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Whether in the theater or streamed at home, horror continues to be one of the most popular film genres. They routinely top the box office and many of their characters have become part of the cultural zeitgeist, from Norman Bates in Psycho to Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street to Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. We invite you to dip your pen into this classic and enduringly favored genre for our Horror Short film Contest. Give us your most twisted, demonic, frightfest for a chance to win cash prizes and have your screenplay produced. Just be sure to adhere to the contest guidelines. Happy writing!

This contest is free to participate in for active Open Screenplay Members. Contest begins on Dec 21, 2022 at 12:00 AM (ET) and ends on Oct 31, 2023 at 11:59 PM (ET). There are a total of three (3) prizes available to be won as follows: one (1) First Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $1,000, and in Contest Partner’s sole discretion, the option of production, one (1) Second Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $500, (1) Third Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $250. Contest is open to registered Open Screenplay users, excluding residents of Quebec, Canada, who are 13 years of age or older at the time of entry (parental or guardian consent required if entrant is under the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry). Odds of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible entries received before the contest closes. Limitations apply. Full rules and entry details available at: <a href='/lessons/horrorshort' target='_blank'>Contest Rules & Guidelines </a>

Horror Short

Action films have come a long way from the stories of maverick police officers like Dirty Harry or The French Connection, or the hero-centric 90’s blockbusters of Arnold Schwarzenneger and Sylvester Stallone. Continuously pushing the envelope with elaborate action sequences, impossible car chases, big explosions, and even bigger budgets, action films have one purpose only: to entertain and excite audiences. And with the advent of modern special effects and CGI, action films are only limited by the imagination of the screenwriter. So if you’re a fan of this genre, this contest is for you. We want you to write an action-filled short film screenplay that gets us cheering for the hero, and marveling at their death-defying physical feats. Just be sure to read the contest guidelines. Happy writing and hasta la vista baby!

This contest is free to participate in for active Open Screenplay Members. Contest begins on Dec 21, 2022 at 12:00 AM (ET) and ends on Nov 30, 2023 at 11:59 PM (ET). There are a total of three (3) prizes available to be won as follows: one (1) First Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $1,000, and in Contest Partner’s sole discretion, the option of production, one (1) Second Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $500, (1) Third Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $250. Contest is open to registered Open Screenplay users, excluding residents of Quebec, Canada, who are 13 years of age or older at the time of entry (parental or guardian consent required if entrant is under the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry). Odds of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible entries received before the contest closes. Limitations apply. Full rules and entry details available at: <a href='/lessons/actionshort' target='_blank'>Contest Rules & Guidelines </a>

Action Short

One of the best times you can have at the movies is following a hero on a grand conquest, exploring exotic locations, solving intricate puzzles, and overcoming obstacles. Movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, National treasure, and the Indiana Jones films, are defining examples of the adventure genre, and provided some of our most memorable on-screen heroes. We invite you to take us on a wild ride with an adventure short film screenplay. Send your hero on a quest, fraught with danger and insurmountable challenges. Feel free to Incorporate historical myths and exciting locales. Just be sure to read and follow our contest guidelines. Happy writing!

This contest is free to participate in for active Open Screenplay Members. Contest begins on Dec 21, 2022 at 12:00 AM (ET) and ends on Dec 30, 2023 at 11:59 PM (ET). There are a total of three (3) prizes available to be won as follows: one (1) First Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $1,000, and in Contest Partner’s sole discretion, the option of production, one (1) Second Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $500, (1) Third Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $250. Contest is open to registered Open Screenplay users, excluding residents of Quebec, Canada, who are 13 years of age or older at the time of entry (parental or guardian consent required if entrant is under the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry). Odds of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible entries received before the contest closes. Limitations apply. Full rules and entry details available at: <a href='/lessons/adventureshort' target='_blank'>Contest Rules & Guidelines </a>

Adventure Short

Dystopian films serve as stark visual warnings of the worst dangers facing humanity. From environmental catastrophes resulting in disease, drought, or famine, to oppressive societies run by powerful corporate, religious, or technological tyrannies, we can’t seem to get enough of these films depicting foreboding futures. If you’re a fan of the films like Blade Runner, The Road, or The Handmaid’s Tale, this contest is for you. We invite you to write a short film screenplay set in a dystopian future, where our protagonists navigate a society dealing with threats like climate change, nuclear war, over-population or authoritarianism

This contest is free to participate in for active Open Screenplay Members. Contest begins on Dec 21, 2022 at 12:00 AM (ET) and ends on Jan 21, 2024 at 11:59 PM (ET). There are a total of three (3) prizes available to be won as follows: one (1) First Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $1,000, and in Contest Partner’s sole discretion, the option of production, one (1) Second Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $500, (1) Third Prize consisting of a license fee cash award of USD $250. Contest is open to registered Open Screenplay users, excluding residents of Quebec, Canada, who are 13 years of age or older at the time of entry (parental or guardian consent required if entrant is under the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry). Odds of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible entries received before the contest closes. Limitations apply. Full rules and entry details available at: <a href='/lessons/dystopia' target='_blank'>Contest Rules & Guidelines </a>

Dystopia

We invite you to help us tell more stories that put the spotlight on authentic Indigenous characters, that speak of their complexity and humanity, their challenges and triumphs, their joys and sorrows. We want you to write an original 15-minute short film screenplay, in any genre of your choosing.

M Film Lab Fall 2023 Program

Tragedy

Sci Fi

On January 15th 2019, Open Screenplay launched with its first short film screenwriting contest. The contest was open to all genres and screenplays were required to be 10 minutes or less. The contest was a resounding success attracting 5000+ writers. The winning top five screenplays represent diverse genres and diverse writers. The winning screenwriter who won the $2,000 prize and a production deal was Maddison Tebbutt for The Arrears. Madison was also awarded a private session with Golden Globe nominee and Open Screenplay Advisor Richard Kletter. The second prize winning script is Foundation, was a public screenplay collaboratively written by three writers who had never met before, namely: Katlynn Sverko, Ross Lang, and Christopher Kerr. The third prize winning script is Forbidden Beasts by Tina Marie Singh. The winners were selected by an advisory board of Hollywood film executives and award-winning screenwriters.