Frequently asked questions

The Golden Script Competition is a yearly international screenwriting competition for short, feature and TV pilot screenplays. It is run by FILM FEST GLOBAL LTD. and has been held every year since 2016. MovieBytes has recognised it as one of the top screenplay contests for 2023-2026.

Cash prizes totalling $10,000, one-on-one masterclasses with our mentors, and placement on the Golden List, which is shared with over 60 production companies and agencies. Many of our writers have gone on to secure representation, sign option agreements and have their work shopped to major production companies. You can read about some of them on our success stories page.

Our judges include producers and executive producers behind acclaimed films like THE USUAL SUSPECTS and BIRDMAN. No AI is used to read scripts or provide feedback.

Our mentors include OSCAR-nominee Mark Fergus (CHILDREN OF MEN) and three-time EMMY-nominee Jessica Sharzer (AMERICAN HORROR STORY). The feature winner receives a one-on-one masterclass with Mark Fergus, and the TV pilot winner a one-on-one masterclass with Jessica Sharzer.

All ages are eligible, and you can submit from any country. Competition judges, readers and employees of the competition, past and present, and their immediate friends and families, are not eligible. Previous winning and finalist scripts are also not eligible. See the full rules.

There are three categories: feature screenplays, TV pilot screenplays and short screenplays.

We accept screenplays between 1 and 140 pages in length. For scripts over 140 pages (features), 70 pages (pilots) or 45 pages (shorts), an additional fee of $1 per extra page applies.

Submitted scripts must be original screenplays and the sole property of the applicant(s), and must not have been previously sold or produced. Adapted or based on screenplays are also accepted, but it is the applicant's responsibility to secure clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted material. Novels, stage plays, short stories, treatments, synopses or scripts based on existing material created without permission are not accepted.

Yes. All entrants, including nominees and winners, retain complete and exclusive rights to their work.

All entries must be in English, written in industry standard format (Courier 12 pt font), and uploaded as a PDF or FDX file. Contact details or names are allowed on the title page, but not recommended.

Yes. There is no limit to the number of screenplays you may submit.

Yes. Corrected pages or new drafts of an entry are accepted for an additional fee via our substitution page.

Use our entry form, or submit through FilmFreeway, Stage32 or ISA. Entry fees must be paid in full at the time of submission and are non-refundable.

Feedback is not included with a standard entry. You can add paid feedback, a promotional review or an in-depth critique when you submit. See our services and the feedback, review and critique samples.

Earlybird deadline: October 29, 2026. Final deadline: March 6, 2027. Extended deadline: March 29, 2027. Quarter-finalists are announced on June 20, 2027.

We announce quarter-finalists, semifinalists and finalists, out of which a second runner up, a runner up and a winner are chosen in each category. Only one script from each category can win The Golden Script award. Past results are on our winners page and announcements are posted on the blog.

A $4,500 cash prize, a one-on-one masterclass with OSCAR-nominee Mark Fergus, guaranteed Golden List placement, a 4 month InkTip Pro membership worth $130, a 1 year ISAConnect membership worth $120, a 1 year Filmustage subscription worth $468, 5 pitches on Virtual Pitch Fest, a trophy and an award certificate.

A $4,500 cash prize, a one-on-one masterclass with three-time EMMY-nominee Jessica Sharzer, guaranteed Golden List placement, a 1 year ISAConnect membership worth $120, a 4 month InkTip Pro membership worth $130, a 1 year Filmustage subscription worth $468, 5 pitches on Virtual Pitch Fest, a trophy and an award certificate.

A $1,000 cash prize, guaranteed Golden List placement, a 1 year ISAConnect membership worth $120, a 1 year Filmustage subscription worth $468, a trophy and an award certificate.

Second and third place in each category receive guaranteed Golden List placement, a trophy, an award certificate and partner prizes. Finalists ranked high enough are also placed on the Golden List (4th to 15th for features, 4th to 9th for TV pilots, 4th to 6th for shorts). The full prize list is in the rules.

Each year we unveil our top 30 scripts in the competition on the GOLDEN LIST: the best 15 features, 9 TV pilots and 6 short scripts. The list is shared with over 60 production companies and agencies and with industry professionals such as creative executives, producers and directors, who can request the scripts. See all Golden Lists.

Simply submit to the competition. If your script wins or is nominated and falls within the top 30, it is included on the list. A script must not already be optioned or produced at the time of the list's announcement.

We share the requester's email address directly with the writer(s).

Email us at contact@goldenscript.net or use the contact form on our homepage.