The Screenwriting Master Contest is an annual screenplay competition founded in 2018. The panel consists of writers, producers, and directors who have worked on everything from studio features to independent films. The panel will judge the first three rounds of the competition. We then turn the final decisions over to our guest jury members to determine who will become the 2019 Feature & Short “Screenwriting Master.”
The objective of the Screenwriting Master Contest is to award writers for outstanding achievement in screenwriting in both Feature and Short screenplay categories based on six sections: Dialogue, Plot, Characters, Premise, Tone, and Structure. Marketability of a screenplay is not something we take into consideration. We understand that writing is a process, which is why we allow our contestants the ability to submit an updated draft of their screenplay in the event their work is selected to move onto the next round. After all, rewriting is the only way to become a true Screenwriting Master.
Best Feature Screenplay
$1000 Cash Prize
The Screenwriting Master Trophy & the title of 2019 Feature “Screenwriting Master”
One free entry to next year’s competition
Coverage notes from each jury member
One Final Draft® screenwriting software license
Best Short Screenplay
$500 Cash Prize
The Screenwriting Master Trophy & the title of 2019 Short “Screenwriting Master”
One free entry to next year’s competition
Coverage notes from each jury member
One Final Draft® screenwriting software license
Submissions are accepted via electronic submission on this website only, between November 30th, 2018 and May 31st, 2019.
Entry fee for each screenplay varies based on the deadline date and type of screenplay (short or feature). Please refer to the submission fees listed at screenwritingmaster.com/submit.
There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit.
Entries must be received on or before the deadlines and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. All entry fees are non-refundable
All submitted material must be original, and all rights must be wholly owned by the writer(s).
Material must be submitted by the writer. Material written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with the consent of the other(s). All writers must be credited on the title page.
If a writing team is chosen as a winner, prizes will be given to the person who submits the project. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing the prize money.
After a screenplay is entered, no new drafts or corrected pages can be made. In the event your screenplay is selected to advance to the next round, you will have the opportunity to send a new draft. All new drafts must be received within 72 hours of the selection announcement. New drafts received after this period will not be accepted.
It is recommended that original material be registered with the WGA or The Library of Congress before submitting to any competition. However, we do not require registration.
All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remain with the original rights holders.
If coverage is purchased, it may take up to 30 days from the submission date before you receive it. We do not provide feedback on screenplays at this time unless coverage is added and paid for at the time of your submission.
No waivers are available for this contest.