Another FLASH SCREENPLAY Festival!
It's time to submit to our SPRING FORWARD SCREENPLAY FESTIVAL!

This May, we’re looking for screenplays where the protagonist goes through a transformation. This transformation can be physical, mental, or emotional.
Whether comedy or drama, we want to read your work.

Enter your screenplay between May 1, 2026, and May 31, 2026.
Winners will be selected by June 12, 2026.

At Southwest Film Productions (SWFP) we celebrate writers from all over the world in our screenplay festivals. This event is supported by established creatives in Austin, Texas with extensive experience producing, writing, directing, and consulting, and whose companies have been operating for over a decade. The SWFP readers have been jurists and readers at prestigious festivals prior to joining SWFP.

Awards & Prizes

Categories are Best Drama Screenplay, Best Comedy Screenplay, Best Drama Short Screenplay and Best Comedy Short Screenplay. One winner from each category will be selected among the finalists.

Winning SHORT comedy and drama will each win $250.
Winning FEATURE comedy and drama will each win $500.

Our **Gamechanger Award** is given to to any script, in any category, that reveals a style or concept that hasn't been seen before, or leads the pack in a new and refreshing way.

Although rare, some categories may not have a winner.

ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES: By entering the Southwest Film Festival you agree that the jurists may bestow a unique award on your script if it's recognized as a standout but doesn't truly fit into a listed category. For example, "Best Screenplay - Historical Fiction," or "Best Experimental Screenplay."

Rules & Terms

Most genres are accepted however, please do not submit horror, pornography, musicals or a combination thereof.

We accept Comedy Short Screenplays 40 pages or less. 
We accept Drama Short Screenplays 40 pages or less. 
We accept Comedy Feature Screenplays 120 pages or less.
​We accept Drama Feature Screenplays 120 pages or less.

If your screenplay is over the page count, please email us before submitting at contact@swfilmproductions.com or your screenplay will be disqualified automatically.

6 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
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Networking
  • James Ross

    Grateful to be an award winner with my feature film script, Exposure. Thank you Southwest Film Festival for being here to support creatives on their journey to fulfill their dreams.

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations, James! We absolutely love Exposure. A great story with an intriguing premise, relatable dialogue, and fully developed characters that are easy to get attached to. Seriously looking forward to what you do next!

  • Kerstin Thiel

    I am honored that my screenplay, From Scratch with Love, was awarded SILVER as a short comedy in the Southwest Film Flash Holiday Screenplay Festival! The prestigious team organized a smooth FLASH festival! I am grateful, overjoyed, and encouraged by the experience! Thank you to all involved!

    December 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations! Well-deserved, Kerstin. Thank you for submitting "From Scratch with Love," a lovely, heartfelt, relatable story, written using a fresh approach. We look forward to reading your next work! <3

  • Anna Schatte

    Honored to be recognized by Southwest Film Festival! I'm so inspired by Kat and all of her helpful screenwriting tips. I was thrilled that my screenplay, Pleasant Child, was awarded Silver Comedy Feature! Gives me the courage to keep going - Thank you!

    August 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Anna! We loved Pleasant Child and can't wait to see your next script. Your characters were easy to get attached to, and you did an amazing job with pacing and humor (that's not easy!). You deserved it! Congratulations!

  • Terry Podnar

    The Southwest Film Festival is a well-organized and has great communication. They were on-time at every level. It was an excellent experience. I'm extremely honored my screenplay, Richard Spong, was chosen as the Gold Award Winner for Drama Feature Screenplay. Keep up your fantastic work!

    August 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Terry! Incredibly happy you submitted Richard Spong. It's a fantastic screenplay and quicky went to the top of each judge's list. We can't wait to see more of your work!

  • Peter Schuyler

    I cannot complain about this competition. Everyone connected was first rate. I don't know about connections. Waiting to see if they come up with something.

    September 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Peter! We enjoyed reading Land of Opportunity this year, and Dust to Dust in 2024. Always impressed with your writing. You deserve every accolade. :)