Competition Japan

令和8年度 橋田賞新人脚本賞 (Hashida Award for New Screenwriters, 2026)

Run by Hashida Cultural Foundation (橋田文化財団)

Japanese-language writers can enter either a one-hour drama or a 15 to 20 minute short on the theme of family or something mysterious. Entry is free through an online form, winning scripts are produced and streamed, and results are due around April 2027.

Deadline Nov 1, 2026 (closes in 12 days)

Dates

DeadlineDateFee
Short drama categoryOct 18, 2026 passedFree
One-hour drama categoryNov 1, 2026Free

Deadlines are as the organizer states them. Check the time zone on the official page.

At a glance

Entry fee
FreeNo entry fee stated on the page
Formats
Short
Language
Japanese
Where
Japan (enter online)
Who can apply
Anyone aiming to write professionally, with no limit on age, gender or job. Scripts must be original, unpublished and not entered in or awarded by another contest. One script per writer in each category.
Prizes
One-hour drama: JPY 500,000 for each selected script and JPY 200,000 for each honorable mention. Short drama: JPY 200,000 for each selected script. Rights in winning scripts, including screen, broadcast and streaming rights, pass to the foundation.

What to send

Length
About 60 sheets for the one-hour drama, about 20 sheets for the 15 to 20 minute short drama, both in the foundation's own template
Title page
Not stated; the file must be named after the script's title
Also asked for
Theme is either family or something mysterious. Write in the foundation's Word (DOCX) template and upload through the form for your category. A pen name must be given together with the real name. Anyone who used AI files a usage report and a signed pledge.

Need your pages in standard screenplay format first? The free screenplay formatter lays them out and saves a PDF.

What it gives besides money

Selected scripts are planned for filming and release on TVer and similar services around July 2027. Last cycle's one-hour honorable mentions were given a table read by professional actors, shared as a video.

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