Welcome to the 2024 Florida Script Challenge!

Welcome to the Best Little Screenwriting Contest Not Out West!

**NOTE** This is an ONLINE Competition, there is not an in person event!!

Lets hear it for the screenwriters people! The backbone, yet often overlooked, of the film industry. Screenwriters are a group of people who would love to have their work recognized and produced but the struggle is real! Founded in 2019, The Florida Script Challenge is aiming to help change that. We ourselves are screenwriters and have been for eight years now. We know the struggle for screenwriters and the struggle of getting your work in front of the right set of eyes. We’re here to give you an avenue to have your work judged by your peers in screenwriting and hopefully help get your work noticed by someone that can help get it made. We will help you promote your work in any way that we can so hopefully the right people lay their eyes on it and help you reach your dreams in screenwriting!
For each of our Top 3 Category Finishers as well as the Hurricane Award and Screenwriter of the Year Award, you will a receive a personalized trophy! You can see examples from previous winners on our website and here on FilmFreeway!

We’re very excited to again, partner with Final Draft for the 2024 contest! This years winner will again receive a copy of Final Draft 12 screenwriting software!

We are also happy to announce that every entry (if accepted) into the 2023 Florida Script Challenge is automatically eligible for all awards, including the category awards as well as the Hurricane Award and the Screenwriter of the Year Award. You will never have to pay extra fees for trophies, certificates or entries into extra categories. We continue to look for new and exciting ways to celebrate our amazing screenwriters. As we get updates for the 2024 contest we will immediately share them here!

We're very pleased to announce our newest sponsor for the Florida Script Challenge! Virtual Pitch Fest or VPF! In 2024 we will be awarding our Feature winners the ability to pitch to producers and studios!

Our Hurricane Award winner will receive 5 pitches.

Our Screenwriter of the Year will receive 5 pitches.

First place in the Feature category will receive 3 pitches.

We thank VPF for their sponsorship and cannot wait to see the results next year! New submission window opens July 4, 2023!

VPF is a platform for TV/Film professionals seeking scripts and writers to represent. With VPF, writers can submit Written Pitches to 500+ networks/studios, producers and agents with the assurance of a guaranteed response.

Awards & Prizes

Our 2024 Hurricane Award will be named the Hurricane ‘Sue’ Award after our 2023 winner, Sue M. Swank!!
Hurricane Award Winner - Trophy, Certificate, Final Draft 12 Download and 5 Pitches from VPF.

Screenwriter of the Year - Trophy, Certificate, and 5 pitches from VPF.

Short Screenplay First Place - Trophy and Certificate.
Short Screenplay Second Place - Trophy and Certificate.
Short Screenplay Third Place - Trophy and Certificate.

Feature Screenplay First Place - Trophy, Certificate, and 3 pitches from VPF.
Feature Screenplay Second Place - Trophy and Certificate.
Feature Screenplay Third Place - Trophy and Certificate.

All Finalists will receive a certificate.

Rules & Terms

Short screenplays and Feature Screenplays of any genre will be accepted. Screenplays submitted must be writers original work. Short Screenplays must be NO LONGER than 30 pages. Feature Screenplays must be between 60 and 120 pages in length. All submissions must be in English.

Only projects submitted through FilmFreeway will be considered in the Challenge.

Screenplays will be judged on originality, plot, character development and story. There is no limit on number of submissions per writer but each submission will require its own entry fee.

Works in progress will NOT be considered. Work must be completed before submission.

Official Selections will be announced on or before May 4, 2024.
Semi-Finalists will be announced on May 12, 2024.
Finalists will be announced on May 19, 2024.
Winners will be announced on May 25, 2024.

* By submitting your screenplay, take note that:

All Entry Fees are non-refundable.
Submitter grants us authorization to share and promote information for projects submitted. Submitter will be given credit for all material submitted as it is their own intellectual property and will remain so.

Submitter agrees they have read and understood all the terms and conditions, rules and guidelines before submitting a project.

All determinations and decisions are made solely by the Florida Script Challenge directors and jurors.

All decisions are final.

53 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Joe Leone

    Thank you for the recognition of short screenplay (DO UNTO OTHERS). It is much appreciated! 👍🏻🎉

    January 2024
    Helpful
  • SHUBHANJAN DAS

    Thank you for official selection of my screenplay @ THE WAITING ROOM .

    September 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your submission! We hope to see more from you in the future!

  • Christopher Bolton

    Everything ran smoothly, the communication from the organisers was great and best of all there was no upsell, which seems rare these days! Just a really great experience.

    June 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your response! We are thrilled you had a good experience!

  • Richard Powell

    I am ecstatic to have my script "Pearl Moon" selected as First Place Feature Script. Thank you to the Festival and the Directors for excellent communication and the ability to reach out and network with production companies via the Virtual Pitch Fest awards. I recommend this Festival highly to others.

    June 2023
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    Response from festival:

    thank you Richard! We appreciate your hard work and dedication to your craft! We look forward to seeing what you have next!

  • Adam Poulos

    A great competition and excited to have been nominated as a semi-finalist for my script Soul Survivors - An Obsession of the Heart Part One.

    June 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Adam! We applaud you for your hard work and hope to see more from you!