Screenplay Competition
Welcome to the California Film Awards Screenwriting Competition. The Call For Entries is now open. This annual screenplay competition was created to help aspiring screenwriters break into the entertainment industry as well as to showcase original new voices and support emerging talent. All genres and categories are invited.
The California Film Awards proudly accepts entries via FilmFreeway.com, the world's best online submissions platform. FilmFreeway offers free HD online screeners, Vimeo and YouTube integration, and more. Click to submit with FilmFreeway.
Winners and Finalists
Five scripts will be recognized at Top Winners - 1st through 5th place.
Ten scripts will be recognized as Official Finalists. Ten scripts will be recognized at Honorable Mentions. A select number of scripts will be awarded the Orson Welles Screenwriting Award.
All Finalists, Winners and Honorable Mentions will be featured on our website announcing the annual Winners of the Competition.
Short Script Competition
Five scripts will be recognized at Top Winners - 1st through 5th place. Ten scripts will be recognized as Official Finalists. Ten scripts will be recognized at Honorable Mentions. A select number of scripts will be awarded the Orson Welles Screenwriting Award.
Short Scripts are screenplays under 50 pages. The entry form, fees, and deadlines for the Short Script Competition are the same.
Deadlines
Early Deadline - March 5, 2017
Regular Deadline - May 5, 2017
Official Deadline - July 5, 2017
Late Deadline - September 5, 2017
Extended Deadline - November 5, 2017
Final Deadline - December 5, 2017
Announcement Date: January 5th 2018
Fees
Early Deadline - $25
Regular Deadline - $30
Official Deadline - $35
Late Deadline - $40
Extended Deadline - $45
Final Deadline - $55
Competition Rules and Conditions
Entrants retain all of their rights, title and interest in their works, screenplays, and intellectual property.
All entries must be submitted via FilmFreeway.
Screenplays written by up to four people may be entered in the competition. Only one entry fee and one entry form is required for such entries. All authors' names should be listed on the entry.
You may submit multiple entries. Each screenplay submitted must include its own separate entry and entry fee.
Scripts should be no longer than 185 pages.
The entry fee is nonrefundable.
Submissions must be the original work of the applicant. Entries, however, may be adapted from the applicant’s own work. If the script is based on a true story, historical or contemporary, that should be noted on the title page of the script.
Entrants agree to indemnify and hold us, including our employees, our officers, and our partners and affiliates harmless against all claims arising out of entry or participation in the California Film Awards.
Script materials will not be returned.
The California Film Awards will not share your script with anyone except the judges of the competition.
Students receive a $10 discount. Please include a copy of your student ID.
The California Film Awards may opt, dependent upon the number of entries for a given year, and at its sole discretion, to hold an annual awards ceremony as it has in years past. Attendence to any such ceremony is not mandatory for winning filmmakers and screenwriters.
Submission of a film or screenplay to the California Film Awards implies express understanding and acceptance to all competition rules and conditions.