SUBMISSIONS OPEN MARCH 18
YOUR YEAR. YOUR STORY.
The Slamdance Screenplay Competition has been discovering, nurturing, and championing new voices in screenwriting since 1995. Our alumni have gone on to make award-winning films, sign with top agencies, and launch careers in Hollywood and beyond. Whether you’re a first-time writer or a seasoned storyteller, Slamdance is the place where bold, daring, and original voices thrive.
This is YOUR YEAR to take that next step.
There are two ways to submit; FilmFreeway and Slamdance’s own Direct Submission Form.
DEADLINES AND SCHEDULE
Submissions Open
March 18, 2026
Early Deadline
May 4, 2026
Regular Deadline
June 22, 2026
Late Deadline
July 20, 2026
Final Deadline
August 3, 2026
Quarter-Finalists Announcement
September 21, 2026
Semi-Finalists Announcement
September 28, 2026
Top 12 Announcement
October 5, 2026
Winners Announcement
October 31, 2026
SCRIPT CATEGORY GUIDELINES
FEATURE
– 41-140 pages.
– All narrative genres welcome.
TV PILOT
– Up to 80 pages.
– Half-hour, one-hour or webisode.
– All narrative genres welcome.
– Entries may include a show bible (up to 5 pages) at the end of the script.
HORROR / THRILLER
– 41-140 pages.
– Scripts featuring menacing situations, heightened feelings of suspense, or imminent danger.
SHORT
– Up to 40 pages.
– All narrative genres welcome.
SUBMISSION FEES
| SCRIPT TYPE | PAGE COUNT | EARLY DEADLINE | REGULAR DEADLINE | LATE DEADLINE | FINAL DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURE | 41-110 Pages | $65 | $75 | $85 | $95 |
| FEATURE | 111-140 Pages | $85 | $95 | $105 | $120 |
| TV PILOT | Up to 45 Pages | $50 | $60 | $65 | $70 |
| TV PILOT | 46-80 Pages | $55 | $65 | $75 | $85 |
| SHORT | Up to 10 Pages | $35 | $45 | $50 | $55 |
| SHORT | 11-40 Pages | $50 | $60 | $65 | $70 |
FEEDBACK
Every entrant will receive short feedback from one of our readers. It will include a genre suggestion, a logline, and a paragraph outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your screenplay. Our goal is to provide constructive, concise, and insightful notes to help you refine your work.
ADD-ON COVERAGE
For those seeking deeper insights, we offer comprehensive feedback with:
- 3-4 pages of notes
- Genre suggestion & Logline
- Brief plot synopsis
- Page-by-page comments
- Next steps (recommended films, media, and industry advice)
By entering the Slamdance Screenplay Competition, you confirm that you agree to the Submission Rules:
Submission Eligibility
- The Slamdance Screenplay Competition focuses on emerging writers. Professional, established writers with writing as their main source of income are not eligible.
- Submitted scripts must NOT have been produced.
- If a submitted screenplay is optioned or purchased after submission but before the end of the judging period, the applicant must notify us, and the screenplay will no longer be eligible for an award.
- Scripts submitted to the competition must not have received awards from other competitions over $2,500 at the time of entry.
- Screenwriters who have had a feature screenplay produced and distributed through non-independent means are ineligible.
- Screenwriters earning more than $50,000 annually from screenwriting for film or television are not eligible.
- No adaptations of other written work will be accepted unless the writer owns the rights to the original material or the original work is in the Public Domain.
- No specs will be accepted for the TV Pilot category. TV Pilots must be for original series.
Submission Guidelines
- Screenplays must be in English and formatted according to current industry standards in 12-point Courier font.
- Screenplays must include a cover page with the script’s title. Additional information may be included but is not required. The cover page does not count toward the total page count.
- If the script is based on a true story, this should be noted on the cover page.
- Slamdance is not responsible for screenplays or coverage that are lost or stolen in transit.
- Submissions are only accepted via FilmFreeway, Coverfly, and the Slamdance Direct Form. Hard copies are no longer accepted.
- All entries must be uploaded by the appropriate deadline. Deadlines close at 11:59 PM PST.
- Reader assignments are at our discretion. Requests for re-reads will not be accepted.
- Submitted scripts cannot be updated with new drafts after submission.
- Co-written scripts are accepted. Awards will be divided equally among co-writers.
- Screenplays written or rewritten by AI are not accepted. No refunds will be issued after submission.
- Writers of all ages are encouraged to enter. Writers under 18 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian.
- Slamdance does not offer refunds of any kind for submissions.
Judging
- The first round of reading is done by individual readers. If your script advances to the next round, it will be read and scored by multiple readers to determine whether it reaches the quarterfinals and semifinals.
- If your script makes it to the semifinals, it will be discussed at deliberations where readers will determine finalists and winners.
- If your script does not make it into the quarterfinals, it will not advance further in the competition.
- No judging decision will be included with the feedback.
- Slamdance notifies winners only. Entrants are advised to check our website and e-newsletter for judging announcements.
- The Slamdance Screenplay Competition readers’ decisions are final.
- While not an official requirement for submission, we strongly suggest you register your screenplay with the Writers Guild of America, West and the US Copyright Office to protect your work.