Where to Submit Your Screenplay - Script Submission Guide for 2024
If you're an aspiring screenwriter looking to get professional eyes on your latest movie script, 2024 is your year. After the writer's strike brought Hollywood to a virtual standstill, the film industry is back and hungrier than ever for new content.
If the closest thing to a Hollywood connection you've got is the guy who sells popcorn at your local Cineplex, fear not! The past decade has seen a sharp increase in platforms seeking to connect unknown writers with industry professionals in need of fresh talent. Now more than ever, making it in Hollywood doesn’t have to be about who you know.
From screenplay competitions and film festivals to script submission platforms and production companies, the opportunities are out there for anyone who thinks they've got what it takes to become a working screenwriter. Read on to find out where and how to turn your latest feature script into your big break.
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Screenplay Submission
Because submitting your spec script across platforms takes time and (usually) money, you'll want to submit with a vision. What's your screenplay’s genre? Who's your target audience? What are your career goals?
Not every platform is created equal – and it's up to you to figure out where your script fits in. For example, while some platforms are seeking scripts that can be made on an indie budget, others won't even consider a script without at least three explosions. Submitting strategically can make all the difference when it comes to your screenplay’s success and exposure.
Screenwriting Competitions
Screenplay competitions have launched the careers of countless screenwriters without Hollywood connections. And you don't have to win to benefit! Even making it to the quarter- or semi-finals of a competition can attract the attention of agents and executives.
When submitting to screenplay competitions, you'll want to consider things like entry fees, exposure opportunities, potential prizes, and genre-focus. Take a look below at some of our favorite competitions.
Kinolime Screenwriting Competition: Even though screenplay competitions are intended to break down the barriers to entry, most of their juries are still made up of Hollywood’s gatekeepers. Not so with Kinolime's screenwriting competition. Kinolime takes a more democratic approach to its selection process, blending audience-driven voting with a panel of experts. Best of all, Kinolime is the only screenwriting contest that guarantees its winner a fully-funded development deal.
Academy Nicholl Fellowship: One of the oldest Hollywood screenwriting competitions is also one of its most lucrative. Each year, five lucky screenwriters are awarded $35,000 for their original feature film screenplay. And based on the experience of selected winners, they've got a real shot at getting those screenplays produced. Movies such as Akeelah and the Bee and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile came from Nicholl scripts.
The Universal Writers Lab: Some screenplay competitions deal in cold, hard cash. Others provide writers with that most elusive of luxuries — a structure supported by deadlines, creative guidance, and a clear-cut path to production within which to bring their latest idea to life. The Universal Writers Lab does just this, guiding selected winners from pitch to final draft during their one year paid program.
Kinolime Screenwriting Competition: Even though screenplay competitions are intended to break down the barriers to entry, most of their juries are still made up of Hollywood’s gatekeepers. Not so with Kinolime's screenwriting competition. Kinolime takes a more democratic approach to its selection process, blending audience-driven voting with a panel of experts. Best of all, Kinolime is the only screenwriting contest that guarantees its winner a fully-funded development deal.
Film Festivals
Film festivals are more than just a landing pad for finished movies. Screenwriters are finally getting their due on the festival circuit, with more festivals than ever hosting screenplay contests.
The Austin Film Festival is a prime example of a festival that prioritizes screenwriters. The winners of their annual screenwriting contest are invited to attend the festival free of charge, where they can hobnob with film producers looking for scripts and connect with other screenwriters. The festival also provides discounts and invitations to networking events for writers who crack the top 20 percent of their contest submissions.
Before submitting your screenplay to a film festival, check out winners from years past to get a sense of what the judges like. Are they into big-budget action adventures or indie dramas? Social justice screeds or feel-good family comedies? If it's an artistic match, it just might be worth that entry fee.
Script Submission Platforms
One of the newest ways to get noticed in Hollywood is through script submission platforms. Platforms like the Blacklist invite screenwriters to upload their script to be read and evaluated by professional script readers. The highest ranked scripts are featured on the front page of the website, where industry professionals can discover them – and you. At minimum, you'll get useful notes for improving your work. At most, you'll launch your career!
Script submission platforms are increasingly popular forums for agents and managers to find new clients. Just make sure you create a screenplay profile that gives them a reason to read. That means coming up with a strong logline and selecting a genre that accurately reflects the screenplay’s contents (after all, nobody wants the comedy they thought they were reading to turn out to be a modern-day take on The Exorcist).
Production Companies
Submitting unsolicited scripts directly to production companies is an age-old tactic for getting noticed. The trick here is to be specific. While screenplay contests and script submission platforms make room for a variety of genres and stories, production companies usually have a "type." After all, Blumhouse isn't pushing out the same content as Point Grey.
Submit smart, not hard. Choose production companies that produce the kind of movies you want to write. Don't send the same rote query letter to multiple production companies. Film producers looking for scripts want to work with screenwriters who "get" them — and screenwriters should want the same. Find the production company that feels like the right fit and tailor your query letter accordingly.
Don't submit to production companies known for working solely with big names or IPs. Seek out companies who value new voices. For example, Kinolime is a writer-founded company whose mission statement highlights the importance of craft and independence in filmmaking. In an industry where it can sometimes feel like your last name is more important than the quality of your screenplay, Kinolime seeks to even the playing field by funding movies that the voting public — not just a handful of executives — wants to see get made.
Most importantly, understand each company's submission guidelines before reaching out. Ignoring submission guidelines is a great way to get your script disqualified by producers before they read a single word.
How to Prepare Your Screenplay for Submission
Industry professionals go through dozens of scripts a week — which is why they have little patience for poor presentation. Script readers rarely make it past the first page of screenplays with formatting issues, typos, and weak loglines.
Before submitting your screenplay, make sure it's in the best shape possible. Is the dialogue tight? Does the storyline make sense? Are we rooting for your hero?
Here's where you'll want to consider making use of script coverage services. While you can always request pro bono feedback from friends and family, businesses that offer script coverage employ professional screenwriters who know exactly what makes a screenplay work.
Check out Kinolime's script coverage offerings – the testimonials speak for themselves!
Once you've got a solid draft on your hands, go through the script with a fine-tooth comb. Fix typos and incorrect formatting. Make your life easier by using a screenwriting software like Final Draft or Celtx to get the formatting right the first time around.
When it comes to script contests and production companies, don't underestimate the importance of a captivating logline and synopsis. Think of the logline as an advertisement for your screenplay. Craft a logline that will get the reader excited to dive in!
Navigating Submission Guidelines and Requirements
Again, adhering to submission guidelines is vital. Every submission platform will have its own unique set of guidelines, so make sure you read through each one individually.
Some platforms require screenplays to be registered with the WGA in order to be eligible for submission. Others request that screenwriters leave their name off of their screenplays so judges can be fully subjective. Many provide release forms for screenwriters to submit along with their screenplays.
Most screenwriters submit the same script to multiple platforms at once. To stay organized, submit through filmfreeway.com or another website created to streamline the process. This will make you less likely to inadvertently mess up a submission.
Kinolime: Turn Your Submission Into a Big Break
Thanks to the evolution of streaming, the demand for content is at an all-time high — and so is the opportunity to get noticed in the screenwriting world. The backdoor to Hollywood is wide open for anyone willing to put their work out there. Follow our step-by-step guide to go from aspiring screenwriter to professional screenwriter.
If you're wondering where to start, consider submitting to Kinolime’s inaugural screenwriting competition. Kinolime puts the decision-making in the hands of the Kinolime community, made up of film lovers who want a say in what could potentially be the next big blockbuster. You can even encourage your friends and family to read and vote. You've got nothing to lose – go ahead and submit now!
Happy writing and good luck!
FAQs
How do I get my screenplay noticed?
You can up your chances of getting your screenplay noticed by casting a wide net. Do your research and submit to every platform that feels like it could be a good fit for your script. And remember — don't underestimate the importance of a killer logline!
Where can I market my screenplay?
Film festivals are a great place to market yourself and your screenplay. Single out film festivals that host networking events for screenwriters and filmmakers. Pitch fests are also a useful resource for exposure.
How do I submit a script to Netflix?
Unlike many production companies, Netflix doesn't accept unsolicited screenplays. To pitch Netflix, you'll have to find yourself an agent or manager. Start your search by submitting your screenplay to script submission platforms or screenplay competitions. You can also contact most agents directly with a subscription to IMDbPro.
How are scripts picked up by production companies?
Although production companies often accept unsolicited screenplays, most of the scripts they buy come to them through an agent or manager. Up your chances of getting noticed by sending query letters to both production companies and agencies.
How can people outside of Hollywood submit scripts to production companies?
Every production company has its own guidelines for the submission of unsolicited screenplays. If you think your script would be a good fit for a certain production company, find and follow their submission instructions online – but only after you've checked for typos, fixed all formatting issues, and crafted a captivating logline.
