Now, more than ever before, the world needs to hear from diverse writers who have important personal perspectives and stories to share with us.

We take great pride in and strive to celebrate writers with diverse and under-represented minority perspectives, including those who may be disadvantaged as members of ethnic, religious, racial, LGBTQIA+, disability, or 50+ age groups.

The themes and subject matter they bring to the screenwriting craft are the special focus of this uniquely progressive seasonal competition.

Our Senior Judging Panel is dedicated to finding the best diverse writing talent and to light the path forward to lasting industry success.

The best Screenplay, or TV Script, or Short Script entry receives
"Line Notes & Live Consultation"
60-90 minutes of live online consultation with a WGA Award-winning producer writing margin notes on your script pages. Includes full 6-10 page written Executive Analysis and a complete video recording of your entire session. The fastest way to bring your script to the professional level.

Each category winner:
Personalized engraved trophy celebrating your writing excellence.

Widespread online, social media, and email marketing industry promotion to more than 25,000 industry professionals.

• Screenplay contest material should reflect progressive and diverse values, themes, and subject matter as conceived and written by members of the diverse writing community or be the work of a member or members of the diverse writing community as defined by identification as belonging to an under-represented ethnic, religioius, racial, LGBTQUIA+, disabled, or 50+ age demographic.

• Material submitted to The Divers Writers Outreach competition is accepted via electronic submission only.

• Submissions must be in PDF file format, the title ONLY indicated in the PDF file name. Submissions as Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter files will not be read, scored, or judged.

• All prize monies will be paid to winners via Paypal only. No other payment options (check, bank transfers, money orders, etc.) are available. All prize money recipients must submit valid tax ID (W9 or W8BEN) prior to payment posting.

• There is no limit to the number of screenplay, teleplay, or short film scripts you may submit.

• Submitted script material must be received by midnight of each monthly deadline date and submission fee payment must accompany your material.

• All entry fees are non-refundable; submissions in any file format other than PDF will be disqualified with no refund.

• Page count limitations: Short Film Scripts = 30 pp Television Scripts = 70 pp Feature Screenplays = 130 pp Entries exceeding those page limits will incur a 20% reading fee surcharge.

• All material submitted to these screenplay contests must be original, and all rights must be wholly owned by the writer(s).

• Screenplays and scripts must be submitted by the credited writer. Screenplays and scripts written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with consent of the other(s).

• All writers must be credited on title page.

• If a screenwriting team is chosen as a winner, prizes will be given to the screenwriter submitting the project. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing the prize money, with no direction from The Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards Contest administrators, staff, or judges.

• Once submitted, material is promptly assigned to analysts and judges and reading/scoring begins. Revisions, rewrites, addenda, or substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered screenplay or script material require a separate entry.

• Multiple entries are accepted. Submitting the same script pages for different levels of analysis is fine. In all cases, each entry or request for varying levels of analysis must be entered individually. When multiple levels of analysis are NOT entered individually, only the highest level of analysis will be provided with no refunds for other analysis services.

• By using our service, you authorize us to use any trusted third-party online and cloud-based services and databases for hosting, managing and/or transmitting your submission file(s), including FilmFreeway and/or Coverfly.

• All copyright, ownership and derivative rights to the material submitted to The Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards contest(s) remains with the original rights holders and/or author.

• By submitting material to the contest, writer gives contest administrators permission to promote the work and the writer to third parties, including professional literary managers and agents at their sole discretion. By submitting material to the contest, you agree to hold The Wiki Screenplay Contest LLC, its officers, managers, employees, contractors, and representatives of all kinds harmless against any and all claims. No assurances, warranties, or guarantees are either implicitly or explicitly made as to the efforts or lack of response by any and all third parties to whom The Wiki Screenplay Contest LLC may send or transmit material.

• Plagiarized or non-original written materials will be disqualified.

• Once announced and delivered, all prize package items and taxes appurtenant thereto are the responsibility of the recipient.

• All scores are final and purely at the discretion of the Senior Judging Panel.

• Writer acknowledges that any and all written feedback and analysis commentary is objectively presented and intended to be illustrative, instructive, and helpful in guiding the writer along a professional path. Scores and comments are in accordance with current professional film and television industry standards, but writer accepts them as purely subjective pursuant to the judgment and opinion of the individual reader-analyst and agrees not to request, demand, or suggest alternate, different, or revised written feedback; no guarantees of satisfaction on the part of the writer are expressed or implied.

Eligibility:

• All screenwriters, without regard to professional or amateur status, age, gender, race, ethnicity, country of origin, native language, political orientation, or sexual preference are eligible.

• The screenplay, television script, or short film script material submitted must be in English.

• All screenplay, television script, or short film script material submitted to other competitions or contests is eligible.

• There are no limitations or restrictions as to date of authorship of submitted screenplay, television script, or short film materials.

• The screenplay, television script, or short film script material submitted must not be encumbered by any obligation to, or option held by, any third party prior to entering the screenplay competition.

• Screenplay, television script, or short film script material should be submitted in standard screenplay format, font, spacing and margin.

• No limitations regarding title page content. Title and name of screenwriter and contact information on cover page is recommended.

• Live consultations are limited to one draft and one entry per writer per contest period.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Outstanding festival. Honored to have won Best Screenplay.

    January 2024
  • Santa Barbara Screenplay Awards provided awesome support and communication!

    December 2023
  • It was easy to submit to this contest and is supported by people I know and respect.

    November 2023
  • MADELINE PUCCIONI

    Fantastic. This is the contest to win, place or show. Very grateful for the continual support and guidance via email. :)

    October 2023
  • What a wonderful experience! Thanks to the Santa Barbara Screenplay Awards for recognizing diversity in the screenwriting and its contributions to the industry.

    October 2023