Archive - Competitions & Events
2012
Sundance Film Festival
Where: Utah, USA
When: 19-29 January 2012.
Slamdance Film Festival
Where: Utah, USA
When: 20-26 January 2012.
The New York Television Festival & Comedy Central Short Pilot Competition is open for submissions.
Deadline: 27 January 2012.
London Comedy Film Festival
Where: London
When: 26-29 January 2012.
Ten Minute Play Competition from New Venture Theatre and Sussex Playwrights .
Deadline: 31 January 2012.
Drama Assocation of Wales One Act Playwriting Competition
Deadline: 31 January 2012.
The Sitcom Mission 2012 in association with Hat Trick is open to submissions from 1 October.
Deadline: 31 January 2012.
Digital Comedy Lab is an incubation programme for film projects in the comedy mockumentary genre.
Deadline: 31 January 2012.
Script Space is looking for new one-acts plays.
Deadline: 31 January 2012.
Dream Up from New Perspectives Theatre - looking for new writers from the East Midlands. Plays must be 10-15min for 3 characters.
Deadline: 31 January 2012.
Theatre Trail Writers Competition - have your play performed at the Arundel Festival Threatre Trail.
Deadline: 31 January 2012.
Red Planet Prize
Deadline: 16 January 2012.
24:7 Theatre Festival are looking for new plays. Open for submissions from 1 December.
Deadline: 9 January 2012.
L.A Comedy Shorts Script Contest is accepting short and full length comedy scripts.
Late Deadline: 10 January 2012.
Irresistible are offering the opportunity to get your short film script made - via Circalit.
Deadline: 19 January 2012.
2011
Triangle is a new collaborative scheme for feature film writers, directors and producers from the North of England. Supported by Screen Yorkshire, Vision & Media and Northern Film & Media.
Deadline: 7 January 2011.
24:7 Festival Call for Scripts
Deadline: 10 January 2011.
Theatre Centre Adrienne Benham Award 2011
Deadline: 11 January 2011.
Writersroom 10 is looking for the best new theatre writers. You must be nominated by the theatre.
Deadline: 24 January 2011.
360o Script Writing Festival 2011 from BBC Drama Northern Ireland and Tinderbox Theatre Company.
When: 26-28 January 2011.
Where: Belfast
Canadian Short Screenplay Competition
Late Deadline: 31 January 2011.
Script Space IV - Tobacco Theatre in association with Bristol Festival of Ideas
Deadline: 31 January 2011.
Primetime is an opportunity for new Northern Irish writers to have their original drama broadcast on primetime BBC One Northern Ireland.
Deadline: 14 February 2011.
Zeitgeist Theatre have an ongoing call for very short, entertaining scripts for their regular grand-slam/pub event in South London. Scripts must be no longer than 8minutes long, require less than 5 actors and be simple to stage. Priority is given to writers who live in the South London area.
Laughing Stock 2011 from BBC Comedy Commissioning and BBC Writersroom are looking for new comedy writers.
Deadline: 21 February 2011.
The Sitcom Mission 2011 in association with Hat Trick Productions.
Deadline: 28 February 2011.
Saturday Shorts 2 from Bristol Folk House looking for 15 minute plays.
Deadline: 1 March 2011.
Papa Tango New Writing Competition 2011
Deadline: 1 March 2011
Little Pieces of Gold are looking for 15 minute new plays.
Deadline: 1 March 2011.
Windsor Fringe Marriott Award for New Drama Writing 2011 is looking for new 1-act plays for the Windsor Fringe Festival
Deadline: 3 March 2011
Verity Bargate Award are looking for the best new play by an emerging writer.
Deadline: 11 March 2011.
Newsjack are looking for topical sketches and one-liners.
Deadlines: weekly up to 15 March 2011.
Katapult Theatre Play Competition
Deadline: 25 March 2011.
BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum call for script submissions.
Deadline: 25 March 2011.
Southern Script Festival
Where: Bournemouth, UK
When: 26-27 March 2011.
Sparks is a new writing develpment scheme from Menagerie Theatre. They are looking for exciting new stage plays as part of their Hotbed 2011 new writing festival.
Deadline: 28 March 2011.
International Radio Playwriting Competition from BBC World Service and British Council.
Deadline: 30 March 2011.
New Blood Festival from Bike Shed Theatre want plays about multiculturalism.
Deadline: 4 April 2011.
The London Comedy Writers' Festival
Where: Regents College, London
When: 9-10 April 2011.
The Spring Thing
Where: Birmingham, UK
When: 9-10 April 2011.
The National Student Drama Festival
Where:Scarborough, UK
When: 9-15 April 2011
The Liverpool International Write Now One-Act Play Festival
Where: Liverpool, UK
When: 15-23 April 2011
Script This - get feedback on your play from a live performance.
Deadline: 22 April 2011.
Sequel To Cannes Feature Film Script Competition
Deadline: 30 April 2011.
The Greenlight Award short screenplay competition from London Screenwriters' Festival.
Early: 1 May 2011.
Late: 1 October 2011.
The Nicholl Fellowships are now open for submissions.
Deadline: 2 May 2011.
BBC Drama Writers Academy open for applications 7 April.
Deadline: 5 May 2011.
TV Writers' Day from De Montfort University M.A in Television Scriptwriting. Speakers including John Yorke & Phil Parker
Where: De Montfort University, Leicester
When: 7 May 2011.
MaD (Monologues and Duologues) is open for 1 or 2 handers up to 20' in length.
Deadline: 27 May 2011.
Pint Sized Plays 2011 Writing Competition
Deadline: 31 May 2011.
The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2011 in assocation with the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Deadline: 6 June 2011.
Serious Screenwriting 2011 from The Script Factory
Where: BAFTA, London
When: 10-11 June 2011
TV Drama Writers' Festival for writers with a broadcast credit. Speakers include Toby Whithouse, Hugo Blick, Ben Stephenson, Jimmy McGovern. Taking bookings until 23 June.
Where: Leeds
When: 6-7 July 2011
Critical Mass are looking for 20 budding writers from black and ethnic minority backgrounds to join this writing programme at the Belgrade Theatre. Deadline: 30 June 2011.
Deadline: 1 July 2011.
BAFTA Masterclass - Writing Comedy Drama.
Where: Manchester
When: 26 July 2011.
Blue Cat Screenplay Competition.
Early Bird Deadline: 1 August 2011.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
When: 5-29 August 2011.
Liverpool Everyman Playhouse Young Writers' Programme.
Deadline: 19 August 2011.
The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices. For writers 18-25 to showcase their work at the Old Vic.
Deadline: 19 August 2011.
Second Light Screenwriting Lab.
Deadline: 26 August 2011.
Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival .
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
When: 26-28 August 2011.
Dickens 2012 from Film London. Submit your Dickens-inspired script and win £4000 to fund your project.
Deadline: 29 August 2011.
The Kings Cross Award for New Writing 2011
Deadline: 1 September 2011.
Critical Mass Writers' Programme from The Royal Court.
Deadline: 1 September 2011.
503 Five. Theatre 503 are looking for five new writers to join their team.
Deadline: 5 September 2011.
Page to Stage - Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre are looking for 20' scripts (either whole or part of a longer piece).
Deadline: 5 September 2011.
BAFTA Breakfast with Peter Fincham.
Where: BAFTA, London
When: 5 September 2011.
Screenwriting Residencies to develop a feature film script, offered by Playwrights' Studio, Scotland.
Deadline: 9 September 2011.
BAFTA presents an Animation Masterclass from The Brothers McLeod .
Where: Barbican, London
When: 10 September 2011.
BAFTA and BFI Screenwriters' Lecture Series with William Nicholson, Moira Buffini, John Logan, Guillermo Arriaga, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Paul Laverty, Charlie Kaufman.
Where: BAFTA, London
When: 13 - 30 September 2011.
The Alfred Bradley Bursary Award.
Deadline: 15 September 2011.
Naked Stage Festival 2011 are looking for new scripts up to 50 minutes.
Deadline: 16 September 2011.
Write Now One-Act Play Festival is open for submissions.
Deadline: 23 September 2011.
Little Pieces of Gold are looking for short plays to showcase at The Etcetera Theatre.
Deadline: 26 September 2011.
BAFTA: Connected TV - What does it mean for content producers?
Where: London
When: 26 September 2011.
Collabor8te are looking for short film scripts. Win a budget of up to £10,000 to have your script developed and produced.
Deadline: 3 October 2011.
Developing Writers with the BBC - with Paul Ashton.
Where: Library Theatre, Birmingham
When: 10 October 2011.
Film Juice are offering the chance to win a ticket to the London Screenwriters' Festival 2011.
Deadline: 16 October 2011.
BAFTA Breakfast with Danny Cohen
Where: BAFTA, London
When: 17 October 2011
BBC Newsjack is open for submissions.
Weekly deadlines through until: 17 October 2011.
Cofilmic Sketch Writing Competition.
Deadline: 20 October 2011.
The London Screenwriters' Festival Advanced Mentor Programme
Deadline: 21 October 2011.
Reporter Wanted - Ideas Tap are looking for a reporter. The successful applicant will get a free press pass to the London Screenwriters Festival.
Deadline: 21 October 2011.
London Screenwriters' Festival 2011 - Don't forget to use Discount Code 'SCRIPTANGEL' to get £30 off.
Where: Regents College, London
When: 28-30 October 2011.
New Media Writing Prize 2011 from The Media School at Bournemouth University.
Deadline: 31 October 2011.
Canadian Short Screenplay Competition.
Deadline: 31 October 2011.
Late Deadline: 31 January 2012.
Channel 4 Screenwriting Course is accepting applications.
Deadline: 1 November 2011.
BAFTA Masterclass: Writing Drama with Tony Marchant
Where: BAFTA, London
When: Tuesday 1 November 2011.
Write to Shine from National Youth Theatre and Shine. Looking for 6 committed stage and screen writers (age 17-30) forom the IdeasTap community.
Deadline: 3 November 2011.
Where: Santa Monica, USA
When: 2-9 November 2011.
Where: Los Angeles, USA
When: 3-10 November 2011.
2010
The Tribeca Film Institute Sloan Filmakers Fund are looking for scripts that explore scientific, mathematical, or technological themes or that feature a leading character who is a scientist, engineer, innovator or mathematician.
Deadline: Monday 11th January 2010.
The Westminster Prize is a theatre playwriting competition open to those who live, work or study in the London borough of Westminster.
Deadline: Monday 11th January 2010.
24:7 Theatre Festival are looking for plays that are original, unpublished and no longer than 60 minutes. The Festival is held in Manchester in July.
Deadline: Thursday 14th January 2010.
The Company, in association with New Writing South and the Steyning Festival are looking for 6 unperformed plays (max length 45 mins), from playwrights from the South East, for the Steyning Festival Theatre Trials. Deadline: Friday 15th January 2010.
Your Big Break - Barrie Osborne and Peter Jackson will support 5 new film-makers to produce a 3 minute film capturing the spirit of New Zealand. Deadline: Friday 15th January 2010.
The Magic Hour is a scheme for disabled filmmakers which will produce four films, each with a budget of £10,000. Deadline: Friday 15th January 2010.
Script Space at the Tobacco Factory Theatre are looking for one-act plays for rehearsed readings.
Deadline: Friday 15th January 2010.
New Writing North are looking for four new writers from the North East of England to mentor in their North East Theatre Consortium Script Development programme. Deadline: Friday 15th January 2010.
Bare Bones is a showcase of new short plays at the Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington, London.
Deadline: Saturday 16th January 2010 (for March showcase).
Big Finish, who produce Doctor Who audio adventures, are offering new writers an opportunity to pitch for their next production. They are looking for pitches for a one-off 25' story featuring the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa. Check out their submission guidelines. Deadline Monday 1st Feburary.
B3 FeatureLab returns to 'supercharge' feature film projects from black and ethnic minority filmmakers. Backed by Film4, Binger Film Lab and the Skillset Film Skills Fund, the programme is calling for applications from filmmakers with a track record in film, TV, radio, the visual arts and new media.
Deadline: Friday 29th January 2010.
Muckyduckmedia and ScriptOnline are looking for a short film idea from a West Midlands based writer.
Deadline: Friday 29th January 2010.
Saturday Shorts - Bristol Folk House are looking for 15 minute scripts (theatre, radio or screenplay) for script-in-hand performances in the spring.
Deadline: Sunday 31st January 2010.
The Scottish Book Trust have launched Screen Lab 2010 - a free course on writing for the screen.
Deadline: Thursday 4th February 2010.
Eyebrow Productions are inviting writers to submit their short plays (5-10') for Write Bites - a night of new writing to take place at RADA in March.
Deadline: Friday 5th February 2010.
Theatre Writing Partnership is looking for writers based in the East Midlands for 'Crossovers' a new playwriting development scheme.
Deadline: Friday 12th February 2010.
TheatreWorks launch Dialogue - a call for scripts from writers based in the South West. The most promising 10-20 minute script will be performed at a script-in-hand performance at the Salisbury Playhouse.
Deadline: Wednesday 17th February 2010.
BBC Wales Drama and National Theatre Wales are looking for new Welsh Writers. Successful applicants are invited to attend a four-day residential workshop. Applicants must have at least one professional credit and be either born or resident in Wales.
Deadline: Wednesday 17th February 2010.
Writers Lab is a new development scheme for writers based in North West England. Run by Bolton University in conjuction with BBC Writersroom and leading N.W independent production companies, including Red, Lime and Abbott Vision.
Deadline: Friday 19th February 2010.
Topical comedy sketch show Newsjack returned for a second six week run on BBC Radio 7 on 7 January 2010, and they're once again holding an open call for new material. Newsjack seeks to comically scrutinise the news and is a showcase for new comedy writing, so anyone can submit material.
Deadline for sketches: Monday, 12:00noon
Deadline for one-liners: Tuesday, 5:00pm
Kaos Films are inviting submissions for their annual British Feature Screenplay Competition.
Deadline: Sunday 28th February 2010.
Theatre Writing Partnership launch Ears Wide Open - an opportunity for two writers (one from the West Midlands and one from the East Midlands) to collaborate and write a series of short audio plays in response to locations in Birmingham and Nottingham.
Deadline: Sunday 28th February 2010.
BBC Writersroom presents a Q&A with John Yorke, Controller of Continuing Drama and New Talent.
The event will take place on Thursday 4 March 2010 from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at The Drill Hall in London, and tickets are free.
Scriptapalooza. U.S based screenplay competition with good industry contacts.
Deadline: Friday 5th March 2010.
BAFTA Rocliffe are now inviting submissions for their New Writing Forums to be held in April (Nottingham) and May (London).
Deadline: Friday 5th March 2010
Check out the Bath Literature Festival which runs from 27th February to 7th March 2010.
It's My Shout in association with BBC Wales/Cymru is calling for television drama/short films, from writers who are either resident or were born in Wales.
Deadline Monday 8th March 2010
Windsor Fringe Marrior New Writing Award is now inviting 1-act play submissions. Winner receives £500.
Deadline: Thursday 11th March 2010
The Nick Darke Award offers the winning entrant £3,000, allowing them to develop their script. They are looking for work that pursues an environmental theme and is either a stage play, screenplay, radio play or documentary film.
Deadline: Friday 12th March 2010.
Screenplay Competition - The Festival takes place 15-27 April 2010.
Late Deadline: Saturday 13th March 2010
Tidy Productions are looking for writers for their new topical comedy panel show What's The Story on BBC Radio Wales. You can submit gags from Saturday 13th March until...
Deadline: Thursday 18th March 2010.
Script Yorkshire are looking for 10-15min scripts or extracts for their Emerge Festival which runs 21-27 June. Selected pieces will receive a rehearsed reading and critical feedback from an expert panel.
Deadline: Wednesday 24th March 2010.
The People's Play Award launched by New Writing North & the People's Theatre Company. Open to writers resident in North East England.
Deadline: Thursday 25th March 2010.
Scotland: Write Here, Write Now. BBC Scotland Comedy is looking for Scottish and Scotland-based comedy writers to submit the opening 10-15 pages of a contemporary comedy drama or sitcom.
Deadline: Friday 26th March 2010.
Screen Yorkshire and other northern regional screen agencies are looking for applications for Gen Up North - a five-week long training programme for emerging digital creatives. Course includes placements at Channel 4, BBC Scotland and a leading digital agency.
Deadline: Monday 29th March 2010.
RealDeal Theatre are looking for submissions for their forthcoming 2010 Sitcom Saturday.
Deadline: Wednesday 31st March 2010.
Meyer Whitworth Award are open to submissions. £10,000 prize for winning play produced between 1 November 2008 and 30 November 2009. Play must be nominated by director of a professional production company.
Deadline: Wednesday 31st March 2010.
writerSearch UK - Highlands and Islands. TAPS in conjunction with BBC Training and Development are offering writers from the Highlands & Islands of Scotland the chance to attend a weekend workshop (16-18 April) to develop the storytelling skills necessary to write for a variety of platforms. I'll be there to offer script advice on your project.
Deadline: Tuesday 6th April 2010.
writerSearch UK - Northern Ireland. TAPS in conjunction with BBC Training and Development are offering writers from Northern Ireland the chance to attend a weekend workshop (23-25 April) to devleop the storytelling skills necessary to write for a variety of platforms. I'll be there to offer script advice on your project.
Deadline: Tuesday 6th April 2010.
The Festival of Writing takes place in York, 9-11 April 2010.
Hosking Houses Trust are offering female writers over 40 a residential fellowship and bursary.
Deadline: Monday 12th April 2010.
Unheard Voices - an 11-week long course run by The Royal Court Theatre to find and nuture the next generation of young Muslim playwrights (18-25).
Deadline: Fri 16th April 2010.
Bare Bones will be a showcase night of new short plays performed at the Old Red Lion in Islington.
Deadline: Sat 17th April 2010.
South West Voices is a professional development scheme for writers from South West England. It is being jointly run by BBC Writersroom, SouthWest Screen and BBC Independent Drama Commissioning.
Deadline: Wednesday 21st April 2010.
ScreenLit Festival of Film, TV & Writing runs at the Broadway Cinema, Nottingham, 21-29 April 2010.
Street Voices 3 comes from Freedom Studios who are looking for the next generation of Yorkshire writers from ethnic backgrounds.
Deadline: Friday 23rd April 2010.
10 Minute Play Competition 2010 from The Sussex Playwrights' Club and New Venture Theatre.
Deadline: Friday 23rd April 2010.
Foxed Up Theatre are a new, exciting, all-female theatre company, seeking submissions from playwrights for casts of 7 or more women, to be performed at a London fringe venue later in the year.
Deadline: Friday 30th April 2010.
Fireworks is open for applications. This is the annual playwriting programme for emerging writers aged 16-25 run by Tinderbox Theatre, Belfast. Deadline: Monday 3rd May 2010.
BBC Drama Writers Academy will open for applications on 12th April.
Deadline: Wednesday 5th May 2010.
The Leith Short Film Festival have teamed up with the Scottish Screenwriters Group to launch a Screenplay Competition as part of this years film festival. They're looking for short and feature length scripts.
Deadline: Friday 7th May 2010.
ReAnimate is open for applications from female screenwriters and animators. Run by Birds Eye View and Warp Films this animation development iniative will provide training to successful applicants with the aim of bringing animations by women to the screen.
Deadline: Friday 14th May 2010.
Ren Theatre is seeking ideas or scripts for a piece to be performed in April 2011. Maximum one act (1 hour) and 4 cast members.
Deadline: Friday 14th May 2010.
The Muslim Writers Awards are looking for creative, interesting and exciting screenplays from Muslim writers.
Deadline: Friday 14th May 2010.
MAD (Monologues & Duologues) Festival 2010 is open for submissions (from 19th April). WRiTEON are looking for plays for 1 or 2 voices, up to 20 mins in length, any genre.
Deadline: Friday 14th May 2010.
High Tide are now looking for new plays to produce at their 2011 Festival.
Deadline: Saturday 15th May 2010.
The 24 Hour Plays, part of Old Vic New Voices, is looking for fearless, talented writers aged 18-25. Successful applicants will write a play in 24 hours which will be performed in front of industry professionals.
Deadline: Monday 24th May 2010.
Coming Up 2011 is now open for applications. Run jointly by Channel Four and Touchpaper TV the scheme is open to Writers, Directors and Writer/Directors. Winning pieces will be broadcast on Channel Four.
Deadline: Wednesday 9th June 2010.
Radio Drama Masterclass will be held on Thursday 10th June in London. Tickets are free but you need to register.
Pint-Sized Plays 2010 Writing Competition is now open for submissions. Plays should be 5-10 minutes long with 2-3 characters.
Deadline: Wednesday 30th June 2010.
Television Drama - The Writers Debate is by writers, for writers and will run in Leeds on Wed 30th June - Thu 1st July.
My One Word is looking for short screenplays with just one word of dialogue.
Deadline: Sunday 4th July 2010.
British Short Screenplay Competition is now open for submissions.
Late Deadline: Monday 5th July 2010.
New Writing Festival to be staged at Rondo Theatre in Spring 2011 is now accepting submissions.
Deadline: 6 December 2010.
New Writing In Contemporary Theatre - WGGB West Midlands Event
Where: The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham
When: 9 December 2010.
Drip Action are accepting submissions for plays to be performed at next year's Arundal Festival Theatre Trail.
Deadline: 15 December 2010.
L.A Comedy Shorts Screenplay Competition.
Script categories are: short film, feature film, tv pilot.
Extended Deadline: 20 December 2010.
Hamptons International Film Festival 2011 Screenwriters Lab
Regular Deadline: 22 December 2010.
Late Deadline: 7 Janury 2011.
Little Brother's Big Opportunity is offering £1000 to develop a treatment.
Deadline: 31 December 2010.
2009
Lazarus Films are looking for a feature film spec script from writers with a distinctive voice. Needs to be achievable on mico-budget of £100,000 to £500,000. Get in touch with a synopsis, outline/treatment, first 10 pages of script and short biography. No scripts at this stage.
Film production company Breach Independent is looking for high-concept, visually interesting short film scripts for production summer 2010. Max length 10', achievable on small budget (£5-£10K) but all genres considered. Logline/synopsis only in the first instance.
Strong Point Theatre are looking for a talented writer to develop the script for a new musical, due to be work-shopped in April. The show centres around four young women in 1960s London, and the choices they make faced with the society that they find themselves in. We would like the script to explore the emancipation of women, so ideally (but not essentially) the writer who comes on board will have an interest in writing about this theme. There is a modest fee on offer for the successful writer. Expressions of interest, including any examples of past work if available, should be sent to Johannah Jolson (co-founding producer of Strong Point Theatre); info@strongpointtheatre.co.uk. For more information about Strong Point Theatre, please visit www.strongpointtheatre.co.uk
Short film producers Loonatik & Drinks are looking for short film scripts to produce. They're looking for scripts under 10 minutes and will be shooting on HD. Although they're open to any genre they are particularly drawn to strong, original, dark tales with the potential for stunning visuals.
Short film production company Horseshoe Boy is looking for a short film script to produce this year. It will ideally be 4-5 minutes in length and needs to have a small number of characters and locations. If you think you've got something that might be right, then email an 1-page outline or treatment only at this stage to adam@horshoeboy.com