Escalate: Feature Focus Writers Initiative

Dates

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

At a glance

Entry fee

FreeThe page mentions no application fee

Formats

Feature

Language

English

Where

Queensland, Australia (in person)

Who can apply

Queensland residents of at least six months, 18 or older, Australian citizens or permanent residents, not studying full time. Each needs one of: a short at a recognized festival, narrative lead on a widely played game, a web series with real reach, a credit on a commissioned series or fully funded feature, a long-form project under option to an established producer, or solid experience in another industry role such as directing or development.

Prizes

Writers are paid at standard industry minimums for the work they deliver, and get a feature credit in line with AWG guidelines if the film is produced. Like A Photon Creative may keep some writers on to carry the script toward production.

What to send

Length

An existing draft script of at least 30 minutes of screen time, any genre

Also asked for

A short personal statement through SmartyGrants. Longlisted writers then write a one-page feature outline from a premise supplied by Like A Photon Creative, and a shortlist is interviewed in early December 2026.

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

What it gives besides money

Two writers' rooms (mid-February and mid-March 2027), short and long treatments, development and script producers plus international script mentors, ending in a polished first draft. Development runs until about July 2027.