Other info can be included on the cover page, but is not required.

Screenplays must have a cover page that includes the script's title.

Screenplays must be in English, formatted according to the current industry standards in 12-point courier font.

All TV Pilot submissions must be for original series.

No specs will be accepted for the TV Pilot category.

No adaptations of other written work, or content based off of an existing IP will be accepted unless the writer owns the rights to the original material, or the original material is in the Public Domain.

Screenwriters who earn more than $50,000 annually from screenwriting for film or tv are not eligible.

Screenwriters who have had previous feature screenplays produced and distributed by non-independent means are ineligible.

Scripts submitted to the competition must not have received awards from other competitions over $1,000 at the time of entry.

If a submitted screenplay becomes optioned or purchased between the time of submission and the end of the judging period, the applicant must notify us and that screenplay will no longer be eligible for an award.

Scripts submitted to the competition must NOT have been previously optioned, purchased or produced at the time of entry.

I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.' - Jessica Sinyard, 2018 Grand Prize Winner for THE PEAK “From the earliest encouragement of the readers, to the unforgettable whirlwind ceremony, to the ongoing excitement, meetings, and future collaborations - Slamdance is more than a festival. 'Winning Slamdance was an incredible moral booster and the seal of approval that made the industry stop and take notice.' - Nicole Kassell, Slamdance Screenplay winner and director of THE WOODSMAN, HBO’s Watchmen Winning was the ultimate encouragement to keep following my instincts, and it's more than paid off.'- Jamie King, 2015 Original Teleplay winner for CASTLE ROCK and writer for Marvel's Jessica Jones I got that encouragement from Slamdance every year I entered, with the brief feedback they always send at no extra charge. 'The best thing you can do for a screenwriter is encourage them, because trusting your gut is so crucial to writing interesting stuff. Character infects every vein of this festival and it's a beautiful thing.' - Andrew Kightlinger, 2016 Grand Prize Winner for GREAT WHITE SHARK

Slamdance is a celebration of not just offbeat storytelling, but above all, character. It gave me the oomph necessary to climb faster and leap up to a higher rung.

'The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is like an adrenaline boost to the cortex. They opened up more doors than I could have ever imagined.I still can't believe everything they helped me achieve.'- Tyler Tice, 2017 Grand Prize and Horror Screenplay Winner for DAY SHIFT (now being produced by Netflix) Slamdance gave me a new lease on life and a chance to live my dreams. I feel even more motivated to get this film made.' - Joyce Sherrí, 2020 Grand Prize Winner for SWEET SIXTEEN 'Winning Slamdance, I feel validated and it is very encouraging for me as an artist. While some writers have gone on to find representation or work Slamdance cannot guarantee that mentee scripts will be optioned, produced, or purchased. Please bear in mind that Slamdance is not a production company. In addition to awarding the best screenplays submitted to Slamdance, our readers nominate bold scripts for the Slamdance Screenplay Mentorship Award, which offers one-on-one coaching and feedback to a burgeoning writer whose script could, with a little more support, turn into an award-winning film. Recent winners Neil Ferron and Jessica Sinyard found representation and management directly through their involvement with the competition. Day Shift became the most watched film in the world during the third week of August 2022. Recent success stories include Tyler Tice, whose 2018 Grand Prize-winning horror feature Day Shift was released in 2022 as a Netflix original film starring Jamie Foxx. We are looking for scripts that take risks, refuse compromise, and go places where Hollywood hacks fear to tread. Like the Film Festival, the Screenplay Competition is a place for new, bold, and raw voices. Since 1997, the competition has established a strong track record for introducing writers to members of the entertainment industry who have gone on to produce, option, and represent submitted work.

The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is dedicated to discovering and nurturing emerging screenwriters.

New york tv pilot festival