NEW SEASON STARTING SOON!

Our winners get their screenplay produced! 6 winners have been produced and last season's winner will be announced soon!

OUR SEASON 1 WINNER'S PROOF OF CONCEPT FILM IS NOW TURNED INTO A FEATURE FILM! Congratulations Aimee!

Watch the proof of concept on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/3RX_i8MTtZQ

We have gotten 6 writers produced during our previous seasons!

Sunvale Screenplay Contest was developed to connect undiscovered screenwriters with filmmakers and offer them an opportunity to see their work on the screen!

What makes us different from other contests:

--Every submission is read by a producer -- we do not use "professional readers" to judge the screenplays like most contests.

--The Grand Prize Winner will get a proof-of-concept* or short film produced based on their screenplay!

--All 5 category winners will also get a free submission to the next Sunvale contest cycle or to one of our sister contests.

--ScreenReaders (https://www.myscreenreaders.com) are also sponsoring prizes for our finalists.

*Proof-of-concept films function like a teaser for your screenplay and can be used to sell the screenplay. Many famous movies were sold and produced based on a proof-of-concept film, including Sin City, District 9, and Whiplash.

If you want to see you work produced at the highest quality standards, Sunvale Screenplay Contest is the choice for you!

We accept features, TV pilots and short screenplays in 5 different categories (Action/Adventure, Horror/thriller, Drama, Comedy, Female screenwriters).

Submit a new version of your screenplay for free up to the final deadline!

2026 Winner to be announced on July 15

2025 winners: Grand prize winner: Anechoic by David Fein​ (in production)

Action/Adventure: Adam Goudchaux's screenplay "On The Record"
Horror/Thriller: Anthony Ford's screenplay "BAD TRIP"
Comedy: Michael Thomas Yahn's screenplay "Never The Same Mira"
Drama: Chelsea Hazzard's screenplay "Cold Game"
Female screenwriter: Brittany Brice's screenplay "A Tucson Summer"

2024 winners:
Grand Prize winner is Found at a Funeral by Noah J Welter

Girl's Night Out by Janet L. Loftis (Horror/thriller)
TESStosterone by Erin Elizabeth Keefer (Comedy)
I'm Matt Damon by Michael Yocum (Drama)
THE OPERATOR by Pamela Perry Goulardt (Female screenwriter)
Smoke by Carlos Perez (Action/Adventure)

May Madness 2023 winner:
The Letters by Bre Fowler (film is now distributed worldwide)

2023 winners:
Grand Prize Winner: Anna Incognito by Laura Preble

Action/Adventure: The Devil Pulls the Strings by J. W. Zarek
Horror: Cringe by Warren Lane
Drama: Do Unto Others by Joseph Michael Leone
Comedy: Recharge by Kathryn Mincer
Female Screenwriter: Larry by Katie Rose Summerfield

2022 winners:
Grand Prize Winner: Mischief Night by Melanie Ortiz (film is now distributed worldwide)

Action winner: By The Time I Got To Woodstock by Jeffrey Massie
Thriller winner: Several Murders, Two Big Explosions and Something Approaching a Rape by Joseph Graves
Drama winner: Friendship, Honor, and Murder by Giacomo Giammatteo
Comedy winner: 2nd Date by Jaik Andino
Female winner: The Bridge by Persephone Vandegrift

2021 winners:
Grand Prize Winner: Cannibal Mukbang by Aimee Kuge

Action winner: Electrocution and Other Minor Inconveniences by Piper Gaul
Thriller winner: Monster by Kurt Choate
Drama winner: The Double by Leor Zinati
Comedy winner: Pick by Bernhard Riedhammer
Female winner: SUPPOSED TO BE by Dr. Beth-Anne Blue

Watch all the winning films here: https://www.youtube.com/@sunvale2021

Awards & Prizes

GRAND PRIZE WINNER:
--We will produce a proof-of-concept film or short film of the winning screenplay!

5 CATEGORY WINNERS
--Free entry to Sunvale Screenplay Contest.

We are also partnering with ScreenReaders (https://www.myscreenreaders.com) who are sponsoring the following prizes:

One finalist (chosen randomly) will receive their free regular package.
Finalists will receive 50% off any screenplay coverage package.
Semifinalists will receive 35% off any screenplay coverage package.
Quarter finalists will receive 25% off any screenplay coverage package.

Rules & Terms

1. We accept features, TV pilots and short screenplays in 5 different categories:
--Action/Adventure (feature, TV, short)
--Horror/thriller (feature, TV, short)
--Drama (feature, TV, short)
--Comedy (feature, TV, short)
--Female screenwriters (feature, TV, short)

Note: We only accept original TV pilots

2. You will keep all rights to your screenplay.

3. All writers 18 years or older are eligible. All submissions are final.

4. The screenplay must be submitted in standard screenplay format, font, spacing and margin, in English and in PDF format. Any submission not meeting these qualifications will be disqualified without further notice.

5. Screenplays submitted to other competitions or contests are eligible.

6. Previously produced screenplays or screenplays that will become optioned, sold, or produced during the contest will be ineligible or will be disqualified.

7. Adaptations are eligible if the writer holds all rights.

8. Page limits are as follows: Feature: 60-130 pages, TV pilots: 20-70 pages, shorts 1-40 pages.

9. We reserve the right to amend these rules and contest deadlines at any time.

10. By submitting to the contest, you give us a permission to email you about the contest, our sister contests, and any topics directly related to Sunvale contest and their partners. If you no longer wish to receive any emails from us (including updates on contest results), you can opt out by emailing us: sunvalecontest@gmail.com.

11. BY SUBMITTING YOUR MATERIALS YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THESE CONDITIONS AND THE ADDITIONAL RULES STATED ON THE SUNVALE WEBSITE. You agree to release and hold harmless Sunvale Screenplay Contest, its subsidiary, parent and affiliated companies, prize contributors, judges, analysts, sponsors, and any other organizations responsible for administering, advertising or promoting your submission of material, and every one of their respective members, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) past and present from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s submission of materials and/or acceptance or use or misuse of prize; provided however, that such release will not apply to any commercial exploitation of the script by a Released Party in violation of your rights under applicable copyright law; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sunvale Screenplay Contest and its sponsor, agents and employees from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys fees) relating to an entrant’s participation in the Festival and/or entrant’s use or misuse of Award. Employees of Sunvale Screenplay Contest and their immediate families are ineligible to submit materials. Any such submission will be immediately disqualified. SUBMISSION OF MATERIAL IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED or restricted by any Federal, State or Local law. Voided submission fees will be refunded.

53 Reviews
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  • Kevin Bruce

    What a great thrill to be a finalist. A professional group if there ever was one. Kevin Bruce ... AFTER ALCATRAZ = surviving the escape

    July 2026
    Helpful
  • Diane Sismour

    I'm thrilled the Sunvale Screenplay Contest selected The Doll Keeper as a finalist. This dark psychological horror/thriller project is cinema meets social urgency to bring awareness to child abductions. Thank you to the jury and to the producer who noticed my vision.

    July 2026
    Helpful
  • David Templeton

    I am honored for the recognition my two scripts “Bread” and “ A Hard Print “ received at Sunvale. It is great to see a festival that actually encourages industry participation!

    July 2026
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  • Daniel Pero

    My only contact with the festival has been through social media. That said, it has been timely and informative. I’d like to thank the judges for recognizing my two screenplays “Dire Straits” and “Gome Sweet Gnome.” It’s an honor to receive such recognition with so many other talented writers.

    July 2026
    Helpful
  • Linda Tancs

    So happy to be selected as a Finalist for AIR FARE. Thank you for your interest and confidence in my work!

    February 2025
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