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Joe Robert Cole, co-writer of BLACK PANTHER and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, joins as our VIP Mentor alongside jurors from Zero Gravity, Thunder Road, Buchwald and more...

Contest opens in 12 days

Accepting TV and Feature Scripts

ScreenCraft's Action & Adventure competition has consistently led to writers signing with literary reps at companies including Bellevue Productions, Rascality Entertainment, Kersey Management, Citizen Skull, Greenlit Management and more.

So whether it’s a pressure cooker moment, a ticking clock, or saving the world from destruction, we're looking for scripts that can keep us on the edge of our seats.

We are thrilled to welcome Emmy-nominated screenwriter Joe Robert Cole, co-writer of BLACK PANTHER and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, as a VIP Mentor for this year’s competition.

VIP MENTOR

We welcome Filmmaker and Writer Joe Robert Cole (BLACK PANTHER, AMERICAN CRIME STORY: THE PEOPLE VS. OJ SIMPSON, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER) as VIP Mentor for this year's competition. Joe will host an exclusive Q&A conversation with this year's semifinalists.

A Note To Entrants And Those Considering Entry During The WGA Strike:
At ScreenCraft, we stand in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America and its efforts to ensure fair compensation for writers.

ScreenCraft has publicly committed to pausing the sharing of writers’ work with struck companies and, if needed, coordinating with finalists and winners to see what alternate outreach they are comfortable with.

We’re all hoping the strike will be over soon, but if it isn’t, ScreenCraft will offer alternatives, postpone announcements, or otherwise work with writers to ensure they’re staying within the rules of the WGA strike.

Jury

COURTNEY BROCK

Head of Development, Thunder Road Films
Courtney Brock is the Head of Development and recently joined Thunder Road. Thunder Road Films are the Film/TV Producers of SICARIO, THE MESSENGERS, THE TOWN, JOHN WICK, GODS OF EGYPT & CLASH OF THE TITANS. Prior to this, she was in film and television development at Kroll & Co. Entertainment.

DANIEL PERRY

Literary Agent, Buchwald
Daniel is a Film & TV Literary Agent at BUCHWALD, representing prolific, iconic, and award-winning writers, directors, producers, and multi-hyphenates. BUCHWALD was launched in 1977, and is an industry leader in representation.

PARIS HERBERT-TAYLOR

Creative Executive, Pride of Gypsies
Paris Herbert-Taylor is the Creative Executive at Pride of Gypsies, founded by Jason Momoa, star of beloved tentpole film and television series Aqua Man, Game of Thrones, and Dune.

Matt tegtmeier

Development Executive, Zero Gravity Management
Matt Tegtmeier works in development at Zero Gravity Management (OZARK, THE ACCOUNTANT), shepherding genre projects from grounded sci-fi to action comedy that tell larger than life stories from a character driven perspective- exploring the extraordinary from a very ordinary, humanistic angle. Prior to Zero Gravity, Matt was a screenwriter, having sold and optioned material to companies like Endeavor Content and Hyde Park Entertainment with his writing partner.

PRINCE BAGGETT

Head of Film, Confluential Films
Prince Baggett steers a diverse film slate at Confluential Films & Black Love. In his role as Head of Film, he oversees films such as Young. Wild. Free with Sanaa Lathan, "The Perfect Find," and "Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project." Before joining Confluential, Prince held the reins at Genius Productions, overseeing Marsai Martin's first-look deal with Universal Pictures and playing a pivotal role in development on projects like "Little" “Saturdays” and "Amari and the Night Brothers."

ANDREW BERGAMO

Creative Executive, The Donners' Company
During his career Andrew Bergamo has developed stories for some of the most recognizable franchises in the world. After first cutting his teeth as a development intern at Marvel Studios, he moved over to The Donners’ Company where he worked his way up to become a creative executive, aiding in the development of films and shows from the X-Men cinematic universe, Lethal Weapon franchise, and The Goonies among other original IP.

Prizes

Grand Prize

The overall grand prize winner in either feature or TV category will be welcomed to the Writer Development Program and receive personal introductions and phone calls with one or more top Hollywood literary manager(s), producers, or industry exec. who are looking for talented emerging Film & TV screenwriters.

ScreenCraft's genre specific relationships include companies like, Netflix, HBO Max, AMC, and over 150 other Hollywood managers, agents, producers, and development executives.

ScreenCraft has a proven track record for getting writers signed with managers, agents, and staffed in writing rooms.
Personal Introduction to industry professionals
Accepted into the Writer Development Program
$1,000 Cash
An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
Virtual interactive Q&A with writer Joe Robert Cole

Runner-Up Prizes

Feature Winner

$500 cash award

Accepted into Writer Development Program

An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry

Virtual interactive Q&A with writer Joe Robert Cole

Guaranteed Meeting with an Industry Professional

FINALISTS

Guaranteed Meeting with an Industry Professional

An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry

Virtual interactive Q&A with writer Joe Robert Cole

TV PILOT WINNER

$500 cash award

Accepted into Writer Development Program

An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry

Virtual interactive Q&A with writer Joe Robert Cole

Guaranteed Meeting with an Industry Professional

Contest opens in 12 days

Previous Success Stories

See More Successes

Joshua Flanagan

Signed with a literary manager

"I write in just about every genre -- some might say too many but they'd be WRONG -- so I love that ScreenCraft’s array of lovely, genre-specific competitions lets you attack the contest circuit with surgical precision. It’s easy to get jaded with screenplay contests – you sorta think, even if you WIN… maybe you walk away with a laurel JPEG (low-resolution) and some vague notion of “heat.” ScreenCraft’s support -- as both a finalist and winner (cue air horn) -- set the absolute standard. From broader industry overviews to hands-on guidance with cover letters and career strategy, ScreenCraft [was] crucial for me in deciding how to leverage interest and success, and signing with my first manager."

Sierra Hall

Signed with Kersey Management

"I loved the idea of different genre competitions. Comedy sci-fi scripts aren’t up against epic western dramas, giving both genres the chance to shine! We had a strategy meeting and I got some good tips on follow-up with producers and managers. To be honest, the biggest benefit from Screencraft was the feedback on my projects. It was concise, encouraging and so, so helpful. The feedback I got from Screencraft was some of the best I received and instrumental in taking my work to the next level. "

Gianmarco Giacomelli

Signed with a literary manager at Citizen Skull and optioned two TV projects to different production companies

"After I’d written and produced my first short film, I had no idea what the next step should be. So I just kept writing - features and a TV pilot - and kind of randomly submitting them to various festivals and competitions haha. The path felt very murky and uncertain, until I was accepted in to the AFI Conservatory for my MFA in Screenwriting. After I’d finished at the AFI Conservatory and was interviewing with managers and sending my projects out to production companies, there was a string of rejections that were hard to digest. I did a lot of research and looking around online to figure out which competitions were worth submitting to - ScreenCraft kept coming up as one of the good ones. I think it’s helped me in two main areas: 1) knowing when a script is ready to show and when it needs work; and 2) external validation and a pat on the back which helps as motivation to keep going!"

Emily Womelsduff

Signed with a literary manager

"I've never before had the kind of hands-on coaching that I've received from Screencraft. Multiple people were emailing me, Zooming with me, setting up generals, sending along my script, and helping me pivot and re-strategize when dead ends occurred. I think what sets Screencraft apart is their genuine desire for the long-term professional development of their writers. It's not just introducing a writer to one person, then abandoning them and moving on to the next winner. They stay with you, even years later, to help you succeed. As a result of introductions by Screencraft, I now have an incredible manager, David Binns, of Rascality Entertainment."

Nicole Ramberg

Signed with Manager at Zero Gravity Management

"I was really drawn to ScreenCraft specifically because of the genre-specific competitions. So many competitions will categorize your script as either “drama” or “comedy,” and when you have a genre script, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I realized that ScreenCraft had an Action & Adventure competition. I entered hoping I’d maybe get some recognition, maybe get some contacts. I never expected to win. And when I did, ScreenCraft seriously opened so many doors for me."

Kevin Bachar

Signed with Manager at Zero Gravity Management

"Winning ScreenCraft’s Action/Thriller genre was amazing and set me on a pretty wild ride that led to meetings at Bad Robot and Donner Productions, and gaining a literary manager at Zero Gravity. But the coolest thing was that one of the judges for the contest was Steven De Souza, the writer of DIE HARD. That means he read my work and liked it!! That’s why you enter a contest – Yippy-ki-yay!"

As Featured In

DEVELOPMENT PRIZE

This optional add-on prize category will identify one winner to learn, workshop, and strengthen their project with guidance from an industry mentor. This year's mentor Nadya Panfilov will select one writer/writer team that includes this unique add-on benefit with their entry.

NADYA PANFILOV

Manager at Writ Large

Nadya Panfilov is a literary manager at Writ Large, an LA-based entertainment management and production company that specializes in writers, directors and actors in film and television.

Nadya has been Hollywood-pilled from the moment she got American cable in Uzbekistan in 2000. Since then, she has been obsessed with figuring out how to expand the inclusive and, often times, therapeutic power of storytelling. As a manager, she strives to find voices that can make any outcast from any part of the world feel seen and understood.
Only projects submitted to the ScreenCraft Action & Adventure Competition AND that select this add-on are eligible for consideration in this category. Additionally, all projects that place in the Top 10 of the competition will automatically be considered.

Action & Adventure Articles

Read More Articles
How Derek Kolstad Wrote Action-Packed Fight Scenes in John Wick

How Derek Kolstad Wrote Action-Packed Fight Scenes in John Wick

June 6 | by David Young

You already know the name. John Wick is not a man to be trifled with. Of course, there’s a lot that people will say to...

Defining Character Through Action: 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day'

Defining Character Through Action: 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day'

April 11 | by Ken Miyamoto

We're back with another installment of "Defining Character Through Action," where we break down iconic films that use the things characters do to tell us...

75 Free Action-Adventure Scripts You Can Download Right Now

75 Free Action-Adventure Scripts You Can Download Right Now

October 29 | by Ken Miyamoto

The best way to write a great action screenplay is to read great action screenplays. As you read more scripts, you'll quickly see that there's no...

Rules
Eligibility
Selection Criteria
Additional Legal
  1. Submissions are accepted via electronic submission only.
  2. Entry fees are as listed on the site and checkout form. No coupon or discount is applicable on a previous entry.
  3. Optional feedback from a professional reader may be requested at the time of entry. Requests for feedback can be done through Coverfly.
  4. Entries may be any length --  the standard 1/2 hour is between 20 - 40 pages, and the standard hour long is between 40 - 70 pages, and the standard feature is between 85 - 120 pages. Any script submission longer than 120 pages will incur a $.50 per page overage fee for each page over 120 if it does not include feedback and $1 per page if the entry does include feedback.
  5. There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit.
  6. Entries must be received on or before the deadline dates by 11:59PM Pacific Time, and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. All entry fees are non-refundable.
  7. All submitted material must be owned by the writer(s), however the material may be based on other works not owned by the writers.
  8. Material must be submitted by the writer. Material written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with consent of the other(s).
  9. 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 any prizes awarded as they deem fair (whether there is a cash value or not).
  10. Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered material will be allowed for a limited time with a $6 reentry fee through Coverfly. Please proofread your script carefully before submitting.
  11. 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.
  12. Contact info may be included on the cover page of the screenplay, however it is not required. ScreenCraft uses Coverfly to manage submissions and automatically removes cover pages before scripts are read by the judges.
  13. ScreenCraft claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remains with the original rights holders. 
  14. The decision of the judges will be final and cannot be contested in any manner. There is no score on a scorecard that guarantees advancement to the next level as advancement will be based on all scores in the competition.
  15. In the event a juror, partner organization, or prize partner is no longer able to serve in their specified capacity, ScreenCraft will make its best effort to secure a replacement. ScreenCraft is not responsible for the failed delivery of any prize package by a juror, sponsor, or partner organization.
  16. ScreenCraft reserves the right to change deadline and announcement dates at any time.
  17. ScreenCraft reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
  1. All writers at least 18 years of age are eligible. However, a writer who has earned more than $50,000 (or equivalent currency) from professional writing services for film or TV in the preceding 12 months or $500,000 (or equivalent currency) from professional film or TV in the proceeding 10 years is not eligible. (Contest winnings not included.)
  2. All persons from anywhere in the world are eligible; however the material submitted must be in English (occasional dialogue in other languages is acceptable, if subtitle translation is provided).
  3. All material submitted to other competitions or contests are eligible for this contest.
  4. The material may have been written at any time.
  5. Material should be submitted in standard screenplay format, font, spacing and margin.
  6. We have no preferences regarding title page content. Title and name of writer would suffice.
  7. All material must be submitted electronically as a PDF. Broken files or non-PDF files may be accepted, but if the file cannot be read ScreenCraft will not judge the submission.
  8. Prize winners may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and proper tax documentation before prizes are released.
  9. By entering the competition, user acknowledges their eligibility for the competition. ScreenCraft may verify all eligibility requirements at the finalist stage of the competition and before distributing any prizes.
  10. Scripts or projects based on underlying material not owned by the writer are accepted as samples, so long as the script itself is indisputably written by the writer and that the script does not contain any plagiarism.

The reading and judging of the scripts will be based on the following criteria: 

  • Voice
  • Concept
  • Story
  • Structure
  • Characters
  • Dialogues
  • Genre Conventions

In addition to the scoring criteria for the script, ScreenCraft may conduct interviews and send questionnaires to learn more about the entrant, their voice, perspective, and goals to help identify the winning projects. Selected Finalist scripts are read by the industry jury who votes for their favorite scripts at their sole discretion.


ScreenCraft Add-on Prize Selection:

  1. Only writers who submit to the competition and include this add-on at the time of entry or who make it to the Top 10 of the competition, are eligible to be considered for this prize opportunity.
  2. The winner of this prize will be selected at the discretion of the specified industry professional(s). The selected winner of this prize will engage with the specified industry professional(s) in an educational development capacity.
  3. Being selected as the winner of this prize does not constitute or guarantee representation by the industry professional or involvement of any kind by the company they work for.
  4. The approach and manner in which the industry professional(s) and winner interact is at their discretion. ScreenCraft will have no involvement in the process beyond facilitating an introduction.

Criteria for Winners and Finalists:

  1. The winners and top finalists may be contacted by interested industry representatives, such as managers, agents or producers. 
  2. Entrants may be required to submit further information to assist in the judges’ verification of eligibility. 
  3. Any entrant may be deemed ineligible as a Finalist or Winner at the sole discretion of ScreenCraft. 
  4. All recognition, placements, and winners are chosen at the sole discretion of ScreenCraft.
  5. Finalists may be required to sign and return within seven (7) business days of receipt a notarized Affidavit of Eligibility and a Release and Indemnification and proof of valid passport and any other documents that ScreenCraft or any other partner may require before receiving prize payment. Failure to respond to the initial notification within ten (10) days or return of notification may result in disqualification. 
  6. We reserve the right to amend these rules at any time.
  1. COPYRIGHT AND OWNERSHIP: ScreenCraft or any other partner, employee or agent associated with this contest claims no ownership nor first right of option to any original screenplay submitted to this contest. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remains with the original rights holders until and unless other agreements are made.
  2. PUBLICITY: Except where prohibited by law, participation in the contest constitutes each entrant’s consent to ScreenCraft and its agents’ and contest sponsor’s use of entrants’ names, likenesses, photographs, and/or personal information for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. All uses of entrants' information are in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
  3. REFUND POLICY: All entries are non-refundable.
  4. SITE TERMS OF SERVICE. All ScreenCraft Terms of Service apply in addition to these rules and eligibility criteria.
  5. DATA MANAGEMENT AND PRIVACY. Entries for this competition are managed on the submission platform Coverfly, and ScreenCraft (a d/b/a of Red Ampersand, Inc) uses other data management tools, including but not limited to, Google Services and Amazon Web Services, to securely manage your data. ScreenCraft is not accountable for any data hacks (internal or external) or user errors that may release scripts or writer data unintentionally.
  6. ENTRY CONDITIONS AND RELEASE: BY ENTERING THE CONTEST YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THESE CONDITIONS. You agree to release, indemnify and hold harmless ScreenCraft, ScreenCraft.org, its subsidiary, parent and affiliated companies, Prize contributors, judges, screenplay readers, Sponsors, and any other organizations responsible for administering, advertising or promoting the Contest, and every one of their respective members, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) past and present from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s Entry, participation in the Contest and/or acceptance or use or misuse of Prize; provided however, that such release will not apply to any commercial exploitation of the script by a Released Party in violation of your rights under applicable copyright law; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the ScreenCraft.org and its Sponsor, agents and employees from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys fees) relating to an entrant’s participation in the Contest and/or entrant’s use or misuse of Prize. Employees of ScreenCraft and their immediate families are ineligible to participate in this contest. Any such submission will be immediately disqualified. ENTRY TO THIS CONTEST IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED or restricted by any Federal, State or Local law. Voided entries will be refunded. Recipients’ eligibility will be verified before the grant is awarded and the winner may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility. By entering the contest, you authorize us to use any trusted third-party online and cloud-based services and databases for hosting, managing and/or transmitting your submission file(s). The governing law is California.

Stories with Adrenaline

NO TIME TO DIE
headline_top gun maverick
TOP GUN: MAVERICK
BULLET TRAIN
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY
PAN'S LABYRINTH
AMERICAN GODS
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WRITER RECOMMENDED FEEDBACK

Kevin Gibson

Incredible feedback! The analyst was so thorough, they found subtext in my script I hadn't even (consciously) considered. Really thoughtful and encouraging. Thanks, ScreenCraft!
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