Film Pipeline Short Script Contest
Contest · 2026Prestige 56/100
Five thousand dollars and production support for a short. No upsells at checkout, and you keep every right.
Deadlines & fees
- RegularNext deadline10 Sept 2026America/Los_Angeles$50
- Late25 Sept 2026America/Los_Angeles$55
- Extended30 Oct 2026America/Los_Angeles$65
Dates and fees checked against the official site 9 Aug 2026.
Key facts
- Formats
- Short
- Page limit
- 30 pages
- Eligibility
- Open worldwide18+
- Required materials
- Short script · Title and logline (preferred on the title page but not required) · Contact email · Optional supplemental material for proofs-of-concept: a full package, pitch deck or other proposal is welcomed alongside the script
Open to writers worldwide aged 18 or over at the time of entry. Short scripts only, in a single category, all genres accepted including non-narrative or experimental shorts, proofs-of-concept and stories based on true events. Length guidance is anything from one to roughly 30 pages, with feature screenplays of around 60 pages or longer not accepted. Scripts must be unproduced at the time of entry, though producing it later does not disqualify it; anything already produced and circulated in any capacity does not qualify. You must be the sole and exclusive owner of all rights or hold written authorisation, and adaptations need public domain status or written consent. Winners and finalists of this contest since 2024 are ineligible. Employees and immediate family are excluded, and ineligible entrants are refunded in full before the December announcement.
Prizes
5,000 US dollars in cash to a single winner, with no split, plus pre-production support to get the film produced whose value varies by project and is not quantified. Up to three finalists, extendable at Pipeline's discretion, receive no cash at all: their benefit is extensive development from Script Pipeline's executive team, industry circulation of potential features or pilots to management and production companies, long-term mentorship support and financing consideration for future short scripts. Winners are responsible for all taxes and fees.
Judging
Selection is at Pipeline's sole discretion and no individual judges are named, though the page lists partner companies in its network including Bellevue Productions, Destro Films, Hungry Man, Alibi Management and LBI Entertainment. The contest period runs from 1 January 2026 to 30 October 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific; per-tier cut-off times are not published. The winner is announced on 10 December 2026. Updated drafts are accepted at any time at no extra fee.
The PreList verdict
Short form is thin ground in most directories and this is one of the better options in it: 5,000 dollars cash to a single winner, plus pre-production support to actually get the thing made. Film Pipeline describe it themselves as less a contest than an opportunity for long-term mentorship and development, and the finalist benefits back that up, with development from Script Pipeline's executive team and circulation to management and production companies. Ninth annual, from an operator this directory already carries twice.
The honest part, and it is unusually short: there is no cash for finalists, only the winner. The pre-production support is explicitly variable by project and unquantified, so treat it as a genuine but unmeasurable benefit. Feedback is not included and is kept internal, though notes can be bought separately through the Script Pipeline Workshop at 75 dollars for a short. Judges are not named.
What sets it apart is what is absent. There are no optional add-ons in the submission flow at all, which is rare for a paid contest and stands in sharp contrast to its sister competitions. The rights position is the cleanest we have seen: all rights remain with the entrant whether they place or not, and scripts are not sent to anyone outside Film Pipeline without the writer's consent. Entry is 50 dollars in the current regular tier, rising to 65 by the 30 October extended deadline, with 5 dollars off if you join their newsletter.
Dylian Salvatore, Founder of The PreList · Updated 9 Aug 2026
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost right now?
50 US dollars in the current regular tier, which runs to 10 September 2026. After that it is 55 until 25 September and 65 until the extended deadline of 30 October. Joining their newsletter takes 5 dollars off.
Are there upsells when I enter?
No, and this is genuinely unusual. The submission form carries no optional paid add-ons at all. Feedback is kept internal, but notes can be bought separately through the Script Pipeline Workshop at 75 dollars for a short script, on a different site.
Do I keep my rights?
Entirely. All rights remain with the entrant regardless of the result, and scripts are not circulated to anyone outside Film Pipeline without the writer's consent. There is no option, first refusal or exclusivity.
How long can my script be?
Anything from one page to roughly 30, and it must be intended as a short film. Their rules put the disqualifying ceiling at around 60 pages, so the usable range is a little ambiguous, but a genuine short is safe.
Is your script right for Film Pipeline Short Script Contest?
Upload your screenplay and The PreList scores how well it fits this contest: genre, format, eligibility and readiness, before you spend anything.
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