The Short Script Fund – Season 2
The Script Fund is more than a competition. It is a development grant designed to move your story from the page to the screen. Founded by working industry producers, we invest in writers who demand to be heard.
- Chance to win $1,000.00!
- Showcase your project.
- Greenlight your film.
“The Script Fund was created to help great scripts move beyond the page by connecting them with the capital needed to become films.”
A Grant to Fuel Your Vision.
Most competitions give you a laurel and a “congratulations.” The Script Fund is different. We invest in the two things every emerging screenwriter actually needs: Capital and Mentorship. Our prize package provides the $1,000 Financial Fuel to move your script forward, plus a personalized Interview and Industry Guidance to help you build a sustainable writing career. We don’t just celebrate your success, we help fund your next step.
The Grand Grant Recipient (Overall Winner):
• $1,000.00 Cash Award (USD): An unrestricted grant to fuel your production, development process, or writing career.
• The Spotlight: A published, deep-dive interview about your winning script and artistic journey.
• The Mentorship: Ongoing check-ins with our founder to help navigate industry hurdles, troubleshoot project challenges, and determine exactly what is needed to move your script from the page to the screen.
• The Blueprint: If opted in by the writer, an exclusive strategy session on film finance and crowdfunding. Leverage our founder’s proven track record of raising over $50,000 through crowdfunding alone, supplemented by successful experience securing private investment, tax incentives, and competitive grants.
• Industry Exposure: If opted in by the writer, a dedicated feature across our filmmaker network and digital platforms to connect your project with independent directors and producers looking for their next short.
• The Future: Your next script submission is on the house, plus your Official Winner Laurel.
Genre Spotlight Awards:
In addition to competing for the Grand Cash Grant, every submitted screenplay automatically qualifies for our Genre Spotlight Awards at no additional cost.
Category winners across each genre lane receive:
• Official Recognition: Distinctive category winner laurels to elevate your pitch deck and festival run.
• Creator Spotlight: A published, deep-dive interview exploring your script, creative process, and artistic journey.
• Industry Exposure: If opted in by the writer, a dedicated feature across our filmmaker network and digital platforms to connect your project with independent directors and producers looking for their next short.
Spotlight Categories:
• Action / Adventure / Crime
• Comedy / Dark Comedy
• Drama
• Historical / Period / War
• Sci-Fi / Fantasy
• Thriller / Horror / Suspense
Scorecard (Add-On)
Curious how your script ranked across key industry benchmarks and where to improve your script? Add an Official Scorecard to your submission to receive your numeric ratings (1–10) across our 6 core judging criteria: Concept/Originality, Structure, Plot, Pacing, Characters, and Dialogue, along with your overall score. Scorecards are delivered via email following the official notifications.
“Winning the grand prize from The Script Fund has been a really meaningful and encouraging experience. The response I received was thoughtful, constructive, and helpful in showing me what was working in my script and what I could keep developing.”
— Kayleb Lee (Overall Winner, The Script Fund 2026)
Dates & Deadlines
October 1, 2026
Opening Date
November 15, 2026
Earlybird Deadline
December 15, 2026
Regular Deadline
January 15, 2027
Late Deadline
February 15, 2027
Extended Deadline
March 15, 2027
Notification Date
March 15, 2027
Winner Announcement
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