2018 Competition

The Short Screenplay Challenge 2018 is officially underway!  View the assignments, results, and rules using the links below.  Good luck to the 1,100+ writers participating from around the world!

Challenge #1: Kickoff Email | Assignments | Results

Challenge #2: Kickoff Email | Assignments | Results

Challenge #3: Kickoff Email | Assignments

Rules: Official Rules & Participation Agreement

The Short Screenplay Challenge is a competition that challenges writers around the world to create short screenplays (5 pages max.) based on genre, location, and object assignments. Each writer will participate in at least 2 writing challenges and as many as 4 depending on how well they place in each challenge.  When the competition begins, writers are placed in groups where they will be judged against other writers within their same group.  Each group receives its own unique genre, location, and object assignments (see past examples here).  After 2 challenges, the top 5 writers that score the highest advance to the next challenge.  In Challenge #3, writers are placed in new groups and given a new genre, location, and object assignment.  The top 5 writers from each of the groups in Challenge #3 advance to the fourth and final challenge of the competition where they are given the final genre, location, and object assignment and compete for thousands in cash and prizes.  Sound like fun?  Register below or click here for a more detailed description of how the competition works.

Never written a screenplay before?  Click here to check out an article going over the basics.

Registration is now closed.  Please join our mailing list and follow us on facebook and twitter to be the first to know about our next competition.

While we send e-mails at the beginning of each round to all registered writers, many times e-mails go to junk mail folders, spam, or are blocked by servers for unknown reasons.  We recommend that everyone marks their calendars with the start dates of each round, especially the first challenge at 11:59PM EDT on Friday, October 12th, 2018 so that you know when to expect an e-mail!

Not only does every writer receive feedback from the judges for every screenplay that is submitted, but a special review forum is available for the participants to submit their screenplays for review from fellow writers throughout the competition.  During the last Short Screenplay Challenge, there were over 3,000 comments made on the 240+ screenplays submitted on the forum.  Click here to visit the forums.

	Stephen W. Wellesley, MA, USA	“This was a fantastic challenge. Had to make a script using Suspense on a high speed train. Just a blast!”
	Amy L. Oakland, CA, USA	“That was the first screenplay I've ever written! I've been meaning to for a long time, and finally decided I needed a deadline. Looking forward to the next one.”
	Sergio S. Bournemouth, GB	“A great challenge! My script is done and it is amazing what you can do within 5 pages! Mentally and artistically stimulating! Thank you!”
	Shia S. Oakland, CA, USA	“Submitted my Round 2 script. I whined the entire time. I will be all nerves until we get results. I LOVE this process. I can feel my growth as a writer/creative/human. Good luck to us all!”
	Maria C. Malden, MA, USA	“First Suspense script for me...It was tough!!!! Really not my thing...But thanks for the new experience, NYC Midnight! Hoping for a Romantic Comedy next time.”
	Randy B. Portland, OR, USA	“That was a great exercise! It came really fast and then just the tweakin'. 5 pages, it has to be TIGHT.”
	Debra H. Lambton, Australia	"Exhausted. The challenge is real and the relief of having completed it is awesome.”
	David W. Royersford, PA, USA	“Script submitted with just 2 minutes to spare. Had a blast!”
	Tammy M. Bolingbrook, IL, USA	“First time trying this. I loved the creative challenge. Came out to 5 pages exactly.”