GEMFest International Screenplay Competition

The GEMFest International Screenplay Competition is part of the Gender Equity in Media Festival (GEMFest), held annually on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, also known as Vancouver, BC.

The festival brings together women-identifying and gender-diverse screenwriters and filmmakers from around the world, creating a vital forum for collaboration, networking, and professional development. Through screenings, panels, and industry conversations, GEMFest provides a platform to challenge systemic gender inequity and amplify underrepresented voices in screen-based media.

We welcome submissions of television pilots and feature film screenplays across all genres. Our goal is to highlight and award outstanding scripts that expand the scope of the stories women-identifying and gender-diverse creators tell and that audiences want to see.

We announce three tiers of finalists in consideration (Quarterfinalist, Semifinalists, and Finalists). All Official Selections (Finalists) receive a full festival pass and are invited to attend GEMFest 2027, with dates TBA. (Travel and accommodation costs are the responsibility of the attendee.)

The winner in each category will receive a prize package that includes professional story editing and an official GEMFest award statuette.

Finalists will also be invited to participate in an exclusive screenplay panel during the festival.

All Official Selections (Finalists) receive a festival pass and are invited to attend GEMFest 2027 in-person in March 2027, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the attendee.

The winner in each category receives a prize package that includes story editing and an award statuette.