The Vail Screenplay Competition is a vehicle for aspiring screenwriters to have their scripts recommended to established film producers, managers, and agents who are actively working at the top level of the film industry.
The Vail Screenplay Competition offers meaningful industry exposure, national recognition, and direct access to a respected festival network designed to help standout scripts move forward.
The top 3 screenplays in each category are recommended directly to executives at major film and television companies, while Finalists have their scripts curated and shared within the Vail Film Festival’s filmmaker and producer network. Winners and Finalists receive national press recognition, and all placing screenplays receive recognition on the Vail Film Festival website and official Vail Screenplay Competition laurels for professional use.
Past Vail Film Festival special guests include Olivia Wilde, Aaron Paul, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Smith, Michelle Monaghan, Harold Ramis, Zach Braff, Julie Delpy, Jane Seymour, Christina Ricci, Tim Daly, Jesse Eisenberg, Luke Wilson, Allison Janney, Tate Taylor, Josh Lucas, Aya Cash, Michael Imperioli, Sophia Bush, Krysten Ritter, among others.
The Vail Screenplay Competition is a signature program of the Colorado Film Institute, producer of the annual Vail Film Festival, now entering its 22nd year. The Colorado Film Institute is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, supported by sponsorships, donors, and grants, including support from Colorado Creative Industries and the National Endowment for the Arts.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place screenplays are recommended to executives from leading film and television companies, including Miramax, Fremantle, Untitled Entertainment, Anonymous Content, Imagine Entertainment, Village Roadshow, NBCUniversal, MGM, Spyglass Media Group, LD Entertainment, Paper Street Pictures, and more.
All Finalist screenplays are curated and shared with a select group of filmmakers and producers from the Vail Film Festival network.
All 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners, along with all Finalists, are included in a national press release, with the full list of Quarterfinalists, Semifinalists, Finalists, and Winners published on the Vail Film Festival website.
All Winners, Finalists, and placing screenwriters receive official Vail Screenplay Competition laurels, which may be used on script title pages, pitch decks, personal websites, social media, and promotional materials.
