Short Script Competition

Submissions NOW open!

Welcome to the Chicago Screenplay Awards’ Short Script Contest. 

This season’s Winners & Finalists will be announced on November 9th, 2023

*Previous Contest ended April 14th, 2023 announcements will be made on June 8, 2023*
May 18th, 2023

Super Early Deadline

$35
June 15th, 2023

Early Deadline

$39
July 27th, 2023

Regular Deadline

$45
August 17th, 2023

Late Deadline

$49
Sept 22nd, 2023

Final Deadline

$55

Short Script Submission

Standard Short Script Entry

Enter your short script and receive 1-page of written analysis as part of the Standard Entry Fee.

Short Entry + Full Analysis

$119

Enter the contest and receive a data-driven analysis with in-depth datasets and metrics along with comments and suggestions from a development professional. You’ll also get dozens of structured datasets regarding the salient details for your screenplay

Submit here!

We also accept submissions through our partners at

Best Feature Screenplay Prize

  • Phone Introduction To A Producer Or A Literary Agent.
  • Full Data And Analytics.
  • Rewrite Suggestions From Scriptmatix.
  • Media Exposure.

Rules & Eligibility

  • All writers, without regard to age and country of origin, are eligible.
  • The material must be written in English and submitted as a PDF file. The file must not be encrypted or password protected.
  • There is no limit to the number of competitions you may submit and the number of times you may submit one project.
  • All entry fees are non-refundable.
  • All submitted material must be original to the screenwriter.
  • All copyright, ownership, and derivative rights to the material submitted remains with the original rights holders and/or author.
  • The material submitted must not have been optioned or produced and must be fully owned by the screenwriters.
  • All scripts should be written per industry-standard screenplay format.
  • Prior winners cannot win the same contest twice, while there is no limit to the number of times a previous finalist, semi-finalists, and quarter-finalist may resubmit
  • Short scripts should not exceed 30 pages.

Terms of Service

The Chicago Screenplay Awards invites various writers, agents, producers, and actors to be part of the jury every season. No two seasons are ever the same. All scripts are judged based on the following: concept, story, character, dialogue, marketability, structure, and clarity. Quarter Finalists, Semi Finalists, Finalists, and Winners will be notified by email. Announcements will be made within 30 days following final submission deadline. We reserve the right to amend these rules at any time.

COPYRIGHT AND OWNERSHIP

Neither Chicago Screenplay Awards nor any other partner, employee or agent associated with these awards claims any ownership in or first right of option to, any original screenplay submitted to us. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted remains with the original rights holders until and unless other agreements are made.

PUBLICITY

Except where prohibited by law, submission of written materials constitutes each entrant’s consent to Chicago Screenplay Awards and its agents’ and 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 any entrants’ information will at all times be in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

REFUND POLICY

All fees submitted are non-refundable.

SUBMISSION CONDITIONS AND RELEASE

BY SUBMITTING YOUR MATERIALS YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THESE CONDITIONS. You agree to release and hold harmless Chicago Screenplay Awards, its subsidiary, parent and affiliated companies, prize contributors, judges, screenplay analysts, sponsors, and any other organizations responsible for administering, advertising or promoting your submission of material, 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 submission of materials 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 Chicago Screenplay Awards 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 Chicago Screenplay Awards and their immediate families are ineligible to submit materials. Any such submission will be immediately disqualified. SUBMISSION OF MATERIAL IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED or restricted by any Federal, State or Local law. Voided submission fees 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.

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