Script Pipeline Screenwriting Competition
Contest · 2026Prestige 65/100Feedback included
24th annual screenwriting competition. $20,000 to the winner, $1,000 to each finalist, ongoing mentorship and industry circulation.
Deadlines & fees
Closed for this cycle
Entries for 2026 have closed. Finalists are announced on 3 August and the winner on 9 August 2026.
Dates and fees checked against the official site 14 Jul 2026.
Key facts
- Formats
- Feature
- Genres
- Action, Adventure, Animation, Biography, Comedy, Crime, Documentary, Drama, Family, Fantasy, History, Horror, Music, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Sport, Thriller, War, Western
- Page limit
- 120 pages
- Required materials
- PDF of the screenplay (80 to 120 pages)
Entrants must be 18 or older. Screenplays must be 80 to 120 pages, preferably. Scripts cannot have been fully produced. Previously selected winners and finalists from the past two years (since 2024) are not eligible.
Prizes
Grand Prize Winner: $20,000 cash, ongoing one-to-one development, long-term mentorship, career guidance, and circulation to Script Pipeline's industry roster of executives, managers, and production companies. Finalists: $1,000 cash each, additional feedback, and consideration for industry circulation. Quarterfinalists: additional feedback, a re-review opportunity, and CineStory mentorship.
Judging
Multi-round judging. All finalists and quarterfinalists receive additional written feedback. Winners and finalists are introduced to Script Pipeline's industry roster of executives, managers, and production companies.
The PreList verdict
Script Pipeline's pitch is what happens after the announcement. The company works with its winners long after the cheque clears: development notes, industry circulation and introductions that have produced a genuinely strong track record of spec sales and careers, which is rare in a field where most contests end at the press release.
The honest part: the value is concentrated at the very top. One winner takes US$20,000 and the sustained attention; five finalists take US$1,000 each; everyone else takes a laurel. There is no feedback with a standard entry, and fees are only published inside the entry window, which makes cost planning harder than it should be.
Enter if your feature is high-concept and marketable, because that is what their development team hunts for and what their buyer network responds to. Skip it if your script is a quiet character piece or needs notes first. The 2026 competition closed on 31 May; finalists are announced on 3 August and the winner on 9 August.
Dylian Salvatore, Founder of The PreList · Updated 14 Jul 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is the Script Pipeline Screenwriting Competition open?
No. The 2026 competition closed on 31 May. Finalists are announced on 3 August and the winner on 9 August 2026, and the next cycle has not yet been dated.
What does the winner receive?
US$20,000, plus long-term development support and circulation to Script Pipeline's industry network. Five finalists receive US$1,000 each.
Does Script Pipeline also run a TV contest?
Yes, a separate TV Writing Competition for original pilots runs on the same calendar. It is listed separately in this directory.
Is your script right for Script Pipeline Screenwriting Competition?
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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