Important: we plan to shoot selected screenplays and screen the films! Read on for more information.

Entry is free.

A screenplay festival with a difference! We actually want to make your films, and award prize money to do it. Not only that, you still retain rights to your screenplay and the associated intellectual property. Read the rules for more information.

We are filmmakers and performers based in regional Australia seeking to make low / no budget short films. We are looking for screenplays to achieve that.

You’re probably a writer, maybe with a few short film screenplays gathering dust that you would like to see made into a film.

How it works:

- You enter your screenplay into the festival.
- We read your script and decide if it’s a good fit for us.
- If selected, you win a prize and we make a film!

Prizes for selected screenplays are as follows:

9 pages or less - $US50
10-20 pages - $US80
21-30 pages - $US100

Note: Prizes are based on length of screenplay, excluding title page, and assuming the work is properly formatted to industry standards. We will not read scripts that are through an external link rather than FilmFreeway's upload.

What we’re looking for:

Ideally scripts that can be made safely as no or low budget films. Typically that means, for example, no big stunts or elaborate effects. The fewer locations, the better, and it’s best to keep them simple. Cast wise, we are fortunate to know lots of amazing actors of all ages, so we’re not scared of dialogue or heavy performance requirements.

Genres we love include horror, fantasy, speculative and thrillers but we’re open to all genres (just not extreme violence or sex). A musical is possible (as long as you own rights to the music).

We’d also love to see screenplays suitable for family audiences.

Types of locations and sets we can usually access:

Typical family home
Farms
River bank
Forest
Warehouse
Restaurant / cafe
Speakeasy type bar
Parks and playgrounds
Alleyway with graffiti
Modern office and boardroom
School room
Early 20th century lounge room (1900s to 1940s)
Hall
Small theatre
Garden

We don’t expect your screenplay formatting, etc to be perfect. However, we do need it to at least resemble a screenplay. We will not consider, for example, treatments or synopses.

We accept screenplays in one of the following formats: PDF, Final Draft, Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format, or Text.

If your screenplay is still undecided, it’s in with a chance. And keep in mind, even if we don't select your screenplay, that doesn’t mean it’s not good. It just means it’s not a good fit for our resources. We aim to give every screenplay submitted some feedback. This won’t be as detailed as coverage notes, more about why it was not selected based on our criteria.

In 2024, we are aiming to produce at least one film every 2 months. This may be more or less depending on resources. We’ll be selecting screenplays on an ongoing basis until the final notification date. We’ll be sharing updates on our projects on our website and social media.

By entering the festival, you are giving Studio 138 non-exclusive rights to produce your screenplay if selected. See all the rules to fully understand how it works.

Films that have been completed as part of this festival will be screened on the event date. There may be preview or premiere screenings prior to this. We will keep writers of selected screenplays informed of these screenings.

Awards & Prizes

Prizes for selected screenplays are as follows:

9 pages or less - $US50
10-20 pages - $US80
21-30 pages - $US100

Note: Prizes are based on length of screenplay, excluding title page, and assuming the work is properly formatted to industry standards.

If we don't select your screenplay, that doesn’t mean it’s not good. It just means it’s not a good fit for our resources.

Rules & Terms

All screenplays must be in English, in screenplay format and uploaded to FilmFreeway. We will not read scripts through external download links. We will not consider, for example, treatments or synopses. We accept screenplays in one of the following formats: PDF, Final Draft, Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format, or Text.

The submitter warrants that they are the writer of the submitted screenplay, hold all rights to the screenplay or has full authority to act on behalf of the writer.

“Writer” in these rules also refers to “submitter” as appropriate.

The writer warrants that they control the full rights to any submitted screenplays and does not share control or obligation with any other party.

The writer has the right to withdraw a submitted screenplay as long as it has not been selected.

Should their screenplay be selected, the writer grants Studio 138 permission to produce the screenplay and distribute and promote the completed film.

Should their screenplay be selected, the writer assigns to Studio 138 non-exclusive, in perpetuity and throughout the World rights to produce, distribute and promote the film project developed based on the screenplay.

The writer is free to re-sell, produce and otherwise exploit the intellectual property of their screenplay as they see fit as long as it does not impinge on the rights of Studio 138 and its produced work.

The writer agrees that Studio 138 has the right to produce and sell merchandise relating to the produced film.

The writer gives permission to Studio 138 to alter, add to, take from, substitute, combine, and modify the screenplay.

Writers whose screenplays are selected for production will be awarded a prize depending on the length of their screenplay, to be paid via PayPal. It is up to the writer to provide valid PayPal information within 3 months of selection or they forfeit the prize.

The writer has the right to be identified as the author of their selected screenplay.

Studio 138 will own the rights to the completed film and any associated materials and merchandise. The writer will have no further rights to the film project and associate materials and merchandise, and will not have a say in how its production is undertaken.

Studio 138 may distribute the film as it sees fit including, but not limited to, film festivals, streaming and broadcast services and physical media.

Studio 138 has the right to transfer ownership to the finished film and associated merchandise and materials. Studio 138 does NOT have a right to transfer ownership of the screenplay.

Studio 138 will NOT otherwise exploit the intellectual property of the screenplay (including sequels, etc) without written permission from the writer, apart from as outlined above and for the purposes of producing, distributing and promoting the finished film of the screenplay and any associated merchandise.

If Studio 138 does not commence production of a selected screenplay within 12 months of selection, it forfeits the right to produce the screenplay. The writer of any selected screenplays will still be entitled to their prize, pursuant on providing valid PayPal details within 3 months of selection.

Prize based on length of screenplay, excluding title page, and assuming the work is properly formatted to industry standards:

9 pages or less - $US50
10-20 pages - $US80
21-30 pages - $US100