HollyShorts Screenplay Contest
Contest (2026)Prestige 55/100
Script contest of the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts festival. The winning short screenplay gets produced.
Deadlines & fees
Closed for this cycle
Entries for the 2026 contest closed on 1 June (fees ran $40 to $75 by deadline). The last cycle opened in late August, so the 2027 window is likely to open around then.
Dates and fees checked against the official site 8 Aug 2026. That is longer ago than we aim for; confirm on the official site before entering.
Key facts
- Formats
- Short, TV Pilot
- Genres
- Action, Adventure, Animation, Biography, Comedy, Crime, Documentary, Drama, Family, Fantasy, History, Horror, Music, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Sport, Thriller, War, Western
- Eligibility
- Open worldwide
- Required materials
- Short screenplay (maximum 30 pages) or TV pilot (maximum 50 pages), English language, proper script format, Entry via Scrybe or Stage 32
Open worldwide to short screenplays of up to 30 pages and TV pilots of up to 50 pages, in English and proper script format. By entering, writers agree that HollyShorts and the contest sponsor may produce the overall winning short screenplay.
Results
2026 winners
View results with a free accountPrizes
Best Short Screenplay is produced, premieres at the 2027 festival at the TCL Chinese Theatres with automatic BitPix distribution, plus a festival-strategy meeting with Alta Global Media and Festival Formula. Best TV Pilot is optioned by 88th Street Productions. Best Female Screenplay wins $1,000 plus a guaranteed screening. Quarterfinalists and above receive all-access festival passes.
Judging
Entries are judged by the HollyShorts selection committee with the sponsoring production company. Quarterfinalists for 2026 were announced on 8 July, with the Top 5 revealed at the awards ceremony during the festival (13 to 23 August 2026). Entries run via Scrybe or Stage 32.
The PreList verdict
HollyShorts offers the best prize in short-form screenwriting, and it is not cash: the winning short screenplay actually gets produced, premieres at the following year's festival at the TCL Chinese Theatres and receives automatic Bitpix distribution, with a festival-strategy meeting on top. The best TV pilot is optioned by 88th Street Productions. Because HollyShorts is Oscar-qualifying, the laurel carries weight well beyond the usual festival contest.
The honest part: you are granting production rights by entering, since the terms allow HollyShorts and its contest sponsor to produce the overall winning short screenplay. That is a good trade if you want the film made, but read it properly if you had other plans for the script. Fees ran from US$40 to US$75 across the ladder, and below the named awards the reward is a festival pass rather than money.
Enter if you have a short script you would genuinely rather see produced than sold, which is a different ambition from most contests on this directory. The 2026 contest closed on 1 June, having run Earlybird on 16 January, Regular on 20 March, Late on 1 May and Extended on 1 June. The previous cycle opened in late August, so expect the 2027 window to appear around then.
Dylian Salvatore, Founder of The PreList. Updated 19 Oct 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is the contest open now?
No. The 2026 contest closed on 1 June. The previous cycle opened in late August, so the 2027 window is likely to open around then.
What does the winner actually get?
The winning short screenplay is produced, premieres at the 2027 festival at the TCL Chinese Theatres and receives automatic Bitpix distribution, plus a festival-strategy meeting. The best TV pilot is optioned by 88th Street Productions.
Do I keep the rights to my script?
By entering you agree that HollyShorts and the contest sponsor may produce the overall winning short screenplay. Read the terms carefully before submitting.
Is your script right for HollyShorts Screenplay Contest?
Find out free, before you spend anything. Upload your screenplay and The PreList checks whether its format can enter this contest, whether you meet the country rules and any regional limits, and scores the script. Pro adds a written read on how well it fits.
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For organisers
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