street Productions + Bitpix + Festival Formula + Alta Global Media
*all completed winning scripts (if and when completed) get automatic distribution on Bitpix, will screen at HollyShorts and will receive intro to Festival Formula to make festival submission plan for said short film.

ISA story Award
ISA prize
Sponsor: ISA.

Best TV pilot
Optioned by 88th Street Productions.

Quarter and Semi Finalists
All Quarter and Semi-finalists get invite to attend the festival, all-access pass.

Best Female Screenplay
Sponsors: 88th Street + Bitpix + Festival Formula
$1000 cash for the winner of Best Female Screenplay, along with guaranteed screening at HollyShorts and distribution on Bitpix along with a festival strategy discussion with Festival Formula.

Feature Screenplay Award
Sponsor: Alta Global Media
Consulting meeting with Alta Global Media for the winning Feature Screenplay

All entries submitted are eligible to win the top prizes.

Employees (and their immediate families (parent, spouse, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those living in their same households, whether or not related) of HollyShorts and any of their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies or festival sponsors, are not eligible to win. There is no limit on the number of short screenplays you can submit; however, each short screenplay submitted by you must be original and different from any other short screenplay submitted by you, submitted separately and accompanied by its own completed submission form and participant agreement. Short screenplays may be a maximum of 30 pages, must be in English and must be submitted in proper script format. HollyShorts reserves the right to reject any short screenplay that it determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, contains prohibited content or is offensive, inappropriate or otherwise unacceptable. All eligible entries received by HollyShorts will be judged by the HollyShorts selection committee and the production company sponsoring the contest.

By submitting your script for consideration for the HollyShorts Screenplay Contest, you agree for HollyShorts and its contest sponsor to produce your short screenplay if selected as the overall winner. The completed film(s) will premiere at the HollyShorts Film Festival and on our distribution platform Bitpix.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Honored to be a finalist in the short screenplay category

    August 2025
  • Although I couldn't attend, I loved my experience with HollyShorts, and thank you for giving my short horror script, The Exorcism of Father Gabriel, a Finalist award.

    August 2024
  • Rob Federic

    Hollyshorts is a FANTASTIC festival. All the staff were incredibly helpful and kind. The events and screenings were out of this world. They really take the time to put attention to detail. Would go back in a heartbeat!

    August 2024
  • This is one of the most fun and entertaining festivals I’ve ever been to. The films are exceptional and I was surrounded by talented people the entire time. I couldn’t have asked for more. I highly recommend HollyShorts.

    August 2023
  • Amir Zargara

    Thanks for having me :)

    August 2023