Here are 31 reputable, well-reviewed, free writing contests for poets, fiction writers, essayists and more. Some legitimate contests do charge a small entry or “reading” fee, but often a fee can be a red flag for a scam, so you may want to stick to free contests — and there are certainly enough of them.
the ones in the link are free, with many short story contests - 1000-5000 words - to choose from. a lot already past submission date, but still a few on there remain viable. Also most are run annually so you can prepare your stories for next year's competitions.
https://thewritelife.com/writing-contests/
Also I've seen a few people ask about screenwriting or breaking into the movie industry.
here are a few links to some resources.
This group has an open call and monthly contest for short 5 minute films related to mental illness and mental wellness
The winner of each month’s short film contest gets to have her or his work featured in our campus events around the United States. We use the winning films to facilitate discussion and get people thinking about issues related to mental health, as well as how we can decrease stigma around mental illness. Our winners are basically super heros, changing the world through film. Oh, there’s also a $1,000 cash prize. NBD.
https://artwithimpact.org/films/submit-a-film/
These are the Top 5 you really want to go after and give it every last ounce of creativity you have in you. --- some of these do have an entry fee but they are small considering what you can actually get out of it.
Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting --- entry date between March and May:
Each year, the Academy Nicholl screenwriting competition awards up to five $35,000 fellowships to amateur screenwriters. To enter, submit a feature length screenplay and entry fee via the online application when the competition is open for submissions. Fellowship winners are invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars and expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during the Fellowship year.
http://www.oscars.org/nicholl/about
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The Trackingb.com TV Pilot Contest -- entry dates between January and April
We are looking to find the next generation of Sorkins, Rhimes, Gilligans, & Lorres by shining a spotlight on new, fresh voices writing for television. And we've enlisted a great industry judging panel from the TV world to help us.
Five finalists will be promoted on trackingb.com to our community of entertainment industry insiders AND will also be read by each member of our esteemed judging panel who will pick an overall winner.
http://www.trackingb.com/contests/?contest_id=37
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Sundance Screenwriters Lab -- January 12-17, 2018 (open application)
The Screenwriters Lab is a five-day writer's workshop that gives independent screenwriters the opportunity to work intensively on their feature film scripts with the support of established writers in an environment that encourages innovation and creative risk-taking. Through one-on-one story sessions with Creative Advisors, Fellows engage in an artistically rigorous process that offers them indispensable lessons in craft, as well as the means to do the deep exploration needed to fully realize their material.
--- quite a bit of other things to explore at the site i.e fellowships, grants, contests etc.
http://www.sundance.org/programs/feature-film
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Austin Film Festival Screenplay & Teleplay Competition (Multiple Categories) -- entry date between March and May
For over two decades, Austin Film Festival has been catapulting writers into life-changing careers. With one of the most noteworthy competitions among Hollywood tastemakers, AFF consistently yanks newcomers from the isolation of their desks and ushers them into the bustling world of film and television. Whether your dream is to sign a contract, land an agent, learn from an industry icon, or take home the coveted Bronze Typewriter Award, it’s simple: you can’t win if you don’t enter.
All entrants receive FREE “Reader Comments” which are a brief, overall summary of their notes.
https://austinfilmfestival.com/submit/
https://austinfilmfestival.com/submit/screenplay-and-teleplay-submissions-2/
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They also have a professional assessment program for about $100 with a 60 day turn around time
https://austinfilmfestival.com/submit/coverage-program/
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HBOAccess Writing Fellowship -- March 1 with a March 4 deadline --- 2018 still needs to be announced -- they have run it for the last two years
Winners will be paired with an HBO or Cinemax development executive who will serve as his/her mentor over the course of 10 months. Mentoring can be done remotely or in person pending whichever is logistically feasible. In addition, we will hold monthly group meetings during which projects will continue to be work-shopped.
Material created during the program will be considered for production in the HBOAccess 2018 Directing Fellowship.
open to diverse writers identified as:
For the purposes of the HBOACCESS program, diversity is defined as those who identify as any of the following: Asian, Pacific Islander, Sub-Continental Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American, Middle Eastern. Diversity is also defined as those who identify as female or transgender.
https://filmfreeway.com/festival/HBOAccessWritingFellowship
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They also have a comprehensive listing of 5500+ film festivals with close to 1,000 including some kind screenwriting contest.
https://filmfreeway.com/festivals
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http://chipstreet.com/2010/02/02/ten-things-when-you-option-your-script/
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some of the contests are specific to published works, but they could be like winning the lottery. For example the Hugo and Nebula Awards in Sci-Fi / Fantasy, looks at work published the year before.
http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-faq/
Poetry contests are at times a little more lenient
There a few Self-Published contests out there too most of these will have a fee though usually ranging from $50-$100
Eric Hoffer Award
Anyone (including the author) can nominate one or more books for the Eric Hoffer Award. Nomination is accomplished by registering a book within a category by our annual deadline. A single category registration qualifies a book for the grand prize, press distinction, category prizes, the Montaigne Medal, the da Vinci Eye, and the First Horizon Award. A book must be from an academic press, small press, micro press, or self-published author. Printed, e-books, and chapbooks are accepted. For each category registration, submit one book, the registration form, and the registration fee. You may pay the registration fee in U.S. dollars by either check, money order, or credit card.
http://www.hofferaward.com/Eric-Hoffer-Award-winners.html#.WXy8V4jyuUk
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Rubery Book Prize
The Rubery Prize is a prestigious international book award seeking the best books by indie writers, self published authors and books published by independent presses, judged by reputable judges. Creative writing is such a key part of life for those who enjoy writing yet it is increasingly difficult to become traditionally published. Through our reputation of finding quality and outstanding books we aim to bring recognition to the works that win and heighten an author's profile. The Rubery Prize is now a well-established name in the publishing world. In 2017 the prize pot is approximately £2000. £1500 of which is allocated to our Book of the Year.
http://www.ruberybookaward.com/index.html
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it's a mine field though, and lots of competitions are scams or tied to aggressive marketing once they have your information. --- I would say be careful and do your research,
https://selfpublishingadvice.org/allis-self-publishing-service-directory/award-and-contest-ratings-reviews/
Multiple writing contest list
Originally posted on forum by Nine Magi
