Competition United States

11th Annual Feature Comedy Screenwriting Contest

Run by Stage 32

Comedy features only, judged by named producers and executives from companies such as Whitewater Films and Shoot to Midnight. Finalists are sent on general meetings, and the 2025 grand prize winner went on to sign a shopping agreement. The early bird tier ends November 18, 2026, and entries close December 30.

Early deadline Nov 18, 2026 (closes in 29 days)

Dates

DeadlineDateFee
Super early birdOct 15, 2026 passedUSD 49.50
Early birdNov 18, 2026USD 59.50
RegularDec 9, 2026USD 69.50
FinalDec 30, 2026USD 79.50

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

At a glance

Entry fee
From $60Early bird tier, until November 18, 2026; scripts over 120 pages cost USD 20 more
Formats
Feature
Language
English
Where
United States (enter online)
Who can apply
Writers 18 or over, worldwide. Original comedy features in English that have not been produced, optioned or sold. Friends and immediate family of the judges and their companies are excluded.
Prizes
No cash prize. The winner gets a career package valued at USD 4,000 plus meetings with industry professionals; finalists get a USD 1,500 package and general meetings; lower rounds get smaller packages.

What to send

Length
No maximum; scripts over 120 pages pay USD 20 extra
File
PDF
Title page
Optional; contact details may be included or left off
Your name on the script
Allowed
Also asked for
Feature scripts only; standard industry format; upload within 72 hours of paying

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

What it gives besides money

Finalists are sent on general meetings, and a paid add-on puts one writer in front of mentors from Joke Zero, Epigram Entertainment and Expectation Management.

More competitions

See all competitions

CompetitionUnited States

Kairos Prize 2026

Movieguide's faith and values prize wants uplifting features and pilots built on biblical principles, with one track for beginners and one for working professionals.

Late deadline Oct 20, 2026From $100Feature, TV pilotEnglish

closes today

CompetitionIdyllwild, United States

CineStory TV Retreat & Fellowship 2027

This pilot contest leads to a five-day retreat in Idyllwild, California, in late April 2027, where the writers invited from the top rounds work one-on-one with industry mentors.

Late deadline Oct 25, 2026From $80TV pilotEnglish

closes in 5 days

CompetitionUnited States

Fall 2026 WriteMovies Screenwriting Contest

WriteMovies, set up in Hollywood in 1999, runs a fall and a spring round.

Regular deadline Oct 25, 2026From $59FeatureEnglish

closes in 5 days

Also in United States

Pitch event or marketLos Angeles, United States

The AFM Pitch Conference

At the American Film Market in Century City, a handful of attendees pitch an original film or series idea to industry panelists on stage and hear their reaction in the room.

Deadline Oct 22, 2026From $695Feature, SeriesEnglish

closes in 2 days

ConferenceAustin, United States

Austin Film Festival Writers Conference

A four-day program of panels, roundtables and workshops in Austin for screenwriters, held during the first half of the city's eight-day film festival.

Starts Oct 29, 2026From $200English

starts in 9 days

Fellowship or labLos Angeles, United States

Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship

Producer Cassian Elwes chooses one unrepresented feature writer from ten scripts the Black List shortlists, then takes the fellow to the Sundance Film Festival for meetings and events.

Deadline Nov 1, 2026PaidFeatureEnglish

closes in 12 days

Festival script awardAsbury Park, United States

Garden State Film Festival Screenplay Competition

New Jersey's festival runs a script contest beside its film program, with feature, short and teleplay categories.

Final deadline Nov 1, 2026PaidFeature, TV pilot, ShortEnglish

closes in 12 days