The Golden Script Competition

The Golden Script Competition is a yearly international competition for short, feature and TV pilot screenplays. Recognized by MovieBytes as one of the TOP SCREENPLAY CONTESTS for 2023-2026, many of our writers have found success through the competition, securing industry representation, signing option agreements, and having their work shopped to major production companies.

You will be submitting to the 2026 edition, and the best scripts of this edition will be read by some of the most renowned production companies & literary agencies (including some that have won several OSCARS and EMMYS), giving you the chance to have your script produced or represented! On top of that, we offer cash prizes totaling $10,000. 2026 mentors include OSCAR-nominee Mark Fergus and three-time EMMY-nominee Jessica Sharzer (TBC). Our judges include producers and executive producers who have produced films like THE USUAL SUSPECTS and BIRDMAN.

Who's reading our top scripts:

Success Stories

FEATURE SCRIPTS

THE GOLDEN SCRIPT WINNER (1st PLACE) - $4,500 CASH PRIZE + 1on1 MASTERCLASS with OSCAR-nominee MARK FERGUS + GUARANTEED Golden List Placement + one 4 month InkTip Pro Membership worth $130 + 1yr ISAConnect Membership worth $120 + 1yr FILMUSTAGE subscription worth $468 + 10 Pitches on Virtual Pitch Fest (VPF) + Trophy + Award Certificate

2nd PLACE - GUARANTEED Golden List Placement + one 4 month InkTip Pro Membership worth $130 + 1yr FILMUSTAGE subscription worth $468 + 5 Pitches on Virtual Pitch Fest (VPF) + Trophy + Award Certificate

3rd PLACE - GUARANTEED Golden List Placement + one 4 month InkTip Pro Membership worth $130 + 1yr FILMUSTAGE subscription worth $468 + 5 Pitches on Virtual Pitch Fest (VPF) + Trophy + Award Certificate

FINALISTS - Golden List Placement (if placed on the 4th to 15th place) + 50% off discount @ FILMUSTAGE + 1 Pitch on Virtual Pitch Fest (VPF) + Award Certificate

TV PILOTS

THE GOLDEN TV SCRIPT WINNER (1st PLACE) - $4,500 CASH PRIZE + 1on1 MASTERCLASS with three-time EMMY-nominee JESSICA SHARZER + GUARANTEED Golden List Placement + 1yr ISAConnect Membership worth $120 + one 4 month InkTip Pro Membership worth $130 + 1yr FILMUSTAGE subscription worth $468 + 10 Pitches on Virtual Pitch Fest (VPF) + Trophy + Award Certificate

2nd PLACE - GUARANTEED Golden List Placement + one 4 month InkTip Pro Membership worth $130 + 1yr FILMUSTAGE subscription worth $468 + 5 Pitches on Virtual Pitch Fest (VPF) + Trophy + Award Certificate

3rd PLACE - GUARANTEED Golden List Placement + one 4 month InkTip Pro Membership worth $130 + 1yr FILMUSTAGE subscription worth $468 + 5 Pitches on Virtual Pitch Fest (VPF) + Trophy + Award Certificate

FINALISTS - Golden List Placement (if placed on the 4th to 9th place)+ 50% off discount @ FILMUSTAGE + 1 Pitch on Virtual Pitch Fest (VPF) + Award Certificate

SHORT SCRIPTS

THE GOLDEN SCRIPT WINNER (1st PLACE) - $1,000 CASH PRIZE + GUARANTEED Golden List Placement + 1yr ISAConnect Membership worth $120 + 1yr FILMUSTAGE subscription worth $468 + Trophy + Award Certificate

2nd PLACE - GUARANTEED Golden List Placement + 1yr FILMUSTAGE subscription worth $468 + Trophy + Award Certificate

3rd PLACE - GUARANTEED Golden List Placement + 1yr FILMUSTAGE subscription worth $468 + Trophy + Award Certificate

FINALISTS - Golden List Placement (if placed on the 4th, 5th or 6th place) + 50% off discount @ FILMUSTAGE + Award Certificate

Mentors

Mark Fergus

Writer, Producer

An OSCAR-nominee, Mark Fergus has crafted memorable scripts for hits like CHILDREN OF MEN, IRON MAN, and the TV series THE EXPANSE. His broad range of expertise across various genres has solidified his reputation as a skilled and adaptable writer. Mark Fergus will hold a 1on1 masterclass with 2026's 1st place winner (FEATURE category).

Jessica Sharzer

Writer, Producer

A three-time EMMY-nominee, Jessica Sharzer is a writer, producer, and director best known for her work on NERVE, AMERICAN HORROR STORY, the mystery thriller A SIMPLE FAVOR and NINE PERFECT STRANGERS. Jessica Sharzer will hold a 1on1 masterclass with 2026's 1st place winner (TV PILOT category).

Top Judges

 

Kristina Rivera

Producer, Executive

Kristina Rivera is best known for her collaborations with Clint Eastwood. She began her career at Malpaso Productions as his assistant on INVICTUS and worked on J. EDGAR and JERSEY BOYS before her promotion to associate producer on AMERICAN SNIPER. Rivera subsequently brought the screenplay SULLY to Eastwood and was co-producer on the film. She then developed the THE 15:17 TO PARIS screenplay with first time writer Dorothy Blyskal, and garnered the title Producer. She also produced THE MULE and was a co-executive producer on Aaron Sorkin's film THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7.

 

Molly Conners

Producer, Executive, Director

Molly is an Emmy-nominated producer and member of the Producers Guild of America, BAFTA, and the Television Academy. Over the past 15 years, she has produced or executive produced 35 films that have earned 4 Academy Awards and 11 nominations. Notable credits include BIRDMAN, FROZEN RIVER, KILLER JOE, THE IMMIGRANT and RULES DON'T APPLY.

1) Submitted scripts must be original screenplays, and the sole property of the applicant(s). Screenplays submitted must not have been previously sold or produced. Adapted or based on screenplays are also accepted. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to register their screenplay and secure clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted materials included within the submitted screenplay. Also, novels, stage plays, short stories, treatments, synopses or scripts based on existing material created without permission will not be accepted in the contest. All entrants, including the nominees and winners, retain complete and exclusive rights to their work.

2) All ages are eligible, and you can submit from any country.

3) All entries must be in English.

4) We accept screenplays between 1–140 pages in length. For scripts over 140 pages (features), 70 pages (pilots) or 45 pages (shorts), an additional fee of $1 per extra page will apply.

5) There is no limit to the number of screenplays you may submit.

6) All entries must be uploaded in PDF/FDX format. Contact details or names are allowed to be on the title page, but not recommended.

7) All screenplays should be written in industry standard format (Courier 12 pt font).

8) Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entry screenplay(s) are accepted for an additional fee and should be submitted via https://goldenscript.net/extra.

9) Competition judges, readers and employees of our competition, past and present, and their immediate friends and families, are NOT eligible to enter. Previous winning and finalist scripts are also NOT eligible.

10) Entries must be received on or before the deadlines and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. Entry fees (including services fees) are non-refundable and we do not provide any feedback (except for paid feedback)

11) By entering The Golden Script Competition you agree to all the rules listed. Regardless of your status (winner or nominee), please note that your script, logline and contact information may be shared with our partners and sponsors, and by submitting you agree with that. You also agree to release and hold harmless The Golden Script Competition and its subsidiary, parent and affiliated companies from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s entry, participation in the contest and/or acceptance or use or misuse of the prize.

Terms and conditions: https://goldenscript.net/terms-privacy

Entrant also agrees to Stage32.com terms and conditions.