Eligibility
• Scripts must be written in the English language.
• Submissions must be original works written by the submitting author or co authors.
• Scripts previously produced as a feature film, short film, or aired television program are not eligible.
• Writers of all experience levels and backgrounds are welcome to submit.
• There is no restriction on nationality or country of residence.
• Co written screenplays are eligible, but all writers must be listed at the time of submission. No additions or changes to authorship will be accepted after submission.
Submission Requirements
• All screenplays must be submitted in standard industry format (12 point Courier font, proper scene headings, action lines, and dialogue formatting).
• Feature screenplays must be between 80 and 130 pages.
• Short screenplays must be 40 pages or under.
• TV pilots must be between 25 and 65 pages depending on format (half hour or one hour).
• Scripts must be submitted as a PDF file only.
• Cover pages must include only the title and genre. No author names, contact information, or identifying details should appear anywhere in the script body. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.
• Only one screenplay may be submitted per entry. Writers wishing to submit multiple scripts must complete a separate entry for each.
Rights and Ownership
• Submission to the festival does not transfer any rights, titles, or ownership of the screenplay to Hollywood Insiders Screenplay Festival or its organizers.
• The festival reserves the right to use the title, logline, writer name, and a brief synopsis for promotional purposes, including social media, press releases, and the festival website.
• Winners and finalists grant the festival permission to announce and promote their recognition publicly.
Fees and Deadlines
• Submission fees vary by category and deadline tier. All fees are listed clearly on the submission page.
• Fees are non refundable under any circumstances, including withdrawal, disqualification, or festival cancellation due to unforeseen events.
• Late submissions will not be accepted after the final deadline. No exceptions will be made.
Judging and Selection
• All scripts are evaluated by a panel of experienced readers, working industry professionals, and creative executives selected by the festival.
• Judging decisions are final and no feedback beyond the included coverage report will be provided during the selection process.
• The festival reserves the right to withhold an award in any category if submissions do not meet the quality standard expected by the festival.
• Festival organizers and judges may not submit scripts to the competition.
Conduct and Integrity
• Any attempt to identify judges, contact festival staff to influence decisions, or misrepresent authorship will result in immediate disqualification without refund.
• Scripts found to be plagiarized or substantially derived from another work without proper credit will be permanently disqualified and the writer may be banned from future submissions.
• The festival reserves the right to modify rules, deadlines, or categories at any time. Updates will be posted on the official festival page.
Contact and Support
• All questions regarding submissions, eligibility, or coverage reports should be directed to the official festival contact email listed on the FilmFreeway page.
• Response times are typically within 3 to 5 business days.
Script Coverage Included with Every Submission
Every screenplay submitted to the Hollywood Insiders Screenplay Festival receives a full professional script coverage report as part of the submission process at no additional cost. Your coverage will include:
• A written synopsis of your script
• A detailed evaluation of concept, structure, character development, dialogue, pacing, and marketability
•Individual ratings scored as Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor across each category
• An overall recommendation of Consider, Consider with Revisions, or Pass
• Written notes from a professional script reader with actionable, constructive feedback
By submitting a script, writer(s) release festival and all of its management, staff, associates and assigns from any and all liability regarding the sharing and dissemination of their work. Further, the writer(s) acknowledge that the festival mangers, staff, associates and assigns regularly come into contact with numerous scripts with creative elements that are similar and/or overlap with others, and knowing this, writer(s) agree to hold all festival management, staff, associates and assigns harmless for any future legal disagreement or action resulting from the festival's access to writer(s)'s materials.
Coverage reports will be delivered to the submitting writer within 6 to 8 weeks of the final submission deadline. This is our commitment to every writer who trusts us with their work, because every script deserves a thoughtful read.
