Screenplay contest deadlines for procrastinators, and the one I won!
Liverpool, UK known for The Beatles and me, (amongst other things).
The Liverpool Indie Awards bestowed my feature screenplay “Wilson” with the award for Best Horror Script. Thank you, I am thrilled.
There are reputable screenplay competitions open for all of you, us, writers who have been polishing, rewriting, and working day jobs. Here are a couple of my favorites.
The Tennessee Screenwriting Association’s Short and Shoot Script Contest is open until June 28th, 2026. This one is really good if you are dying, like me, to see your short produced. You have to be a member of the TSA, but it is well worth the low membership cost and they don’t search your luggage at meetings.
Big Break Screenwriting Contest May 18th, and beyond.
I have had luck with Big Break in the past with my spec script for Brooklyn Nine Nine and I find their notes are very good.
The Women’s List May 31st, 2026
While not actually a competition, it is a great opportunity. If you are not familiar with them, see my interview with one of the founders, Jan Kimbrough.
Everybody wants to win The Austin Film Festival Screenwriter’s competition, but there’s a very short time left to enter. May 31st, 2026.
Wouldn’t we all like to be on The Black List. Check out all the programs they have available to help your career.
