Film festivals aren\u2019t just for finished movies. Many also hold competitions for screenplays, giving writers who have put in hundreds\u2014if not thousands\u2014of hours on a project the opportunity to showcase their work. Submitting to competitions not only offers the chance to win cash prizes, but also to connect to producers, production companies, and studios that can help bring their scripts to the screen. Here are five film festivals that screenwriters should consider entering their scripts into.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next deadline:<\/strong> Sept. 30<\/p>\n\n\n\n Late deadline: <\/strong>Nov. 30<\/p>\n\n\n\n Extended deadline: <\/strong>Dec. 31<\/p>\n\n\n\n Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Sedona International Film Festival draws over 10,000 attendees each year to the picturesque Arizona town with its iconic red rock formations and desert landscapes. Six years ago, the festival launched a screenplay competition<\/mark><\/a>, which awards prizes to the best feature script, short script, and TV pilot.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only do the winners of these categories get VIP access to the festival, as well as four nights in a hotel, their scripts are given a professional table read by actors, and full script coverage and feedback. With past attendees including Rob Reiner, Elliott Gould, Peter Bogdanovich, and Richard Dreyfuss, the network opportunities at the festival\u2019s lunches, dinners, parties, and panels can be just as valuable as the awards themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Sedona International Film Festival will run Feb. 21\u2013March 1, 2026.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Next submission:<\/strong> Oct. 30\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regular deadline: <\/strong>Dec. 11<\/p>\n\n\n\n Late deadline:<\/strong> Jan. 8, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Final deadline:<\/strong> Feb. 5, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Devoted to the development of first- and second-time filmmakers, especially those working on limited budgets, the London Independent Film Festival has been highlighting indie film for 23 years. Over 11 days, East London\u2019s Genesis Cinema screens more than 100 films from across the world, alongside industry events, workshops, and networking opportunities. Past guests have included award-winning indie filmmaker Ross Boyask and producers Rebecca Tranter and Julie Baines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Screenwriters can compete in the categories for feature screenplay, sci-fi\/horror screenplay, U.K. screenplay, and short screenplay. LIFF also partners with My SMASH Media<\/mark><\/a> to host a \u201cmini-market\u201d pitching session ahead of the festival, giving screenwriters and filmmakers the chance to pitch their projects to top sales agents, producers, and industry professionals, while also making invaluable contacts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The London Independent Film Festival will run April 10\u201319, 2026.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Next submission: <\/strong>Nov. 7<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regular deadline: <\/strong>Jan. 16, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Late deadline:<\/strong> Feb. 6, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Final deadline<\/strong>: Feb. 17, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2026 Dallas International Film Festival marks the 20th anniversary of this respected Texas event. Screening more than 100 films from over 60 countries, this week-long fest was recently named an Oscar-qualifying film festival for shorts by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Previous attendees have included Robert De Niro, Kathryn Bigelow, and Bill Paxton.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every year, DIFF partners with Event Horizon Films<\/mark><\/a>, a company of film professionals that support screenwriters, for an annual screenwriting competition. Writers can submit their short, TV pilot, and feature scripts, each of which are reviewed by professional readers. Those selected are then read by working screenwriters, and the winners are introduced to industry experts and given the chance to network and discuss their projects at the festival with people who could legitimately further their career.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dallas International Film Festival will run April 23\u201330, 2026.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Next submission:<\/strong> Dec. 8\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regular deadline: <\/strong>Jan. 19, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Late deadline:<\/strong> March 2, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since 1992, Raindance has brought the most exciting and creative up-and-coming filmmakers to central London. It\u2019s regularly attended by over 16,000 people, which doesn\u2019t just include film fans, but also buyers, distributors, financiers, and producers from around the globe. It\u2019s also recognized by both the Oscars and BAFTAs. Quentin Tarantino\u2019s \u201cPulp Fiction\u201d and Christopher Nolan\u2019s \u201cMemento\u201d both had their U.K. premieres at the event. Guy Ritchie, Ken Loach, and Terry Gilliam have also been attendees.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raindance\u2019s script competition<\/mark><\/a> is designed to provide opportunities to emerging screenwriters, giving them the chance to meet already established industry professionals as well as fellow emerging talent. The winners of the best feature, short, 30-minute TV, and hour-long TV script categories then gain places on the 10-week Raindance Script Fellowship Program.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Raindance Film Festival will run June 17\u201326, 2026.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Special entry deadline:<\/strong> Dec. 30<\/p>\n\n\n\n Early deadline:<\/strong> March 5, 2026\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regular deadline: <\/strong>May 1, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Late deadline:<\/strong> May 15, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Extended deadline:<\/strong> May 31, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n While this is a contest rather than a festival, the Script Pipeline Screenwriting and TV Writing Competition is one of the best screenwriting competitions in the world for supporting writers and progressing their careers. Over the last 24 years, it has helped writers get agents and managers, and meet producers and directors, all while providing feedback and handing out tens of thousands of dollars in prizes. Quarterfinalists and beyond receive one-on-one development, career guidance, script reviews, and mentorships, while some scripts are also sent out to industry professionals and executives.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Evan Daugherty\u2019s \u201cSnow White and the Huntsman,\u201d Tripper Clancy\u2019s \u201cStuber,\u201d and Helen Gaughran\u2019s \u201cVisitation\u201d were all first found on Script Pipeline before being made into movies. The festival has resulted in over $8 million worth of spec sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winners will be announced for the 24th Annual Script Pipeline screenwriting contest for <\/em>features<\/mark><\/em><\/a> and <\/em>television<\/mark><\/em><\/a> on Aug. 9, 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" These festivals and competitions can help get your script noticed\u2014and made.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":1821,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLondon Independent Film Festival<\/mark><\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Dallas International Film Festival<\/mark><\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Raindance Film Festival<\/mark><\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Script Pipeline<\/mark><\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n