OUR STORY:

The Hollywood Storytellers Script Competition is an all-inclusive Film and TV genre contest focused on giving exceptional writers from all backgrounds the recognition they deserve.

​Our competition and awards focus on bringing value to all writers, making it our mission to assist in necessary areas such as industry acknowledgment, networking, resources, craft development, and building bridges of opportunities that move them closer toward their career goals.

Our team believes in the power of perspective. It is essential in enriching the culture of our industry and bringing a more inclusive experience to mainstream genres and mediums. Writers of color, female-identifying writers, LGBTQ+ writers, disabled writers, writers over the age of 50, and other voices that have been historically underrepresented will be heard and are encouraged to apply.

​Whether you are established or emerging, we look forward to supporting our community of talented writers!

​Submit your Full-Length Feature, Short, or TV Pilot Script in ANY GENRE with optional Executive Feedback!

​WHY SUBMIT:

The Hollywood Storytellers Genre Script Competition consists of a diverse team of active industry professionals that include certified script readers, story analysts, development executives, producers, literary managers, filmmakers, union actors, and award-winning Film & TV writers.

Members of our esteemed jury include executives previously and presently associated with: NBC UNIVERSAL, PEACOCK TV, SONY, DISNEY, TOUCHSTONE PICTURES, WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, NETFLIX, and more.

Submissions are reviewed by our esteemed jury and results are based on the following industry standard ratings: formatting, structure, spelling, character, plot, pacing, dialogue, action, tone, world building, creativity, originality, readability, and equitable representation.

Seeking Live-Action or Animated Full-length Feature, Short and TV Pilot Scripts in the following genres: Drama, Comedy, Action/Adventure, Horror/Supernatural, Suspense/Thriller, Mystery/Crime, Historical/Biopic, Sci-Fi/ Fantasy, Western/Period, Faith/Family/Holiday.

​Ten (10) outstanding Film and TV writers will place as the Genre Winner of their respective medium. Only one (1) writer from each medium will then advance as the overall Feature Screenplay, Short Screenplay and TV Pilot Grand Prize Winner.

​***Unique & diverse voices are encouraged. Several opportunities to win***

​BENEFITS OF SUBMITTING:

-All-inclusive
-All-genres
-Full-Length Feature, Short, and TV Pilot Script submissions accepted
-Several opportunities to place
-Affordable submission prices and special community discounts
-Executive Feedback add-on options with Free Revised Entry Waivers for significantly improved scripts
-Judged by a diverse jury of active industry professionals
-Placements include: Honorable Mentions, Quarter-Finalists, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Genre Winners (10 writers in each medium), Grand Prize Winners (1 writer in each medium)
-Awards: Placement Laurels, Genre Winner Certificates, and Sponsored Grand Prize Opportunities
-Your winning project sent exclusively to our developing network of industry contacts
-Consultation with an LA-based Executive Producer and Literary Manager
-Pitch Deck or Series Bible Assistance with an Executive Development Producer
-Representation and development consideration
-Complimentary admission to our annual Film Festival Event (Dates and Program info TBA)
-Sponsored career opportunities & grand prizes (TBA Seasonally)
-Continued access to our amicable, supportive, and resource-based community

CALL FOR ENTRIES:

​The 2026 Hollywood Storytellers Genre Script Competition opens in January and closes in October with subsequent announcements to follow. If you have a produced script, we'd be delighted to invite you to submit to our sister competition: The Hollywood Storytellers Film Festival:

https://filmfreeway.com/HollywoodStorytellersFilmFestival

In hopes to cultivate collaboration within our community, writers are encouraged to attend our highly curated film festival and network with our outstanding filmmakers!

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS & PRIZES BREAKDOWN:

Honorable Mentions Receive:
-Placement Laurel
-Media Exposure

Quarter-Finalists Receive:
-Placement Laurel
-Media Exposure
-Consideration for Semifinals

Semi-Finalists Receive:
-Placement Laurel
-Media Exposure
-Consideration for Finals

Finalists Receive:
-Placement Laurel
-Media Exposure
-Consideration for Genre Winner

Genre Winners (in their respective mediums) Receive:
-Placement Laurel
-Genre Winner Award Certificate
-Media Exposure
-Consideration for Grand Prize Genre Winner
-Your project sent to our developing network of industry contacts
-Complimentary admission badge to our annual Film Festival (Dates and Program info TBA)

Grand Prize Genre Winners (in their respective mediums) Receive:
-Placement Laurel
-Grand Prize Winner Award Certificate
-Media Exposure
-Your winning project sent to our developing network of industry contacts
-Complimentary admission badge to our annual Film Festival (Dates and Program info TBA)
-Consultation with an LA-based Executive Producer and Literary Manager
-Pitch Deck or Series Bible Assistance with an Executive Development Producer
-Representation and Development consideration
-Sponsored career opportunities & grand prizes (TBA Seasonally)

Rules & Terms

1. Scripts that are submitted must be the writer(s) original work, shall not infringe on any copyrights, and must be wholly owned by the writer(s). Material written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with consent from the other(s). All writers must be credited on the title page. All copyright, ownership and derivative rights to the material submitted to the Hollywood Storytellers Script Competition remains with the original rights holders and/or authors.
2. All scripts, including international scripts, must be submitted in English as a PDF in the correct genre and medium.
3. Every page and word of your submitted script will be read and measured against today’s professional screenwriting standards.
4. Multiple entries from the same submitter are permitted and accepted.
5. All decisions made by the competition's judges are final. Results are based on the following industry standard ratings: formatting, structure, spelling, character, plot/story, pacing, dialogue, action, tone, world building, creativity, concept/originality.
6. Upon submitting, the competition has the right to promote you/your project on all of our public social platforms and to our network of industry contacts.
7. For Short and Feature Screenplays: Minimum 2, Maximum 120 pages. All genres welcome. Eligible to all ages and countries of origin. Must be submitted in English. Must follow industry standard script formatting. Must be sent as a PDF file.
8. For TV Pilot Scripts (including short-form, half-hour, and hour-long): Maximum 90 pages. All genres welcome. Eligible to all ages and countries of origin. Must be submitted in English. Must follow industry standard script formatting. Must be sent as a PDF file.
9. Submitted scripts must be received by midnight of deadline dates and submission fee payments must accompany your material. All entry fees are non-refundable as scripts are immediately put into analysis.
10. If a writing team is chosen as a winner, prizes will be given to the writer submitting the material. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing the prize(s), with no direction from Hollywood Storytellers Script Competition’s administrators or judges.
11. Once the original entry is received, no rewritten/revised pages will be accepted or considered for a higher placement - unless Executive Feedback is purchased.
12. Submission fees are collected exclusively through FilmFreeway and Stage32. The Hollywood Storytellers Script Competition does not accept cash, check, or money order. There are no entry fee refunds for any submitted scripts.
13. Script competition submission prices range from $30 USD to $90 USD. Stage32 members, FilmFreeway gold members, Stage 32 members, and students receive an automatic discount on all submissions. Executive feedback is available as an optional add-on to submissions for a flat fee of $50 USD. Discounts are offered often to our community on our social media platforms, as well as economic hardship consideration. All submissions are immediately put into analysis and are therefore nonrefundable.
36 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • Richard Lanoix

    Thank you for selecting my feature screenplay for an Award at the Hollywood Storytellers Script Competition. I’m honored to have my work recognized by your jury and appreciate the time and care taken in the evaluation process. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of this year’s festival.

    January 2026
    Helpful
  • Christal Kahles-Jones

    I was mesmerized by this Competition. Sorta felt like I was in a Movie lol. The organizers describe the Competition in just the right way that I have always dreamed of my writing. I am a STORYTELLER. So the excitement that comes from the organizers is just contagious to everyone who gets involved! And then if you place in this Competition, you feel like the Top Dog! LOL! This was a fun, uplifting, and encouraging Competition. And placing in the winners circle introduced me to people I would not have known otherwise. I'll be back for 2026!

    January 2026
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  • Drew Michael

    Thank you Hollywood Storytellers for selecting Woodbridge Park as Genre Winner -- TV Screenplay Pilot. This was a fun and exciting competition with great communication. I'm very grateful.

    December 2025
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  • Terrance Henry

    A great competition. Looking forward to the next one.

    December 2025
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  • Angela Thorne

    The communication was well done, and I especially appreciated the generous tone of the letters written to us screenwriters, regardless of whether a screenplay placed in the competition.

    December 2025
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