MovieMaker’s 15 Submission-Worthy Screenwriting Competitions of 2019, Presented by Coverfly

Dubbed the “Writers Festival,” the noteworthy Austin Film Festival’s screenplay competition has been launching careers for two decades.

Take Cylin Busby and Nanci Katz, finalists of the Comedy Feature category in 2017, whose script Rebecca and Quinn Get Scared was sold to New Line. Winner of the 2013 Horror Screenplay, Troy Miller, had his script optioned by Frank Darabont’s Darkwoods Productions.

Whatever category you submit to, every entrant receives multiple reads and feedback.

There are opportunities for one-to-one mentorship, residencies, and fellowships, including the brand new Rooster Teeth Fellowship Award, which will go to a script which blends comedy with genre storytelling and accomplishes a low budget high concept feel.

Director of Script Competitions, Steven DeBose, says entries should be strong stories about “engaging characters with captivating journeys.”

He advises entrants with multiple scripts to submit to different categories or consider adapting a script for other competitions including Playwriting, Digital Series, and Fiction Podcasts.