Take advantage of a unique opportunity to pitch directly to an A-list jury of industry insiders online and open to writers worldwide!

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More info coming soon

Current Season Announcements

Mar 22

Semifinalist

Apr 5

Finalist

May 3

Winner

The ScreenCraft Virtual Pitch Competition gives writers the chance to pitch to industry professionals, a network of writers, and a live audience! Here’s how it works:

  1. Submit your best elevator pitch - a written, typed pitch of no more than 350 words. 
  2. Semifinalists will be asked to submit a 2-minute video pitch.
  3. The selected finalists will pitch live and online, to a panel of A-list industry professionals.

Previous finalists have signed ON THE SPOT during the pitch competition with a Hollywood Lit Manager. Past winners and finalists have also landed meetings with companies like Verve, Page Boy Productions (Elliot Page's production company), and more.

Previous Season Jury

Pitch in front of Hollywood judges who are looking to celebrate great talent.

Daniela Gonzalez

Literary Manager, Good Fear Content

Daniela Gonzalez is a literary manager at Good Fear Content, a Los Angeles-based management and production company known for representing generation-defining talent and producing clutter-busting content. Daniela identifies as a TCI – a third culture individual: Venezuelan-born, with a childhood in Southeast Asia, Daniela’s found her roots in the United States. Prior to working at Good Fear Content, Daniela was with Circle of Confusion for nearly a decade. Her international background informs her taste as she builds her roster of clients who have unique voices and backgrounds.

KARI Stringham-Drake

Co-EP, SEVERANCE

Kari is finishing up BATTLESHIP as a potential series for Hasbro/eOne. She also adapted the Harland Ellison short story I HAVE NO MOUTH, AND I MUST SCREAM with Kevin Murphy as a pilot for HBO with Mahershala Ali attached. Prior to HBO, Kari worked on Apple’s SEVERANCE and the run of Netflix’s LOST IN SPACE. Loving the world of fantasy, she’s also worked on DARK CRYSTAL, DEFIANCE and INSATIABLE among others. Kari is a graduate of the Warner Brothers Writers Program, where she developed the script CRACKED.

Tyler Tice

Writer, Netflix's DAYSHIFT

Tyler Tice is a New Jersey native, an art school dropout, and a writer of horrorish screenplays. His big break came when his script DAY SHIFT won the Grand Prize at the 2017 Slamdance Screenwriting Competition. It's now on Netflix with Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, and Snoop Dog. He's repped by Perry Weitzner at WME and John Zaozirny at Bellevue.

Kim Dwinell

Co-EP and Author of SURFSIDE GIRLS

Kim Dwinell is the author and CoEP on the new Surfside Girls TV show, which premiered on AppleTV+ in August 2022. Kim is a graphic novelist, author, surfer, illustrator, animator, and professor of animation at California State University - Long Beach.

Benefits

Grand Prize Winner

The finalists of the ScreenCraft Virtual Pitch Competition will have the exclusive opportunity to pitch live, over Zoom, to a panel of entertainment industry leaders (Managers, Screenwriters, TV writers and Producers, etc). 

The overall Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 prize, and will  be welcomed into the ScreenCraft Development Program and receive personal introductions and phone calls with one or more top Hollywood literary managers who are looking for talented emerging writers.

We will also recognize a first and second runner-up. These projects along with the Grand Prize winner will have their project info and log lines circulated and recommended to our network of over 150 Hollywood managers, agents, producers, and development executives.

Past ScreenCraft winners have signed with reps at CAA, WME, 3 Arts, Anonymous Content, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and United Talent Agency.

  • Personal Introduction to top literary managers, producers and executives

  • Accepted into the ScreenCraft Development Program

  • $500 Cash

  • Finalist pitch to managers, screenwriters, and TV writers and producers

REMIND ME

ScreenCraft Winners

Winning a ScreenCraft competition can launch your career. See More Successes

Dorie Chevlen

Signed with a literary manager

2022 ScreenCraft TV Pilot Winner Dorie Chevlen signed with a literary manager at Management 360 after the ScreenCraft team introduced her.

"Build yourself a supportive community. Writing is mostly a slog: it’s lonely, and frustrating, and the majority of the time you will fail at it. That’s just the nature of writing, and yes we do it because we love it, but it’s still quite difficult. Trying to enter the world of screenwriting as a journalist, I have had a lot of catching up to do and ScreenCraft has tremendously helped with that. From advice on what a query letter should look like to what I should include in my bio, I have found it hugely helpful to have the ScreenCraft team hold my hand through this early stage in my career. They facilitated introductions with development executives, agents, and managers that I would never have been able to secure on my own."

Maria Wilson

Signed with a literary manager at Affirmative Entertainment

2022 ScreenCraft Horror Winner Maria Wilson signed with a literary manager at Affirmative Entertainment after the ScreenCraft team introduced them.

"I didn’t go to film school and, especially at the beginning, I was super nervous about sharing my work. ScreenCraft was the first writing competition I submitted to, and I’ve continued to do so for several projects because they consistently work with amazing readers who give in depth, actionable notes. The quality of the feedback has just been incredibly valuable for bettering my craft and taking my scripts to the next level. Sometimes I feel like the path to a successful writing career is this weird, nebulous mystery, and it can be pretty intimidating trying to set an effective course. Which is why I sing such high praises about ScreenCraft’s writer development team!! They have this wonderfully hands-on approach that helps clarify how to take actual steps towards your goals. From strategizing on game plans, to answering questions and concerns, to connecting me with other finalists, I’ve just felt super supported throughout. They even got my script read by a number of reps, and facilitated a meeting with the manager that I’m now repped by. I’m just feeling super grateful — it’s been such a whirlwind experience, and ScreenCraft has really gone above and beyond in advancing my career. I can’t thank them enough."

Charlie Fellows

Signed an option agreement

2022 ScreenCraft Animation Finalist Charlie Fellows signed an option agreement with Story Warrior after the ScreenCraft team recommended his feature BOBA to the production company.

"Like many other screenwriters, my first introduction to the craft was in the classroom setting. However, once I left that safe productive haven of writing and peer discussion, the real world of screenwriting felt like the wild west. The difficulty of finding the right people to read your script and give you feedback can’t be understated, but the genre-based competitions at Screencraft were the best chance I could find to get my material in the right hands and they did not disappoint. Thankfully, once I placed in Screencraft’s animation contest, they were able to send my scripts to production companies both big and small that were specifically interested in the niche that represented my script. With constant support from their staff, Screencraft helped me craft successful cover letters and forge relationships with some of their judges to create further networking opportunities in the industry as well as job opportunities."

Laura Winters

Signed with a literary agent at CAA

2022 ScreenCraft Stage Play Winner Laura Winters signed with a literary agent at CAA after he read her material through the competition.

"The panel of judges drew me to ScreenCraft competitions. [ScreenCraft] has been an absolute game-changer in [the] ability to get my scripts read by “right-fit” industry people. I’ve also been able to connect with some wonderful other finalists who live in LA, so it’s also helped me establish a writing community here."

As Featured in

Virtual Pitch Articles

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RULES AND MORE

  • Rules
  • Eligibility
  • Selection Criteria
  • Additional Legal
  1. 350-word pitch 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. There is no optional feedback option from a professional reader applicable to this competition. 
  4. All participants must first submit a written, typed pitch of no more than 350 words.  Your written pitch can include a brief description of characters, plot, themes, tone, writer background, comparable projects, etc. Any submission of more than 350 words will be disqualified from the competition. 
  5. Pitches should be for feature films and episodic series only.  Please do not pitch a short film. 
  6. There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit.
  7. All semi-finalists will be required to submit a filmed video pitch of themselves, via a private link.
  8. Instructions for submission of video pitch will be sent only to Semifinalists. Only submissions with a filmed video pitch will be eligible to advance to the finals.
  9. Semifinalists will be selected from the written submissions. 
  10. Video submission guidelines for Semifinalists:  
    1. Video can be hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or any public-access video hosting platform.
    2. Video must be 3 minutes or less in total, including stop/start time and a brief introduction. We ask that the pitch itself be no more than 2 minutes, but if you go over by a few seconds you will not be automatically disqualified.
    3. There is no judging criteria based on video quality other than the clear ability to see/hear the writer(s).  Self-filmed pitches via your smartphone are fine. 
    4. No additional props, guests or support materials may be in the video, only the writer(s). 
    5. Writers should - and the judges will - consider this video pitch a rehearsal for pitching live. 
  11. The finalists will be invited to pitch live to the Panel of Judges, over Zoom.
  12. Finalists must be available for the Pitch Finals online event. Finalists who are not available for the event will be disqualified.  
  13. Winners will be selected and announced at the Finals Event .
  14. Pitch 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.
  15. All submitted material must be original, and all rights must be wholly owned by the writer(s).
  16. 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). 
  17. If a writing team is chosen as a winner, both members of the writing team must be available to live-pitch at the Finals event. 
  18. It is recommended (but not required) that original material be registered with the WGA or The Library of Congress US Copyright Office before submitting to any competition.
  19. Contact info may be included on the pitch, however, it is not required.
  20. ScreenCraft claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remain with the original rights holder(s).
  21. 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.
  22. In the event a juror, partner organization, mentor, or prize partner is no longer able to serve in their specified capacity, ScreenCraft will make its best effort to secure a replacement.
  23. ScreenCraft reserves the right to change deadline and announcement dates at any time.
  24. ScreenCraft reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
  • The contest is open to entrants who will be 18 or older at the time of the winners’ announcement. However, a writer who has earned more than $50,000 (or equivalent currency) from professional writing services for film or TV in the preceding year is not. (Contest winnings not included.)
  • 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).
  • Material submitted to other competitions or contests may be submitted to this contest as well.
  • Writers can submit a written pitch for a film or television project even if the script is not completed.
  • Title page not required.
  • Written material must be submitted electronically as a PDF or it will not be eligible.
  • The Semifinalists will be invited to submit a simple video pitch. The video file cannot be uploaded and must be hosted on a free website such as YouTube, Vimeo, etc,  and easy to view with a single link. 
  • Prize winners may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and proper tax documentation before prizes are released.
  • By entering the competition, user acknowledges their eligibility for the competition. ScreenCraft will verify all eligibility requirements at the finalist stage of the competition and before distributing any prizes.
  • ScreenCraft reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.

The winners will be chosen based on the following criteria: (i) originality, (ii) uniqueness and personality in voice in storytelling, (iii) characterization and (iv)overall professional presentation. The winners and top finalists may be contacted by interested industry representatives, such as managers, agents or producers. Entrants may be required to submit further information to assist in the judges’ verification of eligibility. Any entrant may be deemed ineligible at the sole discretion of ScreenCraft. 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 will result in disqualification. 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 a entrants’ information are in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
  3. REFUND POLICY: All entries are non-refundable.
  4. SITE TERMS OF SERVICE. By entering this competition, the user agrees to all ScreenCraft Terms of Service 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 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).
  7. ScreenCraft reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.

Other Open Competitions

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