For over 25 years, WriteMovies has championed screenwriting talent, connecting writers with senior decision-makers across the international entertainment industry.

The Spring 2026 Screenwriting Contest is now open, offering representation, development and industry pitching for the winning screenplays.

TOP THREE SCREENPLAYS RECEIVE:
• A full year of professional script development (worth up to $3,200).
• Representation from our industry-facing partner TalentScout International Management.
• Industry pitching of your developed screenplay.

We don’t just award scripts – we work with writers to move them forward.

EVERY ENTRY INCLUDES:
• A written feedback sheet on your script’s first ten pages – the pages that matter most when industry professionals decide whether to keep reading.
• The opportunity to submit one free redraft before the final deadline.

In the industry, decisions are often made in the first ten pages. We want to help you make those pages count.

OPTIONAL MENTORING ADD-ONS:

If you’re serious about taking your script to the next level, you can combine your submission with one of our professional mentoring services:

STUDIO COVERAGE
See your script through the eyes of a professional industry analyst.

You’ll receive a structured report with a clear summary and comments on strengths and weaknesses – a studio-standard assessment of the viability of your script for production go-ahead.

Understand how your script reads at a professional level – and what needs strengthening.

DEVELOPMENT NOTES
Studio-quality guidance on how to take your script further.

You’ll receive detailed, constructive notes covering concept, structure, characters, dialogue and commercial viability – with clear next steps for revision.

This is focused development support designed to help your script fulfil its potential.

And remember – every entry includes the opportunity to submit one revised draft before the final deadline.

Many writers choose to enter early, combine their submission with mentoring, refine their script, and resubmit an improved draft before final judging – making the most of both the contest and the development opportunity.

PROVEN TRACK RECORD

For over 25 years, WriteMovies contests have promoted global storytelling to senior decision-makers across the international entertainment industry. As part of the prize, every winning script is represented, developed and pitched to the industry.

Each contest awards:
• 1 Overall Winner - winning development and pitching to industry.
• 2 Further Prize Winners - winning development and pitching to industry.
• Up to 7 Honorable Mentions
• Up to 25+ Semi-Finalists
• Up to 50+ Quarter-Finalists

KEY DATES

Earlybird Deadline – April 12
Standard Deadline – May 10
Final Deadline – May 31

No extensions. Winners announced July 3.

Submissions are now open. We look forward to reading your work.

Awards & Prizes

Top three scripts all receive:

- A year of free script development worth up to $3200
- Representation and guaranteed pitching to industry by Talent Scout International Management

Rules & Terms

- We no longer accept checks due to issues with fraud. Please use the PayPal options when participating through our website. Please ensure you can send AND receive payments via PayPal.

- There are no physical items deliverable under our services – all reports will be provided by email in standard document formats.

- Each entry is entitled to submit a free redraft before the final deadline. Only one redraft will be accepted.

- Each script entry will receive a feedback sheet about the script's first ten pages, except if commissioning Studio Coverage or Development Notes, which instead provide a longer, more detailed report on the whole script.

- With entries submitted close to the Final Deadline, we cannot guarantee to provide feedback before the close of the contest, but the entrant is still welcome to submit a redraft before the contest closes.

- Once a project has been processed, there is no refund.

- Any cancellations must be requested within 48 hours and before any public announcement of winning entries.

- Entries MUST have a cover sheet/title-page with contact info in order to be considered.

- Prize: All winners are guaranteed representation and one full year of script mentoring, including development notes on all re-writes of the winning scripts. Worth $3,200.

- Up to $1 million in option monies from the A-List producers we work with. If an established studio/production company makes an offer on your script, we will fly you to Los Angeles and cover your flight & hotel costs for three days. We will pitch the top three projects to relevant production companies. You keep ALL the option/sales money (unless you commission an agent, manager or attorney to represent you). The Grand Prize winner is also pitched to several literary agencies and management companies as well as non-US companies to increase the chances of a sale. The top three overall winners and their projects are mentioned in press releases and on the web.
7 Reviews
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  • Randall Courtland Davis

    I'm glad my television pilot, Greystone Law, was a semi-finalist. It does so much for my confidence.

    December 2024
    Helpful
  • Salvatore Klezmer Riggio

    Thank you for your consideration!

    December 2023
    Helpful
  • Kent Flaagan

    Very good replying to emails.

    August 2022
    Helpful
  • Jeremy Mayer

    This is a great festival. They keep their promises on deadlines and details. The feedback was useful and prompt. They communicate well, and I was honored to be selected as honorable mention, one of the top ten of hundreds.

    August 2022
    Helpful
  • Drew Henriksen

    Very happy to make Quarter-Finalist!

    August 2022
    Helpful