ISA Diversity Initiative

Eligibility and project requirements

Open to writers from all countries, though scripts must be submitted in English and any fees paid in US dollars. The identity language is aspirational rather than a gate: ISA states it is seeking writers with unique perspectives based on race, sexuality, gender, neurodiversity, disability, economic inequality, age and other characteristics, but no proof, declaration or eligibility rule restricts entry by identity. Writers under 18 need a parent or guardian's permission. Features and television, in effectively all genres. Scripts that have been sold, produced for profit or are currently under option are ineligible, as are shorts, web series, novels, short stories, stage plays, musicals, treatments, synopses, reality concepts, documentaries and specs of existing series. Going over length is not disqualifying. Standard spec format in 12-point Courier, with the title page carrying your name and contact details but no name or contact information inside the body. You may enter as many scripts as you like, though only one script per writer can be selected.

Formats

Feature, TV Pilot

Eligibility

Open worldwide

Deadlines & fees

Dates and fees checked against the official site 19 Oct 2026.

Prepare your entry

Prizes

THERE IS NO CASH. Not one dollar of prize money is published for this season, and every listed benefit is either credit toward ISA's own services or a third-party membership: Development Slate consideration, a career consultation with ISA's VP of Development, a twelve-month ISAConnect membership, a logline review, a JHRTS membership and three months of iPitch.tv, plus consideration for option from the two sponsor production companies. Three writers are selected. No transfer, substitution or cash equivalent for prizes is allowed, and the ISAConnect membership must be used within 90 days and cannot be combined with an existing free membership. THE UPSELL LADDER RUNS FROM 29 TO 799 DOLLARS, sold at the bottom of the submission form across six tiers: notes on your first 20 pages at 29, full script notes at 49, deep dive notes at 75, a development evaluation at 129, an executive level evaluation at 499 and an accelerator at 799. Script notes are separate from contest judging, turnaround is within 45 days, and there are no refunds after 24 hours. RIGHTS: writers retain their rights and may submit elsewhere, with no first refusal or exclusivity. But entrants accept an explicit waiver of any claim that ISA, its staff or judges may have misappropriated ideas or portions of the submission, and submitting enrols your email in the ISA newsletter.

Judging

The 2026 season judges are named: Mark Maley of Big Swell Entertainment, Desa Larkin-Boutte, Randall Keenan Winston, Gabrielle Utsey, Katie Zdankus and Karyn Smith-Forge of This Radicle Act, alongside ISA's Felicity Wren, Max Timm and Jeffrey Ryan Morales, with Madeline Di Nonno of the Geena Davis Institute leading the second-round seminar. Sponsors are Creative Cypher and Creative Screenwriter Productions. All meetings and consultations are virtual. Two internal contradictions worth knowing: ISA's FAQ gives a 2 dollar per page surcharge over 120 pages while its rules say 1 dollar, and the FAQ gives a 10 to 70 page range for pilots while the rules say up to 70.

Frequently asked questions