Seattle's burgeoning independent film community is home to artists, actors, writers, directors, producers, singers, dancers, musicians, storytellers, filmmakers, and multi-hyphenates of all shapes and sizes. People from all walks of life, from all over the world, call our city home. They come hear to learn, hone, and practice their craft. Unlike other major hubs, that are only interested in established talent, artists know they can come to Seattle and grow into their greatness. It’s a city where people become artists. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, Every artist was first an amateur.

Long anchored by a vibrant music scene, one rich in art, education, and cultural diversity, the city has evolved into a community like no other. One that is constantly re-inventing itself. Our city has birthed musical icons like Jimi Hendrix in the 60s and later bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Sound Garden to become the world’s epicenter of artistic innovation. It’s a city like no other, from the architecture, and its institutions, to the influx of entertainment and media – over the past fifty years Seattle has become one of the most vital and vibrant cultural centers in the world.

So welcome, as we proudly announce the re-launch of the Seattle International Screenwriting Honors. A launch pad for writers inspired by the Space Needle itself. It’s an opportunity to showcase your talents and be a part of our growing community with a global reach. When people in Seattle say they’re bi-coastal they don’t just mean New York to LA. They mean West Coast to East Coast, Northern Pacific to Southern Pacific, Seattle to Tokyo, Toronto, HK, Beijing, Singapore, Seoul, Bombay, Bali, and Manila. Seattle Honors is a Cinema Public House production. We are a US based independent festival company that produces both live festivals and online festivals all over the world. This festival is currently online only.

Awards & Prizes

We want to support emerging undiscovered writers. We want to give talented people the opportunity to be heard and to inspire those around you and around the world. We believe in dreams. We also believe in opportunity. So you don’t have to be rich or connected to receive our recognition, you just have to be talented. We want to present our writers with the exposure they need to be seen and heard. We want winning our competition to be your first step up that ladder. Thus, we are looking for original voices. Writers with soul, blessed by originality, and prompted by great storytelling. We want to inspire a generation of writers to dare to leave their mark. If you have the desire to tell compelling stories then enter yours today. We are a talented team of artists who reward winning writers with recognition.

Our community is all inclusive. We are made up of people from all over the world and are receptive to people from all over the world. Seattle is a dynamic community as inspirational and diverse as the art it showcases, so too is our writing competition. We love film, we love art, and we love people. So, tell us a story, give us something to read with our morning coffee, give us something we can’t put down, something we can’t keep to ourselves, take us on a journey, a trip, make us smile, make us cry, change the way we see the world, and thus reshape it. And welcome to Seattle.

We reward our winners with industry recognition. We reward our grand prize winning screenwriter with various prizes including a consultation package provided by Roadmap Writers that includes sessions with three top industry executives in New York or LA including one with an executive who will give you an hour's worth of script notes. Our top two finalists also receive at least one personal consultation as well. These introductions can be invaluable to writers.

Please note that only the Grand Prize Winner and top two Finalists receive industry distribution and prizes while Semi-Finalists are only rewarded with laurels and online recognition like in most screenwriting competitions. Prizes and recognition will not be given to any other entrants.

Rules & Terms

Submissions are accepted via electronic submission only through our partner websites like FilmFreeway.

There is no limit to the length of the projects you submit. Projects can be in script or treatment form.

There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit.

Scripts must be written in English, but can be in any film or television genre.

Entrants are prohibited from contacting the judges during the competition. Any entrant who attempts to contact a judge will be disqualified and their entry fee forfeited. The decision of the judges is final.

Entry fees for screenplay entries are posted on our partner websites and are non refundable.

Employees and family members of the film festival are not eligible.

Entries must be received on or before the deadlines and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. All entry fees are non-refundable

All submitted material must be original, and all rights must be wholly owned by the writer(s).

All entries must be the original, and unpublished, un-produced, un-optioned work of the entrant. The entrant ensures that he or she is the sole author of the work and that it does not infringe on any existing copyright.

All winners are responsible for their own U.S. income tax withholding.

The competition, its judges, and its officers accept no liability whatsoever for any claims of damages, real or perceived, by any entrant(s) as a result of their participation in this contest.

Industry distribution, if offered, should in no way be in interpreted as a guarantee of future representation or success. Whether or not industry partners choose to work with finalists, is done so at the sole discretion of each and every individual company. We can not force our industry partners to option your property and or sign you as a client.
Past prizes listed in winner reviews should not be construed as current prizes. All current prizes are spelled out on our website. We also do not reveal the names of recipients on our industry distribution list.

Entrants must be 18 years or older to enter the contest. Misrepresentation of age, upon discovery, will forfeit entry and fees to the contest. Contest is void where prohibited by law.
Writers retain all rights to their scripts.

All persons from anywhere in the world are eligible; however the material submitted must be in English.

All material submitted to other competitions or contests are eligible.

Professional writers, journalists, poets, and previous contest winners are eligible.

There are no requirements as to when the material was written.

Material must be your original work.

The material submitted must not be encumbered by any obligation to, or option held by, a third party prior to entering the competition.

This festival is produced by Cinema Public House, a US based company that produces festivals, events, and competitions all over the world.

We do not provide feedback, notes, grades, or rankings of any kind. We assume you already know how to write at a professional level and that is why you are entering this contest.

By submitting your material you agree to be added to our email list, but can remove yourself by unsubscribing at anytime.

Please note that the Seattle International Screenwriting Honors is in no way affiliated with any other film festival, screenwriting competition, film school, or film related enterprise or organization including, but not limited to SIFF, SCA, SWA, UW, and or any city or government arts council of any kind.

SISH reserves the right to revoke recognitions status at any time with or without cause.

All judging is done at our sole discretion. We may have outside input, but all judging and all decisions are made at our sole discretion. Furthermore, we do not use "celebrity" judges or "industry" judges and we do not advertise that we use "celebrity" judges. We use intelligent readers with a passion for cinema who love to read. We distribute our winners' scripts to industry executives who provide consultations, but those executives do not judge our contests. To prevent tampering we do not reveal the identities of our judges. Entrants are prohibited from contacting the judges during the competition. Any entrant who attempts to contact a judge will be disqualified and their entry fee forfeited. The decision of the judges is final.

We do not offer script notes and or script advice unless paid for at the time of entry. We are looking to reward professional level writers that we can help get to the next level by recognizing their work. If these are services you desire, we recommend hiring a script consultant. These services can be found via a simple google search.

By entering this contest you agree to all of our terms and conditions.

See festival website for complete list of terms and conditions.

8 Reviews
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Networking
  • Paul Grammatico

    I am so honored and thankful for being a semi-finalist for my script, "Six Bullets at Sundown". Much appreciated!

    May 2020
    Helpful
  • Paul Gross

    Surgeon Hong, a drama set in Mao's China and with some relevance to cultural change in China today, was a finalist in the latest festival. In rapid succession, on the announcement date I received a phone notification from the festival telling me of the award, then a brief but pertinent set of notes and suggestions on the script, and then a linkage to a named producer. That's what I call delivering the goods.
    In ten years, I have not seen such value for money in any other festival or screenwriting competition. While the festival may not be the largest,
    its outreach is authentic and I had the distinct feeling overall that script writers and non-mainstream scripts matter even if Covid-19 casts a shadow.
    Paul Gross

    May 2020
    Helpful
  • Todd Sorrell

    This is one of those organizations that goes above and beyond your expectations. SISH really delivers on making sure you get pushed forward in your career. It's not just a pat on the back, like so many other competitions. Top finishers get phone calls, numerous emails delivering news of laurels, industry contacts, professional critiques, and good things to come. FIVE STAR in my book. Definitely a cut above the rest.

    May 2020
    Helpful
  • Shahar Ben Halevi

    Thank you so much, Seattle, being a semi-finalist at your writing competition is such a great honor to our project. Keep up the good work and hope to see you again in the future.

    May 2020
    Helpful
  • James Fox

    This festival is really worth submitting to. From the first moment, I realized just how dedicated the organizers are to you the writer and promoting your individual goals. Almost immediately after I was notified I was a finalist, I got a call from the competition. I was paired with a heavy-hitting manager, supplied amazing - and I mean, ah-may-zing! - notes, feedback, and tips on my script, AND a follow-up call to make sure I liked the reader and the notes! Incredible! There's a passion that this festival has for making sure their screenwriters are happy, that is rare to find. I was thrilled, shocked, and very impressed. All communication was professional, prompt, and informative. I highly recommend you check it out and submit.

    August 2019
    Helpful