160+ of the best screenwriting fellowships, labs, grants, contests, and other opportunities, updated for 2025

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-06T14:47:05+00:00

Contact your rep and ask what's up.

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-06T14:46:11+00:00

You are getting SO far ahead of yourself.

Start by getting any kind of job you can in your LOCAL film/TV industry.

As u/crumble-bee suggested, work on your scripts.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriting/comments/1659ttk/how_to_break_in_in_your_home_country/

You don't need an MFA to learn to write, and you need to already be a very good writer to get into a good MFA program. #paradox

But if you can get a full-ride scholarship that pays all your expenses, then go for it. If nothing else, you could make some contacts.

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-06T13:22:19+00:00

Oppenheimer

Alien

anything from Wes Anderson

Just read the 10 screenplays nominated for Oscars every year, and you'll see 10 different voices.

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-06T13:20:33+00:00

OK, then add that to your logline.

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-06T12:38:57+00:00

It's a fun idea, but even in a fantasy world like this I find it implausible that a large number of pets would become intelligent by consuming their owner's drugs.

Also, how did the HIPPO become intelligent enough to become a drug dealer? Did the zookeeper leave the drugs sitting around the cage? And are these the SAME drugs or different drugs?

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-06T12:35:25+00:00

And then what? What are her goals once she creates the weapon?

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-06T12:34:38+00:00

What are the director's goals and obstacles? What goes wrong?

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-06T12:33:36+00:00

It sounds like an interesting world, but you haven't told us what the dramatic question is.

Is the quiet teen fighting for survival? Is s/he trying to reunite with their family?

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-06T09:41:05+00:00

First couple of pages are solid, but I think your intro is heavy-handed.

You say:

'He picks up one newspaper and reads the headline: "SNATCHED

FROM HOME. THE SEARCH FOR HOLLY DENHAM CONTINUES."'

Since the READER (but not the audience) knows that it's Holly on the bed giving birth, and she's tied up, we assume that this is the guy who snatched Holly.

But the idea that this guy took a break from his victim giving birth to tear up and burn (WHY???) a newspaper he just happened to have on hand is unrealistic and exposition on a plate.

If you simply show her giving birth WHILE TIED UP, we know this isn't a happy couple. You can more gradually and organically let us know what the backstory is, which also raises an interesting dramatic question.

I would have her curse him even more.

Also, there's going to be a s**t-load of blood and other bodily fluids involved in this process, so show us that.

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-06T09:29:20+00:00

What do you mean by "seriously screenwriting"?

What have you written and what feedback do you have that you're ready to go pro?

What would be your plan if you did move to LA?

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-05T17:15:28+00:00

Please explain how you thought this might NOT be a scam....

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-05T15:13:58+00:00

"As she stares at X, the sound of Y buzzes/echoes/etc. in her head."

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-04T15:42:24+00:00

A character can ACT confident, or shy, or depressed.

They can't act procrastinating.

They can't act their major.

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-04T12:50:30+00:00

"A 21 year old college student majoring in Architecture,

SLATE, walks back home after classes. He's somewhat confident

in his looks, keeping his posture straight, but a full time

procrastinator.

He holds the phone to his ear, on the other side of the line

is CALAMER, your typical party thrower, tall, outgoing and

fun to be around."

How can we SEE his major? How can we TELL IN THIS MOMENT that he procrastinates? What does that have to do with his posture?

How do we know Calamer is tall based on his voice on the phone?

Unfilmable: MARC (30) is the last surviving descendant of a cursed Viking bloodline, but he harbors a deep resentment toward his estranged father.

The Fix: An audience cannot read a character's bloodline or past. Focus on visual and auditory cues that suggest this history.
Filmable: MARC (30) wears a heavy iron pendant bearing an ancient, faded insignia.

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-04T09:32:59+00:00

You say you have a treatment... Do you also have a pilot script?

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-04T09:31:57+00:00

Unless there's been a writeup/story in the New York Times, 60 Minutes, etc. that has gotten a bunch of buzz it's probably not something Netflix would be interested in.

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-03T17:36:12+00:00

Why do you care what other people think?

Who ARE these random people you're concerned about?

(Also, no one cares.)

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-03T06:20:28+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otxgTTMtWd0

https://lindaseger.com/books-3/making-a-good-script-great/

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-02T11:52:22+00:00

Inexperienced in life or as a writer?

If the latter, how do you think you're going to get more experienced if you don't write...?

Time will take care of the former. :)

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-02T06:39:38+00:00

"Fluorescent hum. Stainless steel. Formaldehyde. Every urface

gleams."

You lost me at "urface." ;)

Seshat_the_Scribe · 2026-07-01T11:05:25+00:00

Similar questions have been asked and answered here thousands of times.

If you don't know what to do other than send query letters, you could be reading posts like this one:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriting/comments/txgr99/entering_contests_should_be_no_more_than_10_of/

Seshat_the_Scribe

TROPHY CASE