The Competition

Your voice matters.

Submissions for the 2026 Competition are now CLOSED!

SECOND ROUND PARTICIPANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED NO LATER THAN 7/30/26

  • "Far and away the best screenwriting program I’ve participated in - both in the level of engagement, consideration, and follow-through of its founders as well as the perks of placing in its competition. If you’re going to invest in any competition this year, make it this one!"

    - Erin Sullivan, 2025 Inspired Screenwriting Finalist

  • "The support and resources I have found through the Inspired Screenwriting Competition have been nothing short of priceless. A year later and I am still so excited every time I see an email pop up from them, knowing it will be something amazing -- whether that be a networking opportunity, a chance to speak about my work, or one of their screenwriting courses online."

    - Matilda Schulman, 2025 Inspired Screenwriting Competition Finalist

  • "I cannot say enough about my experience with Inspired. No AI previewing scripts. Instead, readers who read closely and thoughtfully. Finalists have access to podcasts, workshops, labs, and actual virtual pitch events. The Inspired Team does what they say - rare in this industry. "

    - Dominique Cieri, 2025 Inspired Screenwriting Competition Finalist

  • "The Inspired Screenwriting Competition has far exceeded my expectations. Tara and Jen foster a welcoming community and actively promote writers' work. They go above and beyond, certainly more than most writing contests I've known. I'm so grateful for this experience. "

    - Erin Martin, 2025 Inspired Screenwriting Competition Quarter Finalist

  • "Nearly a year on, and I'm still pinching myself to make sure that the networking environment built by Jen and Tara here isn't just a dream. But it's true: I really am connecting with writers, producers, and creatives from all levels of experience and even more walks of life, and my trajectory as a writer has become infinitely richer as a result. Shoot your shot, folks: This is an offer you shouldn't refuse."

    - Charlotte Simmons, 2025 Inspired Screenwriting Competition Quarter Finalist

  • "The Inspired Screenwriting team took the time to turn their competition into a community. I am still engaged with writers I met through their program, and their time and attention has been a large part of building those connections. I recommend getting involved with Inspired if you want a team who will continue to engage with you long after the awards have been distributed."

    - Dan Takacs, 2025 Inspired Screenwriting Competition Quarter-Finalist

The Quarter - Finalists

Will receive:

Inclusion in the Inspired Screenwriting Network Portal

Their bio and logline will be shared in our exclusive network portal that is accessed by the members of the USC Stark Alumni Council, the Film Fatales, the Alliance of Women’s Directors, and USC’s Women of Cinematic Arts.

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Invites to exclusive networking events throughout the year

Writers will be able to attend virtual networking events hosted or co-hosted by us where they can pitch their scripts and/or meet members of the above organizations and more.

The Finalists

Will receive all of the above, PLUS:

The entire Inspired Screenwriting Program FREE

All four courses of our screenwriting program based on our Method, which normally costs $200.

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A 1 x 1 consultation on next steps

Where do you go from here? We’ll help you come up with a roadmap for moving forward.

The Winner

$1000 cash prize

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reads by producers/reps handpicked by us based on your material

You don’t just want people to read your script, you want the RIGHT people to read it. For example, last year’s winner was inspired by The Wedding Banquet, so we got the legendary producer Ted Hope, who produced the original, to read their script.

The GRAND PRIZE WINNER gets all of the above PLUS:

  • The stories we tell connect us, they move us, and when they’re really special, they change us.

    Those special stories, the ones that make us think and feel, the ones that leave an indelible mark on our hearts and souls, they don’t come from the same pool of generic setups and one-dimensional characters we’ve seen over and over again.

    They come from you.

    Or, at least, that’s what we believe here at Inspired. We believe that it’s only through showing who you are with your writing can you truly reach your audience in a meaningful way.

  • So, send us your best. Send us your personal. Send us the crazy out-there ideas that could have only come from (insert your name here).

    Because, whether it’s a high concept comedy, historical drama, elevated horror or something in between (if anyone has that script, btw, def send it our way), if it came from you, we want to read it.

    And when we do find that special script? That script that blows our minds?

    WE ARE GONNA WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY.

    So, use your voice and shout it from the rooftops because…

    We’re listening.

  • Here at Inspired, we love movies. We love writing movies, making movies, and watching movies. Which is why our competition is currently focused on:

    feature length screenplays only.

  • As writers, we also hate it when people try to put us in a box. And we don’t want to put you in a box, either.

    That’s why:

    we don’t have separate genre categories.

    When you submit, we’ll be assessing your story on its own terms, rather than through the lens of a specific genre. 

MORE INFORMATION

Submit Now!

COMPETITION RULES

  • If you are asked to submit your full script to the second round, it must be FEATURE LENGTH. No longer than 120 pages, please.

  • This is all our readers can handle currently.

  • We will only accept original screenplays, written by you. If it is an adaptation, you must own the rights to the source material.

  • We don’t want it to get lost!

  • We want you to express yourself but if you break general format rules, please have a good reason.

  • Sorry, but we can’t accept scripts from minors.

FAQ

  • SECOND ROUND PARTICIPANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED NO LATER THAN 7/30/26

  • If your script advances to the second round, you’ll have two weeks after we notify you to send us the full draft.

  • If your script moves on to the second round of judging, you will have the opportunity to submit the latest draft of the full script at that time.

  • Not at this time.

  • Contact us at hello@inspiredscreenwriting.com

  • Yes!

  • Yes!

  • No. Please do not submit material that you don’t own or that infringes on the rights of other copyrighted material.

  • Email us at hello@inspiredscreenwriting.com.

SUBMIT YOUR SCRIPT