Menu
Book
Script
Film
Book
Script
Film

2026 Short Script Contest

Pre-register Deadline: January 30, 2026

The Film Pipeline Short Script Contest awards $5,000 and provides long-term opportunities for writers to get their material developed and financed.

The 9th Annual Film Pipeline Short Script Contest is geared toward writers and directors looking to get a project financed and produced, or seeking development on a proof of concept for a feature.

Our execs collaborate 1-on-1 with the finalists and winner, supporting efforts on their selected script as well as future features or pilots. Think of this less as a contest and more as an opportunity for long-term mentorship and development no matter what path you're on in film and TV.

Accepting all genres—from traditional stories, to "experimental," to animation. Go big (just short).

Deadlines

Pre-register: January 30, 2026
Special Entry: March 25, 2026
Early: June 5, 2026
Regular: September 10, 2026
Late: September 25, 2026
Extended: October 30, 2026

Results

Winner: December 10, 2026

Awards

Grand Prize Winner (1):

  • $5,000
  • Pre-production support to get the film produced (varies by project)

Finalists (up to 3) and Winner all receive:

  • Extensive development from Script Pipeline's executive team, including feature script or pilot development
  • Industry circulation of potential features or pilots to management and production companies
  • Additional long-term mentorship support for those pursuing careers as writers and filmmakers
  • Financing consideration for future short scripts

Winner and finalists also receive exclusive invitations to private events hosted by Symposium.

Circulation

Pipeline Media Group has cultivated relationships with numerous production companies, managers, agents, directors, independent producers, networks/streamers, and other executives over the past two decades, leading to multiple writers signed and specs sold.

Some of the companies in Pipeline's network include:

Guidelines

All genres accepted, including non-narrative or experimental shorts and proofs-of-concept.

Script must be unproduced at the time of entry. Produced short films are allowed in the Short Film division.

If submitting a proof-of-concept script, supplemental info on the project, such as the synopsis for a feature, is more than welcome (and in fact encouraged). We'll review a full package, pitch deck, or other type of proposal in addition to the short script.

Other criteria:

  • We prefer the logline and genre on the title page, but it's not required.
  • No length requirements, but the submission must be intended as a short film. Anything from one to (roughly) 30 pages. Feature-length scripts and TV pilots, or pitches, should be submitted to Script Pipeline.
  • All rights to the material remain with the entrant, whether they place as a finalist or not.

Newsletter

Join the Film Pipeline community and
receive $5 off a contest entry.
Subscribe

Upcoming Deadlines

2026 Short Script Contest

Pre-register Deadline: January 30, 2026

The Film Pipeline Short Script Contest awards $5,000 and provides long-term opportunities for writers to get their material developed and financed.

2026 Short Film Contest

Pre-register Deadline: January 30, 2026

The Film Pipeline Short Film Contest seeks remarkable directors and diverse, engaging content, awarding $5,000 for best short narrative film.

Film Pipeline connects filmmakers and writers with agencies and executives, focusing on diverse storytelling and playing an active role in developing and promoting projects, reviewing thousands of submissions annually since its launch in 2018.
© 2026 Pipeline Media Group
Contact