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Submission Opportunities for Women in Theatre
(previously known as Theatre Funding Newsletter)
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Project Submissions
Script Submissions
Onstage
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Funding
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If you are a longtime recipient of #StageOpps and #ScreenOpps,
you know that they started as the Funding Newsletters,
brought to you by WomenArts, who still support the ongoing production of these opportunities as well as our Funding Resources pages.
WomenArts' founder and president, Martha Richards,
received the 2020 Elsa Rael VintAge Award
(for Advocacy for Women in the Arts & Media as They Age) from us
on Zoom Saturday, November 14, 2020.
Check out our VintAge page for more info.
Project Submissions
2026 Blue Ink Award for Playwriting - Call for Submissions
The nationally-renowned Blue Ink Award was created in 2010 to support new work. Since inception, we’ve named 15 Award winners, 172 finalists, and 258 semi-finalists. Over $10,000 in cash and prizes were distributed to playwrights in 2025. A few of our previous winners include Benjamin Benne, Inda Craig-Galván, Nathan Alan Davis, Kristoffer Diaz, Yussef El Guindi, Idris Goodwin, Alyssa Haddad-Chin, Jamie Pachino, and Elaine Romero. Winning scripts have gone on to receive premiere productions in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, San Diego, and other cities. Each year, American Blues Theater accepts worldwide submissions of original, unpublished full-length plays. The winning play will be selected by Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and the theater’s award-winning Ensemble & Artistic Affiliates. The winning playwright receives a monetary prize of $3,000. Cash prizes are awarded to finalists and semi-finalists too. There is no fee to submit.
o Deadline: August 31
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: This contest is restricted to plays written predominantly in English. Worldwide submissions are accepted.
Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays. Adaptations are accepted with proof of rights held unless source text is in public domain. Translations, musicals, and children’s plays are not accepted.
Playwrights may submit only one (1) manuscript per year.
Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production will be considered.
Plays may not be under option or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of award announcement.
American Blues Theater reserves the Right-of-First-Refusal to produce the world
premiere of the winning manuscript for one (1) year beginning on date of the public announcement of the winner.
Plays must be submitted digitally as a PDF or Word Document via the submission form at AmericanBluesTheater.com.
If you need technological accommodations to submit your play, you may send scripts to American Blues Theater, 5627 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60659. Scripts are ineligible if received after Sunday, August 31.
o Categories: Plays
o Contact: info@AmericanBluesTheater.com
The Garden State New Play Festival
The Garden State New Play Festival (GSNPF), a partnership between Jersey City Theatre Center and The New Jersey Play Lab, is an innovative new play development festival celebrating the unique way in which art can impact, unite, and inspire. The mission of the Festival is to marry community engagement around issues relating to social justice with a rigorous dramaturgical process, resulting in the presentation of a slate of new plays by a diverse group of writers that have the clarity of intention necessary to spark rich conversation and an open exchange of ideas and perspectives. The four pillars of the Festival are:“Community and Advocacy” To engage a broad spectrum of New Jersey artists and arts organizations, audiences, and community advocates around the power of theatre as an agent for change “Awareness and Connectivity” To explore how writing about local and personal politics and issues connects to a larger global context “Artistic Equity and Exchange” To bring together a diverse group of artists of varying career levels under an umbrella of learning, sharing, and artistic expansion “Craft and Excellence” To champion and execute best practices in new play development and to be a resource for NJ Professional Theaters to identify new plays for production. The Festival is designed to foster a supportive and responsive environment for each participating playwright through an individualized approach of tailored dramaturgical guidance, community workshops, artistic and advocacy exchange opportunities, and a flexible focus on process versus product. Through this more holistic and welcoming approach to play development, the Garden State New Play Festival aims to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem that values and champions the power of playmaking.
o Deadline: August 15
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: This Festival is open to playwrights of all career levels residing in the state of New Jersey or the Metropolitan Areas of New York City or Philadelphia.
The Garden State New Play Festival is a play development festival focused around community engagement and social justice. The time commitment spans from November 2025 to May 2026. The Festival presentation itself takes place from May 1st to May 17th, 2026, and will feature readings of all the plays selected for inclusion in the Festival.
Selected playwrights are expected to engage in a rigorous dramaturgical process around their plays, and to offer workshops and classroom visits within New Jersey communities. Selected playwrights are expected to have flexibility within their schedules, and be able to be present in and around the Jersey City area on multiple occasions, both during the festival itself and in the months leading up to it.
Interested playwrights should submit in one of two categories:
“Early Career” (You may have written a play or two, or you may be writing your first play; Perhaps you have had a few readings, but most likely no professional productions; You may be coming from another art form or career, or be right out of University.)
“Emerging or Professional” (You have written several plays; You have had numerous readings and/or professional productions; You have some experience in play development settings; You may or may not have a graduate degree.)
Please note that each selected playwright will be supported based upon their level of experience and the stage of development of the play. Each development process will look different.
o Categories: 10 Minute Plays
o Contact: If you have any questions, please email submissions@njplaylab.org.
Fade to Black
“FADE TO BLACK” PLAY FESTIVAL SCRIPT SUBMISSIONS FOR 10-MINUTE PLAYS Building on the growing success and popularity of our previous years, Shabach Enterprise presents its 14th season of the Fade To Black Play Festival, Houston's only short play festival celebrating the new works of African American playwrights.
o Deadline: September 30
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility:Playwright must be the sole author of the submitted work.
Playwright must publicly and openly identify themselves as African-American, Black, or of the African diaspora.
Previously published or produced work by the author or theatre/company is not allowed (See definitions below).
Play must run no longer than 10 minutes long on stage, but no shorter than 8 minutes. (Conduct informal readings to ensure).
Play should accommodate a “bare-stage” set requiring only a minimum of removable stage props and require basic lighting and sound cues.
Play must not be a musical.
Play must not be written for children or youth.
Play must not contain characters that are under 17 years old.
Play must not be a re-submission of previous Fade To Black play festival seasons. (Your play(s) must not be work that had been submitted to us in the past.)
Play must not be considered a translation or adaptation.
Play must not be a film. Screenplays/Scripts written for television or cinema will not be accepted.
Play should be "stand-alone", a separate body of work that has not been extracted from a larger, previously written play.
Author must be at least 18 years of age.
Play must be submitted in a PDF format.
o Categories: 10 Minute Plays
New Art City Theatre Festival '26
We accept submissions of full-length (two act) plays and musicals, or full-length one-act (75 minutes+) plays or musicals. Your project must not be published or have received any fully-produced productions, either amateur or professional. We understand the process of writing for the theatre takes time, and multiple developmental opportunities are key to the advancement of any project, so we do consider scripts that have been through readings elsewhere or have been included in festivals like ours (i.e., where your work was presented as a reading only).
o Deadline: August 12
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: You’ll need to fill out the application which can be found below. If you are part of a writing team, one member of the team should fill out the form as the primary contact and list collaborators as team members. Once you’re in our system, you’ll need the following materials ready to upload:
A pdf of your full script. Because we’re committed to evaluating projects through a blind screening process, your name must not appear anywhere on your script. Your project will be given a unique ID so that we can identify you as the author once our selections have been made.
A pdf compilation of bios of everyone on the writing team.
If your project is a musical, upload mp3 demos of the first four (4) songs from your project
If a musical, upload the sheet music that corresponds with your mp3 demos. The name(s) of the composer and lyricist (and librettist on the project) must not appear on any of the music.
o Categories: Full-length Plays, Musicals
o Contact: bward@newartcitytheatre.org
The Dramatic Question Theatre: Playtime
DQT's mission is to develop and present work by BIPoC and Female-identifying writers; concurrently, cultivate and maintain a diverse audience who is in routine discourse with them. DQT envisions an American theatre wherein the population of professionally produced playwrights is as diverse as America. PLAYTIME is a new play development and presentation program that centralizes Female-identifying or BIPoC playwrights with early drafts of plays. This program is for playwrights who already have a full draft of a play.
o Deadline: September 2
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: To be eligible for, you must be BIPoC or Female-identifying, have an early draft of a play, and submit the required materials by deadline. Additionally, participants must be able to attend all 8 sessions in their entirety
o Categories: Plays
The Dramatic Question Theatre: Classics in Color
DQT's mission is to develop and present work by BIPoC and Female-identifying writers; concurrently, cultivate and maintain a diverse audience who is in routine discourse with them. DQT envisions an American theatre wherein the population of professionally produced playwrights is as diverse as America. CLASSICS IN COLOR is a new play development and presentation program that centralizes BIPoC playwrights with early drafts of plays which combine the BIPoC lived experience with narratives from the Global Canon. This program is for playwrights who already have a full draft of a play that fits this description.
o Deadline: September 2
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: To be eligible for, you must be BIPoC or Female-identifying, have an early draft of a play, and submit the required materials by deadline. Additionally, participants must be able to attend all 8 sessions in their entirety
o Categories: Plays
The Dramatic Question Theatre: American Woman
DQT's mission is to develop and present work by BIPoC and Female-identifying writers; concurrently, cultivate and maintain a diverse audience who is in routine discourse with them. DQT envisions an American theatre wherein the population of professionally produced playwrights is as diverse as America.AMERICAN WOMAN is a solo show development and presentation program that centralizes Female-identifying writers living in the United States. This program is for playwrights who already have a full draft of a solo show.
o Deadline: September 2
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: To be eligible for, you must be BIPoC or Female-identifying, have an early draft of a play, and submit the required materials by deadline. Additionally, participants must be able to attend all 8 sessions in their entirety
o Categories: Plays
Seventh Annual International Human Rights Festival
The International Human Rights Art Festival, New York City’s pre-eminent arts and human rights performance event, is looking for performers in all media to present work during the week of events and workshops in one of the most welcoming venues for emerging artists in New York City: The Tank! The International Human Rights Art Festival has been featured in the New York Times, Fox Five Morning Show, NBC Live!, NY Observer, Crain’s NY Business, Metro-NY, AM-NY, Gay City News, Brooklyn Rail, and many others; we have been banned by the Catholic Church, lionized by politicians and government workers and have presented more than 1000 artists from 103 countries in our half-decade of existence!
o Deadline: August 15
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Please email our Festival Assistant Producer Costanza Bugiani at costanza@humanrightsartmovement.org with the following, and any questions:
A brief description of your piece, including approximate running time - we’re accepting 10-20 mins works.
A cover letter, including details regarding the piece’s discipline, issue of concern treated and a brief summary of your artistic goals
Your bios or resumes and the names of any collaborators already on board
A sample of work (scripts, pics, videos, songs, any other links or file that could help us to know more about your project)
As email subject, please type IHRAF Festival 2025, then add Association-Company-your name (i.e. IHRAF Festival 2025, Joan Doe)
o Categories: Short Plays, Plays
o Contact: costanza@humanrightsartmovement.org
Yale Drama Series
The Yale Drama Series is seeking submissions for its 2026 playwriting competition. The winning play will be selected by the series’ current judge, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. The winner of this annual competition will be awarded the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000, publication of their manuscript by Yale University Press, and a staged reading at the Schwarzman Center at Yale University. The prize and publication are contingent on the playwright’s agreeing to the terms of the publishing agreement.
o Deadline: August 15
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: There is no entry fee. Please follow these guidelines in preparing your manuscript:
This contest is restricted to plays written in the English language. Worldwide submissions are accepted.
Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Plays with less than 65 pages will not be considered.
Translations, adaptations, musicals, and children’s plays are not accepted.
The Yale Drama Series is intended to support emerging playwrights. Playwrights may win the competition only once.
Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year. Only manuscripts authored by one playwright are eligible.
Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production or that have been published as an actor’s edition will be considered.
Plays may not be under option, commissioned, or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.
Plays must be typed/word-processed and page numbered. Plays with images are not accepted.
The Yale Drama Series reserves the right to reject any manuscript for any reason.
The Yale Drama Series reserves the right of the judge to not choose a winner for any given year of the competition and reserves the right to determine the ineligibility of a winner, in keeping with the spirit of the competition, and based upon the accomplishments of the author.
o Categories: Short Plays, Plays
o Contact: yaledramaseries@yale.edu
Blackboard Plays - Reading Series Submission
Founded in 2008, Blackboard Plays has been devoted to Black Playwrights throughout the African Diaspora.
o Deadline: None Given
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Black Playwrights Submit up to 10 pages in consideration for a Feature reading. A Feature and a Community Night are the two main ways to have your work supported by Blackboard. Those not selected for a feature, are encouraged to attend a community night, which is structured like an Open Mic Night for Playwrights, where up to 10 pages is cold-read by Actors in person or on Zoom (During COVID-19 Social Distancing Practices).
o Categories: Short Plays, Plays
Peach Theatre and Film Festival
The PEACH Theatre and Film Intl. Festival is a unique and rare experience that merge two beautiful genres of arts and entertainment. Both theatre and film, showcasing a series of short films and selected plays, in one of the world's most famous cities, internationally known for being the home of entertainment. Los Angeles, California. Our mission is to select films and plays based on content, quality, and merit. It is also our volition to honor the creatives selected, with integrity and respect for their hard work, discipline and sacrifice to get their productions completed and ready for display. As playwrights, filmmakers and entertainment professionals ourselves, we understand what it takes, and for that reaso
o When/Where: November 12
o Deadline: April 5 (Early Bird Deadline), June 10 (Regular Deadline), September 30 (Late Deadline)
o Application Fee: $35-$55
o Eligibility: All entries must be uploaded in PDF format. (www.freepdfconvert.com)
All entries must be submitted in English, formatted in 12-point courier font.
You may submit your entry via FilmFreeway. No preference will be given to either method of submission.
Entries must be received by the applicable Entry Deadline.
NEW YORK SCREENWRITING AWARDS will not share your screenplay with anyone except the official judges of the competition.
By entering the NEW YORK SCREENWRITING AWARDS you represent that your entry is your original work, and does not infringe on the copyright or other rights of other people.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
We do not accept hardcopy submissions by mail.
The decisions of the judges are final.
NEW YORK SCREENWRITING AWARDS reserves the right to make any necessary changes, postponements, or cancellations to event scheduling at our discretion.
o Categories: Feature, Short, Animated, Documentary
NYLonFusion
We are accepting new works for our 2025/ 2026 This Round’s On Us festivals, each of which will focus on certain broad eras.(see below). But the plays do not necessarily have to be set in these time periods, but they should at least be informed by the social, cultural and/or political happenings of the time. Whether you find inspiration in the movies, music or theater of a particular era, the major events that formed the historical narrative or which have been ignored by history, or the everyday lives of people in the bygone days of the not-so-long-ago, you can send your 10-minute play to NyLonFusion@gmail.com
o Deadline: The Gilded Age/Cage Deadline: February 15th, 2025. (Festival June 27-28), The New Deal Deadline: June, 1, 2025, The Great Society Deadline November 12, 2025
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: Each submission should be no longer than ten pages or approximately 10 minutes in length. Not have been previously produced. To be considered This Round's On Us please submit/email the following: A cover letter, brief synopsis, resume and full script to nylonsubmissions@gmail.com Please be specific as to which project you are submitting to. Write on the SUBJECT LINE For example: This Round’s On Us: The Gilded Age/ Cage.
o Categories: Short Plays
o Contact: NyLonFusion@gmail.com
Blackboard Plays - Reading Series Submission
Founded in 2008, Blackboard Plays has been devoted to Black Playwrights throughout the African Diaspora.
o Deadline: None Given
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Black Playwrights Submit up to 10 pages in consideration for a Feature reading. A Feature and a Community Night are the two main ways to have your work supported by Blackboard. Those not selected for a feature, are encouraged to attend a community night, which is structured like an Open Mic Night for Playwrights, where up to 10 pages is cold-read by Actors in person or on Zoom (During COVID-19 Social Distancing Practices).
o Categories: Short Plays, Plays
Neurodivergent New Play Series
Neurodivergent playwrights in NYC since 2023 - is accepting recurring submissions as we prepare for our 2024-25 Season.All submissions should be for full-length plays between 45 to 180 minutes long and may have received a previous reading or production outside of NYC, as long as they are unpublished. All neurodivergent/disabled writers (autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, OCD, Tourette's, etc.) at all stages of their careers are encouraged to apply - especially BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and female-identifying writers. There is no submission fee or any other fee for being involved in this process.
o Deadline: Rolling Basis
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Plays can be of any genre, although we are especially seeking works that challenge traditional methods of storytelling & have something important to say about the world that isn't being heard enough. We ask that you submit only one play every 30 days during our recurring submissions process.
Contact: neurodivergentplays@gmail.com
o Categories: Full-length Plays
Freshwater Theatre
Freshwater Theatre prides itself on constantly working with new artists, expanding our family. We’re always on the lookout for new scripts and new technical artists to work with.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: While we certainly are interested in world premieres of new plays, we also are very interested in second and third productions of new works, as we believe this to be the key to finding the works that will propel theater into the future.
We will only respond to playwright submissions for plays that come into serious consideration for future production. We cannot give any specific time frame on if/when a response will be given.
o Categories: New Plays
o Contact: info@freshwatertheatre.com
SCRIPT Submissions
The Shrew
We focus on the themes of womanhood & gender roles. Be that an emotive spoken word piece, witty & hilarious monologue or incredibly relatable poetry piece. The focus is on self expression and highlighting themes or experiences.
o Deadline: August 31
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Needs to be between 3-5 minutes in length.
Monologues, poems, spoken word, comedy sketches (to name a few for inspo!)
Send in your preference of medium - for writers send in your written submissions or if submitting as a writer/performer, feel free to send a performative example (audio or video submissions)
Unpublished work only - sorry!
Ideally 1 person focused for performance reasons.
We will endeavour to get back to all who submitted with an update by late September.
The series will be then be recorded over Autumn for a release ahead of 2026.
Due to the beginnings of this journey, all collaborations (writers & actors) are voluntary however you will have a professional recording of your piece/performance and the opportunity to work with a team of wonderful women and be part of an ongoing community!
o Categories: New Plays
Gretchell New Play Award 2025
Dedicated to the discovery, development and publicizing of worthy new plays and playwrights. NOTE: some of their online documentation might still say submissions are only open to SETC members, but that is no longer correct.
o Deadline: September 15
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Submitted work must be by one playwright only. No collaborations or adaptations will be considered.
Submitting a jointly written play under the name of only one author, or a play that was developed in collaboration with other artists such as a collaboratively produced devised work, adaptation of another writer's work, or in conjunction with librettists and/or composers will not be considered.
Submitted work must be either a full-length play or thematically related one acts which constitute a full-length play when performed together. No musicals or children's plays will be considered.
Plays must be unproduced (no professional productions) and unpublished. Readings and workshops are acceptable. Any play which has had more than one consecutive performance by a non-college or university theatre which charged admission and/or had a review will not be considered.
Plays submitted in prior years may not be resubmitted
o Categories: New Plays
Theatre Three 26th Annual Festival of One-Act Plays
Since its inception in 1998, The Festival has received over 10,000 submissions from across the world and produced 132 world premieres by 102 different playwrights. The Festival presents between five and seven plays each season. Playwrights will receive a $150 stipend. Playwrights will receive a standard Dramatists Guild-approved contract and will receive four complimentary tickets to be used at any performances. Playwrights are welcome to attend any rehearsals or performances. Playwrights will receive copies of playbills, postcards, articles, and reviews, as well as a link to all publicity and production photos. THEATRE THREE is responsible for all elements of production; playwrights incur no expenses. THEATRE THREE retains no future production rights.
o Deadline: September 1
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Playwrights may only submit one play per Festival.
Only unproduced works will be accepted.
Plays that have had staged readings or on-line productions are eligible.
No adaptations, children’s plays, or musicals.
Cast size maximum: 12
Length maximum: 30 minutes (no minimum)
Settings: Simple or suggested.
All submissions should be emailed as PDFs with the title in caps followed by the playwright’s name. Example: THE BASKET WEAVERS Jamie Martin
Play’s cover sheet should include author’s information (name, address, telephone, email). It may also contain a short synopsis.
Any stage play format is acceptable.
Due to last year’s high volume of submissions, we are allowing plays to be resubmitted for consideration.
o Categories: Short Plays, Plays
o Contact: Jeffrey@theatrethree.com
Planet Female Global Storyfest
Planet Female Media embraces the female weavers of story from page to performance, screenplay to cinematic vision. This first year of the Planet Female Global StoryFest, Planet Female Media invites you, our dear sisters, to join our movement in a celebration of our Yin creativity, the divine tales and truths within us, and of our kindreds, all of which we access through living life, time and experience. She has something to say. We hear her. We have created a space for visual storytelling crafted by Women for Women and by those who identify as such. We are ethically mining the inexhaustible vault of feminine fable and fact to be shared, inspired by, and learned from. In this inaugural year, we will carefully review submissions and award the best in several categories. Having partnered with Manhattanville University in Westchester NY, a half hour drive/train from NYC and a 12 minute drive from White Plains Airport, submissions that stand out will be selected. Saturday, November 9, 2024, these selected films and scripts will be showcased with screenings and staged readings in the 150-seat Pius X Theater on Manhattanville University's Campus. And there will be trophies!
o When/Where: November 21-22
o Deadline: July 30 (Extended Deadline), August 30 (Just under the wire deadline)
o Application Fee: $13-60
o Eligibility: To be considered by PFGSF for any of the Best Film Awards, at least one female or female identifying individual must be involved in creative leadership as screenwriter or director. If a female or female identifying individual is not in a creative leadership role, (screenwriter or director) the film's plot, subject, or main theme must be female centered. To be considered in a specific category other than best film or performance awards, there must be a female or female-identifying individual in the role. For Best Director, a female or female-identifying individual must be the film's Director. By submitting a project, e.g., a film, music video, poster, stage play or screenplay to the PFGSF, you as owner of submitted project/media, grant Planet Female Media the following:
Our screening committee and Jury to view and judge your project.
Planet Female Media to promote the project, movie trailer, artwork, and all other materials pertaining to your project and allow Planet Female Media its use in all forms of written, spoken, and visual communications as pertaining to the PFSF without restriction.
PFGSF winners names and home city listed on our website.
PFGSF to screen/feature the the project during a scheduled PFGCA event and/or a curated exhibit for a limited time, without restriction.
o Categories: Stage Play
Hepburn Hooks - BROWN SKINNED GIRLS 2 : An evening of shorts
For our very first evening of shorts, we are seeking out four female, BlPOC playwrights whose works we will fully produce and present at a London venue to be determined. HHTC is looking to hear stories from Black and Brown women (in the broad sense of the term). The plays may be set in any era, they may tackle whatever subject you desire, the stories may even not centre Black/Brown women at all! We are quite simply looking to pick the brains of young, BIPOC female playwrights from all over the world and get a sense of how they feel about the world at large, or about very specific things in it. Let your imagination run wild, do not be afraid to be goofy, cringey, subversive and unapologetically militant, we want to see and hear it all! The Merriam-Webster defines BIPOC as ‘Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Colour’. This must be understood as a term that includes people of the following descent : Black, Native American, Aboriginal Australians, Asian, Latinx, Middle Eastern, South-Asian, Pacific Islander, and many more…
o Deadline: September 25
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: There is no entry fee for this opportunity. One play, picked by the audience over the two evenings will be presented with the Public's Award and receive a modest stipend. The remaining three playwrights will be offered a free year-long subscription to www.playsubmissionshelper.com, the most comprehensive and up-to-date online directory of play submission opportunities available anywhere.
Playwrights must be aged (at least) 18 at the time of submission.
Your play should have a running time of 10 to 15 minutes.
Your play should require no more than 4 actors and minimal props.
Your play should be in English (mainly).
The play should be original, unpublished and it should not have been performed in the UK as of the day of submission.
o Categories: One-Act Plays
Woodward/Newman Award 2026-2027
The Woodward/Newman Award is an exclusive honor offered by Constellation Stage & Screen, started through the support of Joanne Woodward, Newman’s Own Foundation, and the Newman family, celebrating Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward’s tremendous history of work on stage and screen. It presents the best unpublished play of the year with a cash prize of $3,000 and a full production as part of Constellation’s Mainstage season. Please note that there are significant changes to our submission and selection process from previous years. In order to make the Woodward/Newman Award accessible to all, we have eliminated submission fees as well as the contest format. The Woodward/Newman Award will continue to be awarded to an unpublished new play once per year and come with a $3,000 cash prize and a full production. Submissions will be accepted and reviewed by our literary team on an ongoing basis, and will be considered for the award as well as for all 7 production slots in our season. So a play that is not selected for the Woodward/Newman slot in our season, may still be considered and selected for production. This will allow us to now accept open submissions for all types of plays (including TYA shows). Plays submitted by midnight, August 31st, 2025 will be considered for the 2026-27 season, while plays submitted beyond that date will be considered for the 2027-28 Season. All submissions will be kept on file for 2 years after submission.
o Deadline: August 31
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: Full-length” plays should have a complete running time of between 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes) to 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes). TYA shows should have a complete running time of over 40 minutes.
Plays submitted must be unpublished at the time of submission (independently published is acceptable).
Each play should be individually submitted at the following link: CONSTELLATION STAGE & SCREEN PLAY SUBMISSION.
You will be asked to submit your play as an attachment and all other information (bio, history, synopsis, character breakdown) will be entered into a form. Musical submissions may upload demos as an attachment or include a link to a shared folder.
Limit of 2 play submissions per year.
$3,000 cash prize is in lieu of royalties for the full production. Housing & transportation will also be provided.
Any unpublished play submitted to Constellation regardless of method (e.g. online form, agent submission, direct contact) may be considered for the Woodward/Newman Award.
Please note that we are moving away from a “finalists” model in lieu of keeping all plays under consideration for extended periods (2yrs). We will only announce a winner.
If you have any questions, please email literary@seeconstellation.org.
o Categories: Plays
Southern Soul Theatre Ensemble Presents the Inaugural 10x10 Play Festival
The Southern Soul Theatre Ensemble proudly announces the Inaugural 10x10 Play Festival, celebrating creativity, culture, and community! In honor of Juneteenth, this festival amplifies Black and Latinx voices through a dynamic showcase of 10-minute plays.
o Deadline: None Given
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Eligibility: Open to Black and Latinx playwrights (one submission per playwright).
Play Length: 10-minute plays (8-10 pages).
Cast Size: 2-6 characters.
Themes: Works should reflect the diversity of Black and Latinx cultures; all genres welcome.
Original Work: Must be unproduced or have had limited exposure (readings/workshops accepted).
Format: PDF submissions only, including a title page with name, contact info, and a brief synopsis.
Deadline: Selected playwrights will be notified by April 15th.Southern Soul Theatre
o Categories: Plays
Community Players Theatre
Community Players Theater seeks full-length plays. Enhanced Staged Reading: There will be sets, costumes, and props. It is a short rehearsal process which is why we are not requiring memorization. Restriction: Story must take place in no more than 2 locations. Cast no larger than 6. Must be in English.
o Deadline: August 31
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: Playwrights are more than welcome to submit as many scripts as they would like. There is no restriction on if a show has been performed before. We just ask that you let us know so it can be properly advertised. Submit to Playreading@communityplayers.org
o Categories: Plays
The Autry: 2025 OPEN Submission for Production Consideration
We accept scripts all year long. Do you have a full-length script that has been developed and produced that you would like us to consider for a future Native Voices production in Los Angeles? Please follow the Checklist for All Submissions below and in the Native Voices Script Submission form, check the box for 2025 General Production Consideration.
o When/Where: Open all year
o Deadline: None Given
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility:Full-length plays (60+ pages) receive will be read and evaluated.
o Categories: Full-length Plays
NY Theatre Festival Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter
This is a unique opportunity to invite people from the industry to see your production! People are more likely to go see a show than to read an unsolicited script - some industry people receive on average thousands of submissions per month. They understand that the journey for a show to be successful often goes through several productions and this is your chance to show that you can start that process! Our dedicated team is here to help you get your work out. We are with you from the moment you begin tech rehearsals, all the way through to your closing performance. You will never be left alone during the process. We will help you choose from the 85 set/furniture pieces we offer to dress your stage for your run, and we will give you a complete crash course on how to use the audio/light/video system in just 3 minutes, which are intentionally designed to be very user friendly. After we show you how to use the tools we provide and how to best utilize the space, The Festival’s team will provide prime responses to every inquiry, as well as a telephone # you can call anytime during relevant hours throughout the run of your show. In 12 years and 22 seasons we have successfully hosted 1,400 plays and 300 musicals, as well as rewarding over 300 participating artists cash prizes.
o Deadline: TBD
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Submissions Accepted from a 30-mile radius outside of Manhattan and only run if the entire cast and crew are from New York City. Plays are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The earlier you submit, the better your chances are of having your script invited to the festival. Each applicant is fully responsible for all elements of their production, including directing, casting, stage-managing. We know exactly what you need to make your show a success and we welcome you into our community of playwrights and theater innovators!
o Categories: Plays, Musicals
Torch Literary Arts
Torch Literary Arts welcomes submissions of original creative work by Black women writers. We are interested in work that challenges and disrupts preconceived notions of what contemporary writing by Black women should be. Your stories and poems are valuable and necessary. Write freely and submit what you are excited to share with the world. Submissions are accepted for Friday Features only. We accept submissions on a rolling basis. Simultaneous submissions to other journals are welcome as long as they are identified as such and we are notified immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.
o Deadline: Rolling Basis
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: Include a one (1) page cover letter noting the title(s) of the work(s) submitted.
Upload your text submission as a Word (DOC, DOCX) or portable document format/PDF (PDF).
Typed, double-spaced (poetry may be single-spaced) pages.
Numbered pages.
Margins should be set at no less than 1” and no greater than 1.5”.
Poetry: submit up to five (5) poems totaling no more than eight (8) pages.
Fiction, Hybrid genre: 12-point font. No more than ten (10) pages or 2500 words (whichever is achieved first). Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained.
Drama/Screenwriting: submit one act or a collection of short scenes no longer than ten (10) pages. Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained. Indicate if a performance video or dramatic audio reading will be available with the text submission if selected.
Restrictions: We do not reprint previously published work for TORCH Friday Features.
o Categories: Scripts
The Tank Presents
Each season, our The Tank Presents program serves hundreds of emerging artists as they create over 1000 performances of new works in music, theater, film, dance, comedy, and storytelling. As part of our mission to remove the economic barriers from the creation of new work, we never charge our artists to use our space for their performances! In addition, we also provide free rehearsal space, as well as free marketing and promotion of their event. Our The Tank Presents presenting model removes the daunting cost of space rental from the equation of art making, and provides an affordable home for emerging artists to create art that pushes the boundaries of their mediums. Through this program, artists can present readings, works-in-development, short runs of full theatre productions, screenings, concerts, storytelling festivals, comedy shows, and more.
o Deadline: None Given
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: To submit work for consideration as part of Tank programming, please email submissions@thetanknyc.org with the following information:
Show title
Discipline (theater, music, comedy, etc.)
Approximate running time
Summary of piece
Brief summary of artistic goals
Brief explanation of how the piece exists in the world (i.e. - art exhibit, soundscape, outdoor experience, digital hybrid)
Sample of work that will give us a sense of what it is you’re trying to make and that you know how to make it
Bio of lead artist(s)
The name of the Tank show you viewed
Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.
o Categories: Plays
o Contact: submissions@thetanknyc.org
Diversionary: Seeking new, full-length LGBTQIA+ works
Diversionary is always seeking new, full-length LGBTQIA+ works for consideration. Please follow the guidelines below if you would like to submit your work. Because of the volume of submissions, those that do not follow the guidelines will not be considered.
o Deadline: None
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Please send all of the above items as a single document in pdf format to frankie@diversionary.org. For music, please send the items in mp3 format or include a link to be accessed. No physical submissions sent to the theatre will be considered.
a one-page synopsis, character breakdown, and playwright bio
a development/production history of the submitted work (including date written and any readings, workshops, and full stagings)
a ten-page sample of the work
three audio recordings of music, twelve minutes total, if it’s a musical
o Categories: Full Length Plays, Musicals
o Contact: frankie@diversionary.org
Murmuration Theatre
Murmuration Theatre Company is seeking plays that have a cast size between 2-11 for our 2023 & 2024 seasons Accepting work for consideration in the following categories: New Voices Showcase: Curated selection of 4-10 new plays (scripts 2 - 40 pages); fully staged and directed by our creative team. Mainstage Show: a one act or full length play (scripts 35 - 120 pages); fully staged and directed by our creative team. In development: Actor's Lab Performance Series: a monthly selection of scenes or short plays (any length), performed at workshop or staged reading level.Playwrights selected for our mainstage production will receive $30 per performance of their one-act or full length play; playwrights selected for our New Voices Showcase will receive $10 per performance of their short or one-act.
o When/Where: Brooklyn, New York
o Deadline: None
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Please submit PDF copies of scripts via the google form below, and feel free to reach out to murmurationtheatreco@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. Multiple submissions are allowed. Preference will be given to playwrights who are able to attend at least one performance of their work in the NYC area.
We will be accepting submissions on a rolling basis, and hope to be in touch with responses within 30 days of submission. Please feel free to reach out after that point if you have not received word from our team.
Solo Shows, Theatre for Young Audiences and Musicals will not be considered.
New writers as well as writers with voices that have historically been underrepresented in the theater industry (gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, ability status, etc.) are encouraged to apply.
o Categories: Full-Length Plays, One-Acts
o Contact: murmurationtheatreco@gmail.com
Manhattan Repertory Theatre Play Production Program
Self-Produce a production of your best play in New York City as live theatre comes back to life in this New Renaissance of Theatre. We will do all the work, from hiring a production team and staff, to casting, directing, building costumes, set design, lighting design, payroll and more. From 3 performances to 20 performances for one simple Production Fee. Pre-Pandemic, 2017 - 2019, we produced 60 plays in Midtown Manhattan for playwrights all over the world. Production time frames available: Late Autumn 2021, Winter/Spring 2022.Currently, as we move back into production in New York City, we are only accepting Full-Length plays and Musicals - 60 to 150 minutes. Production fees range from $12,000 to $50,000 depending on the "size" of your production, scenic elements, and the number of performances.
o Deadline: TBD
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: If you are serious about self-producing your play in New York City, please forward us: An email cover letter with information about you and your work. your play attached as a .pdf, an attached Synopsis of your play, with the approximate running time, and your set, lighting and costume requirements.
o Categories: Full Length Plays, New Plays
o Contact: manhattanrep@yahoo.com
Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest
To encourage the development of quality theatrical materials for the educational, community and children’s theatre markets, Pioneer Drama Service is proud to sponsor the annual Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest. This is an ongoing contest, with a winner selected by June 1 each year from all eligible submissions received the previous year. All eligible plays accepted for publication will be considered contest finalists, from which the winner will be selected. The contest winner will receive a $1,000 royalty advance in addition to publication.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: You can start the submission process by contacting us here.
We will only consider manuscripts with a running time between 20 and 90 minutes.
Submissions must be family friendly in both subject and language. NO cursing. NO explicitly adult content.
We prefer casts that are either balanced or favoring females. The more gender neutral roles, the better.
We favor plays and musicals with ensemble casts, where more than just a few have a chance to shine.
Plays with elaborate set, costume or technical requirements are not appealing because of the limited resources of many of our customers. Pictures, sketches or descriptions of your vision are always helpful.
We recommend your submissions have had at least one production or reading, hopefully staged. We feel this fundamental field test is necessary before a play can be considered for publication since plays are created for the purpose of performance.
Manuscripts must be computer-printed in dark ink. We do not require specific formatting. However, your efforts to ensure your script is free of misspellings and typos will help the submissions editor.
We hope that Pioneer Drama is your first choice as a publisher, and we encourage you to submit to us exclusively. However, we do accept simultaneous submissions with the understanding that you will accept the first contract you’re offered and not use the situation to seek multiple offers from which to choose. If you receive another offer, please notify us immediately so we may rescind your submission.
The following information must accompany your submission or query:
100-200 word synopsis.
Cast list that indicates the number of female roles, the number of male roles and the number of roles that can be performed by either gender. We do not accept one-person shows.
Running time.
CD and/or score for musicals. We appreciate the opportunity to hear the music, if possible.
Set design(s). Please feel free to provide diagrams and/or pictures.
Proof of production or staged reading (i.e., review, program, etc.) A DVD of your performance is ideal, though not required.
Age of intended audience.
A self-addressed envelope of sufficient size with appropriate postage for the return of your materials. We will NOT return manuscripts or accompanying material if this is not included.
Cover letter and/or resume.
o Categories: family friendly
o Address: Pioneer Drama Service, Inc. Attn: Submissions Editor PO Box 4267
Englewood, CO 80155-4267
o Contact: https://www.pioneerdrama.com/ContactUs.asp?ID=6
Urban Stages Emerging Playwright Award
Our $500 Emerging Playwright Award (coupled with press coverage) is given to playwrights who show excellence and dedication throughout this process – from development to the stage. Out of hundreds of submissions a year, we select 15-20 plays for readings. From these, we select 1-3 plays annually to go on to our workshopping phase. Our workshops are meant to prepare a play for our Off-Broadway stage. From our workshops, we select 1-2 plays for full productions, complete with a playwright’s contract and compensation (separate from the award).
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Plays may have been developed or produced elsewhere, but never produced in New York City. Plays from overseas and throughout the US are accepted and considered, but special attention will be given to playwrights who live in or near New York
o Categories: Full Length Plays, New Plays
o Contact: 212.421.1380
Onstage
Chinese Republicans - NYC EPA (08.05.25) Revised
Chinese Republicans is a biting new satirical drama from Alex Lin, directed by Chay Yew. Three high-powered businesswomen meet for lunch every month to discuss their latest career triumphs, as they’ve done for decades. But the group is jolted when Katie, a bright-eyed 24-year-old new to the workforce, joins to navigate the world of corporate finance. As each of the women attempts to steer Katie towards what they’re certain is best, they’re forced to grapple with how much they already have and are willing to sacrifice to climb the corporate ladder. Shifting between sharp-tongued humor and the harsh realities of modern capitalism, this world premiere production explores themes of assimilation, intergenerational conflict, and gender politics in the workplace—all with unflinching wit and empathy. Chinese Republicans is a new play from a thrilling new American voice, and tells a truly American story.
o Deadline: August 5
o Details: Please prepare the provided Side for your character, and bring your headshot and resume stapled together. A hard copy will be available at the audition. Sides may be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo...
o Seeking: Ellen — 48, Chinese-American, Female-identifying. An oak tree that’s been carved out in the center. Managing Director in Global Assets. #GIRLBOSSGASLIGHT. Innovative. Tough love junkie. Never, ever, ever late.
Katie — 24, Chinese-American, Female-identifying. A flower bud waiting to bloom. (Newly minted) Senior Research Analyst in Global Assets. Inquisitive. Hopeful. “I’m not rambling I’m thinking out loud.”
Phyllis — 65, Chinese-American, Female-identifying. A real battle axe. Executive Consultant (former Managing Director). Been around the block one or two (or three) times. Qin Dynasty legalist ruler who fell into a whole barrel of Johnny Walker Red vibes.
Iris — 31, Chinese immigrant, Female-identifying. A full moon out on a summer’s day. Senior Tech Analyst. Here on an H1b visa. Doesn’t pull any punches. Except when she feels like she’s going to get punched back. Coward! Or maybe — a Genius.
Waiter — 30s - 40s. Just a regular guy. Doubles as DANIEL.
o Audition Information:
In Person: Ripley-Grier Studios (520), 520 8th Ave New York, NY 10018-6507 Holding Studio 10D
Thursday, July 10, 2025 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (E) Lunch 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
o Salary: LORT Non-Rep $1144 weekly minimum (LORT B)
For more Onstage opportunities, visit Backstage.com; ActorsAccess.com; and Playbill.com.
Backstage
Director of Marketing and Communications, Asolo Theater
The Director of Marketing is responsible for leading the strategic vision and daily operations of Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Marketing Department, with direct responsibility for driving earned income and audience engagement. This position oversees institutional branding, advertising, public relations, and customer-facing services including box office, house management, and concessions. As a key member of the leadership team, the Director of Marketing ensures that the theatre’s messaging, reach, and revenue objectives align with its artistic mission and community values.
o Key Responsibilities include:
Strategic Leadership
Serve as a member of the leadership team, contributing to institutional strategy, planning, and cross-departmental initiatives.
Represent the Marketing Department and its priorities in presentations to the Board of Directors and other external stakeholders.
Design and implement comprehensive marketing strategies to meet or exceed earned revenue goals from ticket sales, subscriptions, and auxiliary income sources.
Lead audience development efforts with a focus on growth, retention, and broadening community engagement.
Marketing and Communications
Oversee all advertising, media placement, public relations, social media, and digital communications, ensuring alignment with Asolo Rep’s brand and mission.
Supervise the development of print and digital collateral, including season brochures, show programs, signage, and email campaigns.
Identify and activate promotional opportunities, partnerships, and community collaborations that extend reach and increase impact.
Maintain productive relationships with media outlets, advertising partners, and vendors.
Revenue Oversight
Establish earned income projections and pricing strategies in collaboration with the Managing Director and Artistic Director.
Create and manage marketing budgets across all revenue streams, including single tickets, subscriptions, group sales, and concessions.
Monitor performance metrics and adapt strategies to optimize return on investment.
Operational Oversight
Direct and support the operations of the box office, front-of-house/house management, and concessions in coordination with departmental managers.
Foster seamless integration between marketing, customer service, and production schedules to ensure audience satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Team Leadership
Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate marketing and customer service staff, including managers, coordinators, and seasonal personnel.
Cultivate a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive departmental culture where staff are supported and empowered.
Lead ongoing efforts to improve internal processes, communication workflows, and audience insights through data and research
o Compensation: $100,000-115,000
o To Apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to ASOLO_HUMAN_RESOURCES@ASOLO.ORG. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. If you are excited about this role but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. We value transferable skills, varied perspectives, and a genuine passion for our mission.
Director of Development, Lincoln Center Theater
Lincoln Center Theater has produced over 200 plays and musicals at the Vivian Beaumont, Mitzi E. Newhouse, and Claire Tow Theaters at Lincoln Center and other theaters on and off-Broadway, as well as touring productions nationally and around the world. LCT is committed to developing and producing new works and classics with an emphasis on the work of new and emerging playwrights, directors, and designers. LCT’s education program, Open Stages, reaches thousands of public-school students annually with curriculum-related projects, teaching artist support, and tickets to LCT productions. Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Development and Planning, the Director of Development is responsible for overseeing critical elements of Lincoln Center Theater’s Annual Fund as well as carrying a full major and principal gifts portfolio. This role interfaces regularly with the LCT Board of Directors, acting as liaison to several board committees, and serves as a senior member of the development team of 15. This role is both strategic and tactical, with a sharp focus on generating revenue and establishing fundraising best practices. This new position is part of a plan to meaningfully increase the annual fund and launch ancillary fundraising initiatives over the next three years in a fast-paced and growing Development Department now raising $14.5 million annually. This position is expected to be in office 4 days a week.
o Essential Duties
Carry a portfolio of approximately 100 donors and prospects, creating and implementing a plan for annual giving and special campaign giving across the portfolio. Track all donor engagement in Tessitura and assign prospects to other members of the team when appropriate.
Help strengthen and diversify the fundraising program by expanding LCT’s donor base across all sectors, with a focus on individual giving. Develop and execute data-driven, research-based strategies for acquisition, retention, and upgrading of key prospects.
Identify and cultivate new prospects as program supporters (production funding, education programs, community programs, new play development, etc.); manage cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities related to new program underwriting.
Meet and exceed fundraising goals, as determined annually during organizational budgeting process.
Monitor industry fundraising trends and help adapt and redirect LCT’s fundraising plans accordingly.
Build strong relationships with members of the artistic and education teams at LCT, and leverage staff in these teams as well as the Managing Director for fundraising purposes.
Board Engagement
Build strong relationships with board members to ensure maximum engagement
Act as solicitor for a selection of board members.
Prospect for new board members, taking all steps towards nomination, from cultivation through to nomination and on-boarding
Act as chief staff liaison and worker to the Board Development Committee, convening meetings, creating an agenda, and working with the Executive Director and the committee leadership on materials and presentations.
Leadership and Outreach
Directly supervise activities of the Patron Program and Angels Program, managing a two-person Individual Giving team, and support all components that make up these two membership programs. Bring a strategic eye to these programs to ensure that they are performing at peak, with both programs showing annual growth in the foreseeable future (baseline is $1.6M).
With Director of Individual Giving, and in partnership with the Chief Marketing Officer, launch a Friends Program that will grow over five years to provide a meaningful new source of annual income to LCT. Leverage new Tessitura database system and new marketing strategy in this cause.
Directly supervise the Development Operations group of three, ensuring a robust support system across the development team. Oversee deeper department systems in gift acknowledgement, budget tracking, integration with the marketing team, materials development, communications calendaring and data review.
Represent the organization externally at a range of events that offer prospecting opportunities. Be on the lookout for cultivation opportunities,
As Deputy to Executive Director of Development and Planning, lead team as requested and take on a range of projects as assigned.
o Compensation: $175,000 - $200,000
Director of Production, Arena Stage
The Director of Production is responsible for the overall management of the Production Department, balancing artistic vision and integrity with practical needs including deadlines and budgets. The Director of Production will be responsible for budget management, staff development and creative problem solving.
o Essential Duties
Coordinate effective communication among the directors, designers and all members of production staff
Budget and schedule the needs of the Production Department to ensure the fulfillment of planned productions, presentations, rentals and other events
Create and monitor schedules for building, production and presentation activitiesOversee annual production budget, monitor expenses and provide timely updates of actual expenses and projections
Facilitate design and production meetings, ensure deadlines are met and oversee the tech/production process
Administer the production payrollContract production staff (scenic, props, costume, lighting, sound, other production support)
Hire additional production staff (overhire) as required
As a member of Senior Staff, work with the Senior Staff to schedule and plan each season and develop strategic plans for the future.
o Skills: Five years of production management
Degree in theater preferred but not required
Ability to work some evenings and weekends required
Knowledge of MS Office, particularly Excel and Outlook
Knowledge of all production elements including scenic, properties, lighting, costuming, sound, video, stage management, and directing
Previous experience working within SDC, AEA, USA and AFofM policies preferred.
o Compensation: $110,000-$165,000
Obsidian Theater Festival
There exists an enduring legacy of storytelling within the Black community. Actors, writers, musicians, and dancers, capture the richness of Black stories, moving beyond stereotypes and tropes. The Obsidian Theatre Festival exists to uplift both stories as well as storytellers, and firmly believes in the power of art to change lives. Obsidian will provide the community with the powerful platform it deserves by way of a fresh new stage upon which these stories will be meaningfully celebrhere exists an enduring legacy of storytelling within the Black community. Actors, writers, musicians, and dancers, capture the richness of Black stories, moving beyond stereotypes and tropes. The Obsidian Theatre Festival exists to uplift both stories as well as storytellers, and firmly believes in the power of art to change lives. Obsidian will provide the community with the powerful platform it deserves by way of a fresh new stage upon which these stories will be meaningfully celebrate
o Seeking: Various Roles
o Location: Detroit, MI
o Website: https://www.obsidianfest.org/available-positions
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre
o Seeking: Various Roles
o Location: Milwaukee, WI
o Website: https://www.milwaukeerep.com
For more information: https://www.milwaukeerep.com/about/work-us/jobs/?fbclid=IwAR2lXyj99fIOhY8MmQ5n4XRveG1wEqPl2mL_9w7A1-WVpLoZhqwUDc-2Crc
Milwaukee Repertory Theater is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values and encourages a diverse workforce. We invite you to review jobs that are currently available.
Full-time employee benefits include health, dental and voluntary vision and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plan; parking programs and complimentary tickets.
Application Instructions
Send your letter, resume and salary history (PDF or Word attachments only) to the email address listed in the job listing.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
o Seeking: Various Roles
o Location: Ashland, Oregon
o Website: https://www.osfashland.org
For more information: https://www.osfashland.org/work-with-us?fbclid=IwAR2cqx7fSs1YYwa2I86SMVxJjZ8ns4ba2RqsEr51mMKIVWdiIL7ByQ4Lv8U
Located in the beautiful Rogue Valley of southern Oregon, the Tony Award-Winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents a season of eleven plays in rotating repertory across three theaters between the months of February and October. Additionally, OSF offers extensive educational opportunities to students, teachers, and theatergoers of all ages during our performance season.
We offer employment and career opportunities in a wide range of positions (acting, other performing opportunities, scenery, costumes, lighting, marketing, finance, etc.). We encourage you to check our website regularly for openings.
Two River Theater
Two River Theater annually produces a theatrical season that includes American and world classics, new plays and musicals, programs for young people, and festivals of new work. Each year, we also offer 40+ events that reflect our diverse community of Red Bank, New Jersey. Two River celebrates and honors our core values of Artistic Excellence; Education and Community Engagement; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; and Operational Excellence. Anyone who joins our team quickly becomes part of putting all of our initiatives into action day in and day out. Two River Theater is led by Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst.Two River Theater is dedicated to the goal of building an equitable and culturally diverse work environment and strongly encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups.
o Seeking: Various Roles
o Location: Red Bank, NJ
o Website: https://tworivertheater.org/jobs/
The Kate Spade New York Foundation
o To honor Kate Spade’s legacy of empowering and inspiring women and girls, the National Council for Behavioral Health is excited to provide complimentary Mental Health First Aid training to communities throughout the five boroughs of New York City and New Jersey and in partnership with organizations that specifically support these populations.
What is Mental Health First Aid?
Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.
The National Council for Behavioral Health shares Kate Spade New York Foundation’s belief in “the power of women to transform their communities” through empowerment. In support of this mission, we are offering through a competitive application process, select Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid training, fully funded!
o Location: New York, NY
o Website
For more Offstage opportunities, visit OffStageJobs.com and Playbill.com.
Funding Opportunities
The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers
The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers is an international fellowship program open to people whose work will benefit directly from access to the collections at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building—including academics, independent scholars, and creative writers (novelists, playwrights, poets). Visual artists at work on a book project are also welcome to apply. The Center appoints 15 Fellows a year for a nine-month term at the Library, from September through May. In addition to working on their own projects, the Fellows engage in an ongoing exchange of ideas within the Center and in public forums throughout the Library. A Cullman Center Fellow receives the use of an office with a computer, full access to the Library’s physical and electronic resources, and a stipend of $90,000.
o Deadline: September 25
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: The Cullman Center’s Selection Committee awards fifteen Fellowships a year to outstanding scholars and writers—academics, independent scholars, journalists, creative writers (novelists, playwrights, poets), translators, and visual artists. Foreign nationals conversant in English are welcome to apply. Candidates for the Fellowship will need to work primarily at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building rather than at other divisions of the Library. People seeking funding for research leading directly to a degree are not eligible. The Cullman Center looks for top-quality writing. It aims to promote dynamic communication about literature and scholarship at the very highest level—within the Center, in public forums throughout the Library, and in the Fellows’ published work. A Cullman Center Fellow receives a stipend of $90,000, the use of an office with a computer, and full access to the Library’s physical and electronic resources. The Library expects Fellows to work at the Cullman Center five days a week, Monday through Friday, for the duration of the Fellowship term, which runs from September through May. Each Fellow gives a talk over lunch on his or her current work-in-progress to the other Fellows and to a wide range of invited guests, and may be asked to take part in other programs at The New York Public Library.
Radcliffe Fellowship
Radcliffe fellows are exceptional scientists, writers, scholars, public intellectuals, practitioners, and artists whose work is making a difference in their professional fields and in the larger world. Based in Radcliffe Yard—a sanctuary in the heart of Harvard University—fellows join a uniquely interdisciplinary and creative community. A fellowship at Radcliffe is an opportunity to step away from usual routines and dive deeply into a project. With access to Harvard’s unparalleled resources, Radcliffe fellows develop new tools and methods, challenge artistic and scholarly conventions, and illuminate our past and our present. Throughout the year, fellows convene regularly to share their work in progress. Coming from diverse disciplines and perspectives, they challenge each other’s ideas and support each other’s ambitions. Many say that it is the best year of their professional lives.
o Deadline: September 12
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: We welcome applications from a broad range of fields and perspectives. The strength of our fellowship program is its diversity. Radcliffe supports engaged scholarship. We welcome applications from scholars, artists, and practitioners proposing innovative work that confronts pressing social and policy issues and seeking to engage audiences beyond academia.
Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund
In 2017, Audible launched a theater initiative, intended to radically increase access to exceptional plays and performances. A core pillar of the initiative is the Emerging Playwrights Fund, a program that invests in and nurtures self-identifying emerging playwrights, some of our most inventive, delightful, and provocative storytellers. Through the Fund, Audible aims to connect extraordinary performers with remarkable original work, amplifying new voices and harnessing the power and potential of audio to reach millions of listeners. The Fund specifically supports the creation of original dramatic work, written with audio in mind, but theatrical in spirit. Audible is dedicated to commissioning, developing, and producing work that reflects the diversity of our members and our world. To accomplish this, Audible is committed to granting at least 50% of emerging playwright commissions to artists of color and women.
o Deadline: None
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: please submit all of the following to AudibleTheater@audible.com:
One full-length script for an original or adapted play (in English language only) that represents your voice ("Script"). The Script can be in any genre and may include one-acts and solo pieces;
A short biography; and
A brief statement about why audio plays appeal to you.
If you have an idea for an original audio play, you are welcome to include a pitch or summary along with your statement (this is encouraged, but not required)
o Contact: AudibleTheater@audible.com
Steven Schwartzberg Grants for Mental Health & Wellness
Writers are the beating heart of theater, whom we rely upon to take us on journeys and inspire us to think. During these unprecedented times, DGF has created the Steven Schwartzberg Grants to provide financial support for mental health and wellness services for writers. To help connect writers to therapists, DGF has partnered with Advekit, an online therapist matching service, to expand access to mental health support that might be out of your reach.
Please complete the form to receive $1,000 toward therapy through Advekit, courtesy of DGF.
If you already have a therapist or are seeking mental wellness support other than Western talk therapy, DGF is working on ways to support you in your wellness.
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA)
The NYC DCLA is dedicated to supporting and strengthening New York City's vibrant cultural life. Among our primary missions is to ensure adequate public funding for non-profit cultural organizations, both large and small, throughout the five boroughs.
They have many grants tailored to the needs of artists living and working in the city throughout the year.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: Freeexceptional plays and performances. A core pillar of the initiative is the Emerging Playwrights Fund, a program that invests in and nurtures self-identifying emerging playwrights, some of our most inventive, delightful, and provocative storytellers. Through the Fund, Audible aims to connect extraordinary performers with remarkable original work, amplifying new voices and harnessing the power and potential of audio to reach millions of listeners. The Fund specifically supports the creation of original dramatic work, written with audio in mind, but theatrical in spirit. Audible is dedicated to commissioning, developing, and producing work that reflects the diversity of our members and our world. To accomplish this, Audible is committed to granting at least 50% of emerging playwright commissions to artists of color and women.
o Deadline: None
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: please submit all of the following to AudibleTheater@audible.com:
One full-length script for an original or adapted play (in English language only) that represents your voice ("Script"). The Script can be in any genre and may include one-acts and solo pieces;
A short biography; and
A brief statement about why audio plays appeal to you.
If you have an idea for an original audio play, you are welcome to include a pitch or summary along with your statement (this is encouraged, but not required)
o Contact: Audible
o Eligibility: Independent Artists and Groups
o Address: New York City Department of Cultural Affairs 31 Chambers Street New York, New York 10007
o Contact: 212.513.9300
SubletSeries@HERE Program
This creative curated rental program has allowed many upstart companies and emerging artists to realize their full artistic vision on a small budget. The program provides subsidized performance and rehearsal space, technical assistance, and administrative support, including a fully staffed box office. SubletSeries@HERE artists can also access equipment that is not typically available in venues our size such as video projectors, wireless microphones, color scrollers—all for free or at subsidized rates. We accept applications from artists all over the world for the opportunity to show work.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Independent Artists and Groups
o Address: HERE Program 145 Sixth Ave New York, NY 10013
o Contact: 212.647.0202
Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation does most of their funding in the arts, culture, and humanities to organizations in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura. The Annenberg Foundation's arts and humanities grants are available to agencies that serve the greater Los Angeles region, typically with budgets over $5 million.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Arts, culture, and humanities in greater Los Angeles region
Residencies
New Dramatists 7-Year Residency
New Dramatists pursues a singular mission: To provide playwrights with time, space, and resources in the company of gifted peers to create work, realize their artistic potential, and make lasting contributions to the theatre. We offer our playwrights an artistic home and self-guided laboratory for seven years, free of charge. Our playwright company consists of early and mid-career writers collectively embodying an artistic, cultural, ethnic, and geographic diversity rarely found in the American theatre.
o Deadline: August 4th
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Any playwright who is a U.S. citizen or who resides in and has the legal right to work in the United States may apply for the 7-year residency at New Dramatists as long as they can meet the submission requirements of 2 full-length plays and a biography or resume. It is in your best interest to gather the documents required to upload to the application—two "blind" scripts and your bio/resume—early in the window, and submit your application in one session. You may be able to pause and return to your application as long as you continue working in the same browser, but this is not our recommendation. Once you complete the final step to “Submit Your Application”, you will no longer have access to your application. The button to “Begin Application” will be posted on this web page at 10am EDT on Monday, July 21, 2025. The application window closes automatically at 11:59pm EDT on Monday, August 4, 2025. Sessions will time out at this point and NO ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS, including those in progress, will be accepted after the window closes. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT TO SUBMIT YOUR MATERIALS UNTIL THE LAST DAY
o Contact: Please email our Literary Services Manager Connie Hall admissions@newdramatists.org with any questions.
Artcroft Center for Arts and Humanities
Residencies of an average of 2-8 weeks for visual artists, writers, actors, and performance artists. Residency provides housing, studio, and meals; artist responsible residency fee ($40/day), deposit (10% of residency fee), travel, materials, and local transportation.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: $25
o When: 2-8 weeks
o Eligibility: Residencies are available to established and emerging visual and literary artists 18 years of age and older without regard for race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
o Address: Artcroft Center for Arts and Humanities 2075 Johnson Rd. Carlisle, KY 40311
o Contact: artcroft@msn.com
Other Resources
NOTE: For more resources, visit our pages of Resources - Funding, Submissions, and more.
NYFA SOURCE - The New York Foundation for the Arts maintains the most comprehensive national directory of awards, services and publications for artists in the NYFA Source section of their website.
Updates to our resources and opportunities have been made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
#Screenopps
#ScreenOpps
#ScreenOppsAUG25
Submission Opportunities for Women in Film & Video
(previously known as Film/Video Funding Newsletter)
For full #ScreenOpps Listings please scroll
or click links below for specific listings
Film Festivals
Onscreen
Offscreen
Funding
Residencies
Other Resources
If you are a longtime recipient of #StageOpps and #ScreenOpps,
you know that they started as the Funding Newsletters,
brought to you by WomenArts, who still support the ongoing production of these opportunities as well as our Funding Resources pages.
WomenArts' founder and president, Martha Richards,
received the 2020 Elsa Rael VintAge Award
(for Advocacy for Women in the Arts & Media as They Age) from us
on Zoom Saturday, November 14, 2020.
Check out our VintAge page for more info.
Film Festivals
Warped Witch Film Festival
Warped Witch (formerly Southern Gothic) is a dynamic film festival led by women which empowers filmmakers in our community. We value inclusivity above all else, welcoming filmmakers from diverse backgrounds with open arms. We provide a platform for their unique perspectives and embrace the weird, the strange, the unorthodox, and the unconventional. Our mission is to celebrate the beauty of diversity and encourage everyone to dare to be different! Go beyond the norm! While the roots of our festival remain in the essence of horror, we go beyond the boundaries showcasing films from all genres! All types of cinematic expressions are welcomed! Filmmakers who attend will get the opportunity to network and mingle with other filmmakers during the fest. We will also have a Q&A session after every block so you will get to speak about your films to an audience of film lovers! We want to be able to include other artists in our festival as well. There will be artists vending in the lobby and the entertainment will be provided by our amazing local drag community! Costumes are highly encouraged! Come out and have a spooky good time with us!
o When/Where: June 12-13
o Deadline: August 4 (Early Bird Deadline), December 17 (Regular Deadline), March 3 (Dead Deadline)
o Application Fee: $10-$40
o Eligibility: Film submissions must be provided on digital files.
Submissions must be English language or English subtitled.
Include title and name of contact on all media.
Southern Scream Film Festival reserves the right to change submission categories.
Eligibility and category determinations, along with prize awards, are the sole discretion of the Festival.
Submissions may be screened more than once during the Festival and at events post festival.
All films must be under 20 minutes.
o Categories: Short Film, Feature Film, Student Film
California Women’s Film Festival (Winter)
The California Women’s Film Festival is deeply honored to celebrate women filmmakers, artists and writers by providing a showcase and networking forum in the heart of Hollywood. The CWFF understands how important it is to hear and see the educated, entertaining and diverse stories of women from around the globe. We provide a platform so these voices can be heard and shared with audiences that want to be inspired. The California Women’s Film Festival accepts all projects that has at least one woman in one of the key production positions: (Producer, Director, Writer, Cinematographer, Editor, Lead Actress, Etc......). Projects that are produced and/or directed by men are accepted as long as there is a lead female protagonist and/or the story is based around women. The California Women's Film Festival operates as a biannual event. Our Winter season will be held in January and our Summer season will be held in July.
o When/Where: January 9-11
o Deadline: August 1 (Regular Deadlie), August 22nd (Regular Deadline), September 12 (Late Deadline), October 3 (Extended Deadline), October 24 (Freeway Deadline), November 14 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $36-$60
o Eligibility: California Women's Film Festival General Rules
Projects must have at least one woman in one of the key production positions: (Producer, Director, Writer, Cinematographer, Lead Actress, Etc......).
Projects that are produced and/or directed by men are accepted as long as there is a lead female protagonist and/or the story is based around women.
All genres are accepted.
Works in progress should be clearly marked on the screening copy.
Submissions in languages other than English must be subtitled or dubbed.
The entry fee is per category.
Entry fee is non-refundable.
Fee waivers are not available.
DVDs must clearly be labeled with FilmFreeway tracking ID and contact info.
Our Festival will consist of Award presentations, red carpet photos, screenings and Q&A sessions.
For more information please contact us at info@calwomensfest.com
Please do not send paper press kits with your screener unless requested.
DVDs will not be returned.
o Categories: Short Film, Feature Film, Documentary, Animated, Script
New York Short Cinema Awards
Welcome to the New York Short Cinema Awards! The IMDb-qualifying short film festival, established at the Producers Club of NY by a group of international indie filmmakers, critics, journalists, and writers, champions the art of short filmmaking across all genres. It bridges emerging filmmakers with seasoned professionals and audiences, enriching the independent cinema scene. The festival honors diverse short films from both American and international creators, celebrating independent storytelling and innovation. The New York Short Cinema Awards supports cinema and short film production, selecting a variety of films in genres such as drama, documentary, experimental, and animation. These films inspire audiences and spark dialogue during screenings at the Producers Club and art centers in New York. The festival encourages discussions on contemporary themes, solidifying its status as a significant event in the indie film calendar. Short cinema is our specialty, and over the past few years, we have showcased short films in drama, documentary, animation, comedy, experimental, and science fiction genres during our live annual screening events in New York. We also host a script competition for short screenwriters. We are committed to recognizing short cinema.
o When/Where: October 19-20
o Deadline: August 22nd (Regular Deadline), September 26 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $30-$45
o Eligibility: There are no production date restrictions for films.
Short Films must not exceed 40 minutes.
New York premiere is preferred for our annual screening but not required.
Participants are responsible for their content and copyright issues.
The films must have English subtitles if the original language is not English.
We may promote official selections and nominees on social media and various platforms using provided press kits.
o Categories: Short Film
Wicked Queer: Docs
Started in 2022, WQ: docs fills the need for a platform to share histories and power up the Queer nonfiction film. WQ: Docs is committed to celebrating the documentary form in both short and feature length. Our mission is to build community and to celebrate Queer storytelling and filmmaking through the uplifting of voices and stories not yet heard and to present and preserve the vibrancy of our histories.
o When/Where: November 14-16
o Deadline: August 31 (Regular Deadline), September 20 (Late Deadline), October 11 (Extended Deadline)
o Application Fee: $20-$75
o Eligibility: We prefer that preview submissions be submitted as digital online screeners. Filmmakers are required upon acceptance to have a COMPLETE press kit assembled with stills labeled with the film's name and poster images, trailer, synopsis, log line and social media handles. Moving toward our goal of becoming more accessible, all films, including English language, that are accepted must have a closed caption file with English CAPTIONS included DCP with an MP4 with Closed captions back-up. WE DO REQUIRE A DCP FILE FOR IN PERSON EXHIBITION. No other files types will be accepted.
o Categories: Documentary Feature, Documentary Short
Valkyrie International Film Festival
Valkyrie International Film Festival (VIFF) spotlights films directed by women of all backgrounds and advances the cause of women in film. Held every year in March (Women's History Month), VIFF was founded by Tamar Lamberson and her daughter, Kaelin Lamberson. VIFF seeks impactful films in all genres. If a woman directed it, we want to see it! VIFF will screen narrative, documentary, and experimental shorts and features. The only requirement is that every film selected for screening must have been directed by a woman. VIFF will be held on Thursday, March 21st - Monday, March 25th, 2024 at The Screening Room Cinema & Arts Café, a boutique digital cinema located in Amherst, New York, just outside Buffalo. The Screening Room features a large screen and surround sound, with mixed dining room and theater seating. The venue is a staple of the indie film scene in Western New York. Beer and wine are available. VIFF will only hold in-person screenings. VIFF will serve as a platform for female directors to come together, support each other’s work, and discuss the challenges and advances of women in film. The programmers will present awards, but view the event as a celebration rather than a competition. VIFF will be held during Women’s History Month each year. We are accepting all female-directed films, of all genres, completed 2019 – present.
o When/Where: May 29 - June 2
o Deadline: August 31 (Early Bird Deadline), November 30 (Regular Deadline), March 6(Late Deadline), April 6 (Extended Deadline)
o Application Fee: $18-$50
o Eligibility: NO WAIVERS.
Only films directed by females will be selected.
Any co-directors must also be female.
Films must be in English or subtitled in English.
All exhibition screeners must be MP4 digital files .
All films must have been completed 2019 – present.
Anyone submitting a film to VIFF warrants that they are authorized to do so.
o Categories: Short Film, Feature, Documentary, Animation. Experimental, Music Video
New Jersey Film Festival - Spring
The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center proudly announces the 44th Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival. The Festival will be held between January 23 - February 15, 2026 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey and will showcase the best in independent film by featuring premiere screenings, special guest appearances by film directors, screenwriters, cast and crew and more. For more information go to www.njfilmfest.com or e-mail NJMAC@aol.com or newjerseyfilmfestival@gmail.com
o When/Where: January 23 - February 15
o Deadline: August 8 (Regular Deadline), August 28 (Extended Deadline), September 18 (Late Deadline), October 10 (Super Late Deadline)
o Application Fee: $40-$85
o Eligibility: This competition is open to U.S. and International entries. Maximum film age is 24 months. No repeat entries. If a work is selected for public screening entrants are contractually obligated to provide an exhibition copy suitable for screening and cannot withdraw their film from the festival. Entry must be a New Jersey or Area Premiere and must not be available to view in full on the internet! Please note we do not pay screening fees. Only finalists are notified in advance that their work has been selected to be part of the Festival.
o Categories: Short Film, Feature, Documentary, Animation
Beirut International Women Film Festival
Beirut International Women Film Festival (BWFF) is an annual event organized in Beirut by Beirut Film Society, under the theme “Women for Change”; gathering filmmakers and cinema lovers from all over the world, BWFF tackles issues such gender equality, sexual identity, domestic violence among others through the power of the lens and cinema which is the window to society and particularly women in this case. BWFF, which comprises films about women and/or executed by women, aims to highlight the power of women in different life situations, the festival organizers believe in promoting a positive image of women struggling with dignity to make a change in their environment.
o When/Where: August 19-25
o Deadline: August 5 (Active Submitter Deadline), September 5 (Midway to the Festival), October 5 (End of Summer Submissions), November 5 (Regular Deadline), December 5 (Late Deadline), February 5 (Exceptional Submissions)
o Application Fee: $7-$45
o Eligibility: Filmmakers are invited to submit their original work to Beirut International Women Film Festival (BWFF) for the above listed categories and as per the assigned duration of each category.
FILMS PRODUCED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2020 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SUBMISSION.
FOR INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILMS SUBMISSIONS, LEBANESE PREMIERE IS A MUST – FEATURE FILMS THAT WERE SCREENED PREVIOUSLY IN LEBANON WON’T BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
BWFF supports travel cost for directors of selected international films to Lebanon during the festival days. (Conditions apply)
Submission fees are non refundable and non reimbursable under any circumstances; BWFF does not reimburse any submission fees for films who are not selected for the festival program, or who withdrew their submissions at any time.
BWFF retains the right to accept or decline any film, for whatever reason, without any explanation.
Applicant admits that he/she is authorized to submit the film, being the rights-holder or authorized representative of the film.
BWFF receives exhibition copy in QuickTime 1080p HD 8 bit uncompressed or Apple ProRes file or equivalent via a downloadable link.
All non-English speaking films must have adequate English subtitles.
Screening fees must be declared prior to or upon submission. If a screening fee is only indicated after the official selection has been announced, the Festival retains the right to revoke the film's acceptance.
Beirut International Women Film Festival (BWFF) holds the right to:
Use the selected films for trailers and publicity usage
Screen the winning films in other related events inside Lebanon, and recommend the winning films to other international film festivals that collaborate with BWFF after the approval of the filmmakers.
o Categories: Shorts, Feature Film, Documentary, Animated
Winter Film Festival Awards International Film Festival NYC
New York City's Winter Film Awards (WFA) is a volunteer-run and operated celebration of the diversity of local and international film-making. Our Mission is to recognize excellence in cinema and to promote learning and artistic expression for people at all stages of their artistic careers with a focus on nurturing emerging filmmakers and helping them gain recognition and contacts to break into this difficult industry. We pride ourselves on our diverse collection of Festival selections, allowing our audience to enjoy films they normally wouldn’t think to seek out. Now in its eleventh year, the rapidly growing Festival showcases the work of emerging filmmakers from around the world. For the 2021 Festival, 91
films from 28 countries were screened, including an eclectic mix of Animated films, Documentaries, Feature narratives, Horror films, Music Videos, Narrative shorts and Web series. 50% of the films were created by women, 53% were created by or about people of color. Works of all genres, forms, and lengths are considered. All selected films are screened at Cinema Village, NYC's top indie cinema in the heart of Greenwich Village. The Festival includes ten days of film screenings, educational panels, professional development workshops and industry networking after-parties, which will conclude with a glittering awards ceremony . Outstanding work will be awarded for each category, along with Best Director, Best Actor/Actress, Outstanding Woman Director, Best vStudent Film and the NY PERSPECTIVES Award for best depiction of the New York multi-cultural experience. Winter Film Awards International Film Festival is an IMDB-qualifying festival. Like many of the great film Festivals across the country and the world, WFA seeks to bring our audience compelling and unique content that inspires the viewers and honors the filmmakers. There are hundreds of film festivals in New York City; what makes us different is our intense focus on a bias-free submissions review, the variety of our films and helping new filmmakers reach what may be their first real audience. WFA is a minority- and women-owned registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We work with all local NYC film schools, colleges, arts high schools and many cultural societies.
o When/Where: February 18-22
o Deadline: September 12 (Early Bird Deadline), October 17 (Regular Deadline), November 14 (Late Deadline)
o Application Fee: $20-$65
o Eligibility: All films must have been completed not earlier than January 1, 2020.
Films must be in English or have English subtitles Winter Film Awards is a non-profit organization and we do not pay Screening Fees Films must be submitted via online screener - we do not accept hardcopies of DVDs
Winter Film Awards does not require World Premiere, but appreciates if you notify us if you are either a World Premiere, International Premiere (your first premiere outside your country of origin), North American Premiere or New York Premiere.
Submission fees are in U.S. dollars, per film entry. All submissions for Winter Film Awards International Film Festival are to be paid by credit card. The submission fee is non-refundable.
Submitting filmmakers/individuals will be notified by e-mail on or before January 5 2023. If the Festival will be postponed due to COVID-19, we will notify all submitters as soon as possible. Winter Film Awards does not send physical mail — please make sure the email address in your entry form is accurate. Changes of email address can be sent to submissions@winterfilmawards.com. Winter Film Awards is not liable for emails delayed by spam filters, server rejections, outdated email addresses or any other technical or human error. If an accepted filmmaker is unable to submit the final screening copy of the film electronically, the filmmaker will be responsible for the mailing/shipping cost of the work for screening at the film festival. Films with incomplete materials by the deadline will forfeit their ability to screen in the festival. Winter Film Awards, its members, directors, employees, and volunteers are not responsible for lost, unplayable, misplaced, and undelivered film and media.
Submitted entry materials will not be returned.
A filmmaker with multiple entries (titles) must submit each entry and entry fee separately.
The Festival reserves the right to remove a film from the festival program for any reason or for no reason and shall not be liable for any refund or claims of any kind arising out of such removal.
The submitting filmmaker must own the copyright to the work. In the case of any legal dispute involving the film, Winter Film Awards will immediately remove the work from our schedule.
By submitting your film, Winter Film Awards is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Winter Film Awards from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
o Categories: Shorts, Feature Film, Documentary, Animated
The Other Lens
The Other Lens, a short film program designed to champion emerging filmmakers who are creating innovative cinematic work that challenges convention. With our theme of “The Other Lens”, we wanted to explore distinctions from ingrained normativity, whether it be ethnic, racial, sexual, or expression, to foster empathy and create positive social change. By embracing everyone’s otherness, we hope both filmmakers and viewers recognize that through collaboration and vulnerability, we can blur the lines of separation and reimagine the boundaries. The Other Lens is a celebration of independent filmmaking, radical storytelling, and communal vision-building. We invite work that centers personal truth, challenges mainstream narratives, and reflects a deep commitment to creative freedom. This inaugural event is produced by Project Feel, a multimedia production company rooted in art and creative accessibility, and seeks to bring together a new generation of storytellers who use a thought-provoking, visionary lens to make an impact on the world. We aim to shift the needle of the industry and are excited to spotlight films from artists of color, queer creatives, diasporic storytellers, and experimental voices who blur genre, form, and expectation
o When/Where: November 6
o Deadline: July 14 (Early Bird Deadline), August 4 (Regular Deadline), September 1 (Late Deadline)
o Application Fee: $10-20
o Eligibility: Short films (any genre) 20 mins and under
Focused on themes of identity, imagination, resistance, or re-connection
Works in any language other than English must have English subtitles at the time of submission
o Categories: Short
Divine Feminine Film Fest
The Divine Feminine Film Fest is a yearly event that features creative work by women and non-binary artists. The focus of this festival is to highlight and celebrate women in all of their magic, mystery, and creativity.
o When/Where: October 16-17
o Deadline: September 30 (Regular Deadline)
o Application Fee: $22-30
o Eligibility: To submit, you must owns the rights to your submission.
All projects submitted to us may be screened/displayed at our official event.
Posters and/or trailers of your film may be used on our social media platforms to promote the festival and your film.
All films/music videos must be submitted in English or with English subtitles.
Posters are required for your film in order to promote this screening.
o Categories: Feature, Short, Documentary
Lavender Riot Film Festival: An Unapologetic LGTBQ+ Film Fest
First Ever LGBTQ+ Film Festival in Clarksville, Tennessee on October 2. The festival will showcase local LGBTQ+ filmmakers, directors, producers, and actors. The event will be help on APSU campus and off campus at various locations through downtown. The event kicks off at 10am and carriers on until 9pm.
o When/Where: October 17-18
o Deadline: July 28 (Early Bird Deadline), August 25 (Regular Deadline)
o Application Fee: $5
o Eligibility: We are looking for LOCAL LGBTQ+ individuals to showcase their work. We ask the submissions follow time length rules and that artists be flexible with times of presenting on the day of the Festival. We ask that filmmakers be present when their film is being shown. Time slots will be chosen by the board of the Lavender Riot Film Festival.
o Categories: Feature, Short, Documentary
Miami Jewish Film Festival
The Miami Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) is recognized as the world's largest Jewish film festival dedicated to celebrating new film and media exploring universal themes of identity, history, and culture. Presenting its 29th edition from January 15-29, 2026, the Festival showcases the work of the world's best emerging and established filmmakers and offers awards in juried competition categories. Among the 134 films that premiered at the 2025 Festival which featured the largest Jewish film program in the world, more than 50 were selected from FilmFreeway submissions. Miami Jewish Film Festival has also made the prestigious "One of the 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" list by MovieMaker Magazine in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In 2025, the Miami Jewish Film Festival drew more than 58,000 filmgoers and attracted more than 100 filmmakers, producers, talent, and industry professionals to its two-week event of inspiring films, events, panels, and parties that are hosted at 8 major venues throughout Miami. In all, the Festival presents more than 134 feature narratives, documentaries, and short films of all genres, from more than 25 different countries. MJFF presents dramatic and documentary features, experimental, and animated features and shorts about Jewish history, culture, and identity as well as films that reflect life through a Jewish lens. The programming staff takes a broad view of what makes a film Jewish and have been known to curate films that are Jew(ish) as well as films about issues that are relevant to Jewish communities and resonate with other cultural communities across the globe. Works in all forms and genres are considered. The Festival receives significant industry recognition; each year several films premiering at the Festival are acquired for US distribution. Recent distributors who have acquired films directly from the Festival include Kino Lorber, Greenwich Entertainment, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Netflix, Menemsha Films, Film Movement, Briarcliff Entertainment, Breaking Glass Pictures, and Go2Films, among many others.
o When/Where: January 15-29
o Deadline: July 7 (Midway Deadline), August 1 (Regular Deadline), September 5 (Fall Deadline), October 3 (Extended Deadline), November 7 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $18-$40
o Eligibility: MJFF requires at least a Florida Premiere for any feature or short film. Works-in-progress are accepted.
o Categories: Feature, Documentary, Short
Everybody is Somebody
The Albuquerque Film Festival, with the mantra 'Everybody is Somebody,' stands as a beacon of digital celebration for the world's storytellers. Nestled in the heart of New Mexico's vibrant capital, Albuquerque, our festival opens its doors wide, welcoming a kaleidoscope of cinematic talent from every corner of the globe. Dive into the fray with your masterpieces, as we call for submissions across all film genres; there's a spotlight here for every creator, regardless of nationality. It's your time to shine, to vie for prestigious awards across a multitude of categories. Let's unite. Let's craft. Let's rejoice. Boasting a spectrum as broad as the imagination itself, our festival invites you to join an esteemed circle, where selected films don't just screen—they compete for a host of distinctions, bestowed both by our expert panel and the audience's voice. Rest assured, every entry is given the attentive gaze it deserves. As seasoned filmmakers, we resonate with the dedication poured into your craft. That's why we elevate Officially Selected films with a spotlight dialogue—up to 10 minutes of in-depth conversation about your creative journey, shared on our official website, YouTube channel, and across social media landscapes. Our committee is as varied as the films we celebrate, featuring a global tapestry of professionals—Architects to Entrepreneurs, Artists to Filmmakers, and VFX Producers—each bringing a unique perspective to the screen. Every submission is watched thoroughly, ensuring your vision is seen and appreciated in its entirety. Our Goals:To broadcast fresh, trailblazing narratives and cinematic discourse from across the world.To offer an exclusive glimpse into the pioneering realm of New Cinema.To foster the exchange of ideas and experiences among our event's vibrant participants. Our Creed: We are the champions of the cinematic dreamer, the believers in the power of story. The 'Everybody is Somebody' Albuquerque Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing the most diverse array of narratives. Our mission? To empower every filmmaker with a burning passion, to connect creators with audiences, and to help solidify their mark in the ever-expanding universe of film.
o When/Where: March 27-29
o Deadline: July 7 (Deadline 4), August 4 (Deadline 6), September 1 (Deadline 7), October 6 (Deadline 8), November 3 (Deadline 9), December 1 (Deadline 10), February 9 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $15-25
o Eligibility: We accept all fiction and non-fiction film genres. All age groups are accepted. Projects submitted must be the original work of the participant. All submission will be received through Film Freeway only. No Exceptions.
o Categories: Feature, Short, Animated, Documentary, Music Video
Mix NYC Queer Experimental Film Festival
MIX NYC (est. 1987) is a nonprofit organization that promotes, produces, and preserves experimental media that speaks to the lives, politics, and experiences of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. Born from the need for a home for queer experimental films, we are committed to providing opportunities for filmmakers to showcase their work to a community that deeply values it. Our work challenges mainstream notions of gender and sexuality while redefining traditional categories of form and content.
o When/Where: November 20-22
o Deadline: June 1 (Early Bird Deadline), July 1 (Regular Deadline), August 1 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $15-$45
o Eligibility: We’re always searching for bold, original, and powerful stories that reflect the diverse perspectives of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Our festival offers a platform for filmmakers, artists, and creators to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and participate in meaningful cultural dialogue. In light of our mandate, we only consider submissions that:
Are created by queer filmmakers and/or involve queer concepts, subjects, or themes.
Challenge conventional filmmaking practices.
o Categories: Experimental Film
Los Angeles Women in Film Festival
The LA Women in Film Festival champions female identifying filmmakers and female driven storytelling. We will be accepting submissions from FEMALE IDENTIFYING DIRECTORS, WRITERS, MAJORITY FEMALE CREW (at least 50%) and/or FEMALE DRIVEN STORIES of ANY GENRE. We are an affiliate festival of the LA FILM FESTIVALS organization that has the dual emphasis of discovering great talent with the purpose of promoting their work to both the LA public and the entertainment industry, as well as showcasing the work of seasoned professionals and well known stars. LA Film Festivals began with the biannual LA Comedy Festival in 2001, adding the biannual LA Indie Film Fest in 2007. The LA Film Festival family has since expanded to 12 independent film festivals, including LA Horror Film Fest, LA Action Film Fest, LA Sci-Fi Film Fest, LA Animation Film Fest, LA Black Film Fest, LA Asian Film Fest, LA Latinx Film Fest, LA Queer Film Fest, LA Women in Film Fest and LA Student Film Fest. Over the years, LA Film Festivals have attracted thousands of filmmakers from around the world. Each festival features live screenings in our own Let Live Theater in the heart of Los Angeles. Our 80-seat theater, in the heart of Hollywood, is outfitted with a Christie DLP projector and seven JBL speakers throughout the venue, delivering top notch quality in an intimate screening environment. Filmmakers whose work is accepted into our festival will receive free passes to screenings, invitations to networking events and are eligible for awards consideration.
o When/Where: November 13-16
o Deadline: June 13 (Regular Deadline), July 4 (Late Deadline), July 25 (Fashionably Late Deadline), August 15 (Final Deadline), September 5 (11th Hour Deadline), September 26 (Last Chance Deadline)
o Application Fee: $25-$90
o Eligibility: All Films must feature work produced by female identifying filmmakers and female driven storytelling. We will be accepting submissions from FEMALE IDENTIFYING DIRECTORS, WRITERS, MAJORITY FEMALE CREW (at least 50%) and/or FEMALE DRIVEN STORIES of ANY GENRE.
o Categories: Feature, Short, Document, Web-series, TV Pilot, Animation, Music Video
o Contact: https://www.lafilmfestivals.com/la-women-in-film-fest
Big Apple Film Festival
Big Apple Film Festival is currently accepting film and screenplay submissions for our fall festival. Big Apple Film Festival (Fall Edition) takes place November 18-21 in the heart of NYC. In addition to film screenings, the festival includes a Screenplay Competition, Agents and Managers Conference, Agents and Managers Networking Lab, Film Distribution Summit, Industry Networking Panels, Awards Presentation and Reception.
o When/Where: November 10-13
o Deadline: June 10 (Film Freeway Discount Deadline), June 30 (BAFF Discount Deadline), July 22 (Final Discount Deadline), August 12 (Film Freeway Early Deadline), September 3 (BAFF Early Deadline), September 23 (Official Entry Deadline, October 10 (Final Entry Deadline)
o Application Fee: $60-$90
o Eligibility: Big Apple Film Festival accepts submissions for feature films, short films, feature documentaries, short documentaries, animation, web series, music videos, student films, feature length screenplays, short screenplays, scripts for television/web series pilots and virtual reality.
o Categories: (Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Environmental Outdoor Feature, Indigenous Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Outdoor Short, Animated Short)
New York Film Week
We are an international film festival taking place in October each year. The 6th edition runs from October 23 — 27 2024 in NY, a city that breathes film in every possible way. Our goal is to raise awareness and promote the various aspects of international cinema in all its forms. Previous Premieres include movies from Laura Poitras, Armando Iannucci, Noah Baumbach, Wash Westmoreland, Martin Scorsese, Takashi Miike, Céline Sciamma, Yolande Zauberman, Lee Chang-dong, Kelly Reichardt, Andrea Arnold, Christophe Honoré and many more. First-time and established filmmakers are being selected and every film genre is considered. The festival only shows bold and iconic content, something to remember. We look forward to reviewing your entry.
o When/Where: October 29 - November 2
o Deadline: June 23 (Regular Deadline), September 8 (Late Deadline), September 29 (Extended Deadline)
o Application Fee: $35-$70
o Eligibility: New York Film Week is being held from October 23rd to October 27th, 2024. The Festival takes place annually in the second half of October. The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness and promote the various aspects of international cinema in all its forms: as art, entertainment, and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue. In addition to the sections mentioned in the following paragraphs, the Festival also organizes special events such as film workshops and industry days.
o Categories: Feature, Short, Animated, Documentary
Lady Filmmakers Festival
Lady Filmmakers Festival is a trend-setting and forward-thinking film festival known by veteran Hollywood insiders and rising indie filmmakers alike for screening outstanding films from around the world and having top notch speakers and networking events. Lady Filmmakers is dedicated to creating a fun and fulfilling festival experience. All festival events take place in the world-famous Beverly Hills, California. In 2021, we hosted in-person screenings in Beverly Hills as well as virtual screenings available worldwide. We also launched the Lady Filmmakers Channel in Spring 2021 accessible online and through devices such as Apple TV, Roku, and more will be added to maximize availability to showcase alumni films from prior festivals. 2020 included virtual screenings and events as well as a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina drive-in. Lady Filmmakers celebrates women in leadership roles and the men that hire, work with, and work for these talented female storytellers. The week long festival includes film screenings, script readings, musical performances, art exhibitions, industry panels, networking events and of course hosted parties with live entertainment! Online festival will take place over a minimum of 1 week with virtual events leading up to the festival and during. Lady Filmmakers looks for great storytelling in any genre and length! At least one woman must fill the role of Writer, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Production Designer and/or Editor to qualify to screen at our festival. Our main programming themes are: *Ladies Illuminate- documentaries, social awareness, or family issue films *Ladies Kick Butt- action, comedies, or experimental films *Dance- music videos and dance films *Family Friendly- films appropriate for families with children *Halloween Teasers- horror, thrillers, scary, creepy, and/or freaky films Short Screenplay finalists will get a staged reading in front of a live audience at the festival. One or more shorts may be optioned to participate in the Script 2 Screen Program. Feature Screenplay finalists will be offered a taped table read of their script. The festival will provide the space and refreshments for the table read along with assisting the writer with finding a director for the reading and helping with casting. Musician finalists are invited to perform at one of the parties during the festival. Art finalists are invited to exhibit art during one of the festival events.Long after the festival is complete we continue to promote our "Alumni" filmmakers, cast, and crew throughout the year!
.o When/Where: September 25-30
o Deadline: July 23 (Final Deadline), August 14 (Oops I forgot Deadline)
o Application Fee: $67.50-$140
o Eligibility: FILM SUBMISSIONS- At least one woman must be credited in one of the following positions in each selected film: Writer, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Production Designer, and/or Editor.
o Categories: Feature Film, Documentary, Short Film, Documentary Shorts
GRRL HAUS CINEMA
GRRL HAUS CINEMA is a 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹, 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 dedicated to showcasing the short film works by 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 filmmakers in experimental, low-budget-, and underground cinema. By promoting creativity and diverse expression through film, we provide a platform for emerging filmmakers and those without easy access to funding, creating a space for underrepresented voices in cinema. GRRL HAUS is dedicated to inclusivity and celebrates 𝗗𝗜𝗬 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, because we think it’s important to share works by diverse filmmakers across various audiences, from international museums to underground clubs.
o When/Where: February 18-20
o Deadline: May 31 (May), June 30 (June), July 31 (August), August 31 (August), September 30 (September), October 31 (October)
o Application Fee: $15-$50
o Categories: Short
Lady Filmmakers Film Festival
NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS to the 17th Annual Festival Celebration! A 5 star rated film festival and consistently ranked in the Top 100 on FilmFreeway. Lady Filmmakers Festival elevates the festival experience and is a trend-setting and forward-thinking film festival known by veteran Hollywood insiders and rising indie filmmakers alike for screening outstanding films from around the world. It's screenplay scene workshop, top notch speakers and upscale networking events makes it a must attend event each year. Lady Filmmakers is dedicated to creating a classy, fun and fulfilling festival experience dedicated to enhancing personal, professional and creative growth while promoting women, diversity, equity and inclusion. All festival screenings and parties take place IN PERSON in the world-famous Beverly Hills, California. We screen at the beautiful and historic 400 seat Fine Arts Theater with the highest quality sound and projection. We are a great platform for successful filmmakers and actors as well as a springboard for undiscovered talent like first-time directors with a truly wonderful artistic, cinematic vision and voice. The festival directors are filmmakers too & understand what it's like on both sides of a festival and try to provide as many wonderful experiences and opportunities to our Official Selection Attendees and Cinephiles alike. Lady Filmmakers celebrates diverse women in leadership roles and the men that hire, work with, and work for these talented female storytellers. The week long festival includes film screenings, script readings, musical performances, art exhibitions, industry panels, networking events and of course hosted parties with live entertainment!
o When/Where: September 25-30
o Deadline: July 23 (Final Deadline), August 14 (Oops I forgot Deadline)
o Application Fee: $67.50-$140
o Eligibility: FILM SUBMISSIONS- At least one woman must be credited in one of the following positions in each selected film: Writer, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Production Designer, and/or Editor.
o Categories: Feature Film, Documentary, Short Film, Documentary Shorts
B!tchFest Film Festival & Screenplay Contest
B!tchFest is more than just a festival — it’s a community! One that extends far beyond the event itself. We are invested in the success of your films and screenplays, offering a space for support, connection, and collaboration for all of our past and present submitters. In an industry where women hold just 26% of key film production roles and only 16% of major studio films feature LGBTQIA+ characters, we’re on a mission to build a supportive network to unite and empower minority creator. B!tchFest is an INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S & LGBTQIA+ FILM FESTIVAL & SCREENPLAY CONTEST with a groundbreaking in-person event for both filmmakers and screenwriters in the heart of Los Angeles. At B!tchFest we’re not just breaking glass ceilings; we’re shattering them into a million pieces by unleashing the POWER of FEMALE and LGBTQIA+ VOICES in film and television! By providing a platform for RECOGNITION, AWARDS, PROMOTION, and DEVELOPING NEW CONNECTIONS we aim to break barriers and pave the way for a more inclusive entertainment industry.
o When/Where: February 28
o Deadline: May 20 (Early Deadline), July 1 (Regular Deadline), August 12 (Late Deadline), September 23 (Last Minute Deadline), November 4 (Extended Deadline), December 16 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $36-$70
o Eligibility: All writers and filmmakers must be at least 18 years old for their project to be eligible. All genres of films and screenplays are accepted.
There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit and multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted. You are allowed to submit the same project to multiple categories.
The entry fee applies to each category. Submitting to Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Female Directed Film, Best Student Film, Best LGBTQIA+ Film, Best TV Pilot, Best Web Series, Best Short Social Content Video, and Best Music Video qualifies your project for festival consideration. Additionally, it makes your Cast & Crew eligible for free consideration for Secondary Award Categories like Best Actress, Best Director, Best Cinematography, etc.
For consideration, film projects must feature at least one woman or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community in a key production role, such as Director, Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Lead Actress/Actor, etc. Or the film should address women’s or LGBTQIA+ issues and themes to be eligible.
For screenplay submissions, we prefer scripts written by women and/or members of the LGBTQIA+ community. While screenplays written by men and non-LGBTQIA+ individuals are welcome, they must either focus on female or LGBTQIA+ characters or address women’s or LGBTQIA+ issues and themes to be eligible.
Writers and filmmakers who reside in countries other than the United States are welcome to enter the contest; however, all scripts must be submitted in English, and all foreign language films must contain English subtitles or be dubbed in English.
Judges, sponsors, administrators, employees and independent contractors who currently or have previously worked with or for the B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest are not eligible to enter the festival, nor are their spouses or immediate family members.
Entry fees are as listed on the FilmFreeway site checkout form. All entry fees are non-refundable. No coupon or discount is applicable on a previously submitted entry. Entries must be received on or before the listed deadline dates by 11:59PM Pacific Time, and submission fee payment must be paid in full at time of the submission.
Our in-person festival will feature screenings for the winners of each applicable category, trophy award presentations, red carpet photos, live-recorded Q&A panels with film and screenwriting winners, and an industry meet-and-greet event.
B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest reserves the right to make essential changes, postponements, reschedules, or cancellations to competition dates, deadlines, announcement dates, awards, categories, and/or the festival venue at our discretion without contestant consent. The organizers may modify or opt not to award any listed prizes. B!tchFest reserves the right to amend our rules, terms, release agreements, and conditions at any time.
The decisions of the judges are final and cannot be contested in any manner. There is no score on a scorecard that guarantees advancement to the festival as advancement will be based on the total competition scores as a whole.
By submitting to B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest you agree to our terms and conditions and to receive marketing newsletters, film festival discounts, and updates relative to this contest and any affiliated sources in the Whoever submits a project shall hold harmless B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest and its judges and associates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, credits, publicity, trademark, screening, and loss of or damage to any materials submitted to our festival.
Notification of Winners and Official Selections will be sent by email and posted on our website BitchFestLA.com. It is the entrant(s) responsibility to provide us with current contact information for notification purposes and to keep the submission service updated. B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest has no responsibility for correspondence that is misdirected as a result of the entrant(s) failure to provide us with current and correct contact information or that is sent to spam or junk mail folders.
Should an entrant win an award at B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest, they will receive the award in-person at the Festival Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles. If not present, it is up to the recipient to arrange for a representative to receive the award on the submitters behalf. If a representative of the project is not at the festival in-person, no award will be presented. The festival is not required to ship awards to recipients who do not have a representative of the project present at the festival. However, shipping can be arranged on a case by case basis at the festival’s discretion.
B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest and the employees and judges thereof, claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to screenplays and film projects submitted to this festival remains with the original rights holders.
All entrants understand and agree that there are a diverse amount of story contexts and ideas, and in no way is B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest responsible, not now or in the future, for borrowing or stealing from an idea, copy written concept, or storyline from any film or screenplay entry.
Entrants grant B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest permission to use their name, likeness, contact information provided, submitted work's title, logline, trailer, poster, and Grand Jury Results for publicity and promotional purposes. Contest participation signifies entrants' consent for B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest, its agents, and contest sponsors to use their information for promotional purposes in any media, globally, without payment or consideration. All use of entrants’ information is in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
B!tchFest Film Festival & Screenplay Contest employs a panel of esteemed judges, consisting of industry professionals, to evaluate the submissions. Please understand that due to industry demands and schedules, the composition of our judging panel may evolve throughout the contest and evaluation process. B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest reserves the right to add, change, or remove any members of the judging panel at anytime, while still ensuring the contest’s high-quality evaluation standards are consistently upheld.
By entering this contest, you authorize us to use any trusted third-party, online and cloud-based services and databases for hosting, organizing, tracking, managing, reviewing, and/or transmitting your submission file(s). B!tchFest Film Festival and Screenplay Contest cannot be held liable or financially responsible for any breaches in security with third-party, online and cloud-based services and databases used for managing this festival and its submissions, including but in no means limited to BitchfestLA.com and FilmFreeway services. By submitting to our festival, you are authorizing us to handle your film and/or screenplay using secure third party softwares.
Official Selections and Winners are responsible for their own personal travel and accommodation expenses to attend the festival. Award Winners will receive two complimentary tickets to the festival. All other cast and crew members must purchase event tickets in order to attend.
If a film or screenplay category winner does not respond to their status notification with requested materials and/or confirmation of participation by the requested response date, B!tchFest reserves the right to award a category finalist or runner-up in the winners place. We will still screen projects from submitters who are not able to attend the festival in person, but screeners must be delivered by the requested date in order to participate.
o Categories: Feature, Short, Music Video, TV Pilot Screenplay
Planet Female Global StoryFest
Planet Female Media embraces the female weavers of story from page to performance, screenplay to cinematic vision. This second year of the Planet Female Global StoryFest, Planet Female Media invites you, our dear sisters, to join our movement in a celebration of our Yin creativity, the divine tales and truths within us, and of our kindreds, all of which we access through living life, time and experience. She has something to say. We hear her. We have created a space for visual storytelling crafted by Women for Women and by those who identify as such. We are ethically mining the inexhaustible vault of feminine fable and fact to be shared, inspired by, and learned from. We believe strongly in fostering a platform for creativity, free speech and unity. Year One was a kaleidoscopic refection of our vision and we will continue to carefully review submissions and award the best in several categories. Having partnered with Westport MOCA - Museum of Contemporary Art, and Housatonic Community College, PFG StoryFest has expanded to two days, Friday, November 21, 2025 and Saturday November 22, 2025. Story Blocks will be showcased in spaces at each location culminating with an awards ceremony at Westport MoCA Saturday evening. With this expansion we are able to add 3 new categories - Short Feature Films (16-40 Minutes), Live Spoken Word, and Live Narrative Storytelling (Moth-style)
o When/Where: November 21-22
o Deadline: May 30 (Early Bird Deadline), June 30 (Regular Deadline), August 30 (Just Under the Wire Deadline)
o Application Fee: $20-$60
o Eligibility: To be considered by PFGSF for any of the Best of Festival Awards, at least one female or female identifying individual must be involved in creative leadership as screenwriter or director. If a female or female identifying individual is not in a creative leadership role, (screenwriter or director) the film's plot, subject, or main theme must be female centered. To be considered in a specific category other than best film or performance awards, there must be a female or female-identifying individual in the role. For Best Director, a female or female-identifying individual must be the film's Director.
o Categories: Short, Documentary Short, Animated Short
Image Out Rochester LGBTQ Film Festival
ImageOut is a premier LGBTQ+ film festival in Rochester, NY. We present LGBTQ+ arts and cultural experiences showcasing films, other creative works and artists to promote awareness, foster dialogue and build community. ImageOut is recognized and respected as a major arts and cultural organization in New York State, celebrating and bringing visibility to LGBTQ+ artists and themed work. This year, we are hosting our 33rd annual Fall Film Festival on October 9-19, 2025. We are also hosting our 5th annual First Cut Film Festival on April 24-29, 2025. ImageOut is an Iris Prize partner and is one of the few select LGBTQ+ film festivals from around the world who can outrightly nominate a film for the Iris Prize Shorts Film Competition in Cardiff, Wales. It is one of the richest shorts film competition in the world.
o When/Where: October 9-19
o Deadline: July 25 (Regular Deadline), August 15 (Extended Deadline) September 5 (Late Deadline)
o Application Fee: $7.50-$30
o Eligibility: All films submitted with LGBTQ+ content will be considered for the film lineup selection. Submission fees are non-refundable. Rochester is home to a large hard-of-hearing and deaf community. We encourage filmmakers to provide closed captioning for their films. If your film includes captions (as opposed to subtitles), please contact us for a fee waiver code. Films selected for the lineup are all eligible for the Jury and Audience awards. Submissions should ideally be film works from the last couple of years. Please contact us if your title is older than two years.
o Categories: Feature, Short
Women’s Comedy Film Festival in Atlanta
The Women's Comedy Film Festival in Atlanta is a theatrical screening event in Atlanta for independent films featuring female filmmakers, actors, directors, writers and producers from all over the world. This is an amazing opportunity to showcase the talent of female directors, writers, actors, and everything in between right here in one of the world's fastest growing film communities. The Women's Comedy Film Festival also recognizes exceptional filmmaking and screenwriting with awards and nominations by our judging panel. Submit your film if you meet AT LEAST ONE of the following requirements:
o When/Where: March 15, 2025
o Deadline: April 30 (April Early Deadline), May 31 (Spring Early Deadline), July 31 (Summer Early Deadline), August 31 (Labor Day Deadline), September 30 (Fall Early Deadline), November 30 (Regular Deadline), December 31 (Late Deadline), January 31 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $22.50-$50
o Eligibility: Script writers, in addition to submitting your script to the festival we also provide optional script coverage. Script coverage with our festival includes the price of your submission fee. Your work will be analyzed by a Cinema Life filmmaker who's produced award-winning films, has extensive writing experience, and also understands the indie way of filmmaking.
o Categories: Feature, Animated, Documentary, Comedy Short
Peach Theatre and Film Festival
The PEACH Theatre and Film Intl. Festival is a unique and rare experience that merge two beautiful genres of arts and entertainment. Both theatre and film, showcasing a series of short films and selected plays, in one of the world's most famous cities, internationally known for being the home of entertainment. Los Angeles, California. Our mission is to select films and plays based on content, quality, and merit. It is also our volition to honor the creatives selected, with integrity and respect for their hard work, discipline and sacrifice to get their productions completed and ready for display. As playwrights, filmmakers and entertainment professionals ourselves, we understand what it takes, and for that reason, we salute you! Continue history with us!
o When/Where: November 12
o Deadline: April 5 (Early Bird Deadline), June 10 (Regular Deadline), September 25 (Late Deadline)
o Application Fee: $35-$55
o Eligibility: Trailers must be included in your FilmFreeway submission, to be considered for official selection.
We do not accept student films or "Works in progress."
Films must have been released, no earlier than January '2020
Those who submit films, must own the rights to the film, own the rights or have proper clearance for the original or selected music featured in the film, and footage.
All Non English films submitted, must include English captions.
This festival reserves the right to make amendments/revisions to the event itinerary, or postpone due to possible/forthcoming COVID-19 restrictions.
By submitting: You consent for our festival to use still shots and/or footage from your play or film, for promotional purposes.
We do not pay screening fees to films selected to screen in our festival.
o Categories: Short Film
The Women’s Independent Film Festival
The Women's Independent Film Festival is a chance to share and celebrate greatness in the world of female filmmaking. Our incredible community ranges from directors, to producers, to screenwriters, to actors, to content creators! Whatever the medium: We build this festival to shed light, deliver opportunity and celebrate the achievements of women in the world of filmmaking, storytelling and beyond! We're going into our 3rd year celebrating the Women's Independent Film Festival and we're so excited for this year's work, partnerships, competitions and more. Whether a finalist or not, all officially selected filmmakers will be invited to join us at the Women's Independent Film Festival for screenings, networking, resources, collaboration, learning, partnerships and for our official premieres and awards ceremony blocks. The Women's Independent Film Festival was created to encourage female content creators with unique backgrounds to share their stories/ The festival will promote the work of women filmmakers and recognize them globally for their achievements in film. Women have to be involved in the creation of ALL submitted films! That can be either as directors, producers, writers, performers, etc. Just as long as they were involved in the creation of the submitted work.
o When/Where: October 9-12
o Deadline: March 31 (March Deadline), April 30 (April Deadline), May 31 (May Deadline), June 30 (June Deadline), July 31 (Regular Deadline), September 1 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $10-$60
o Eligibility: All entries should be sent via FilmFreeway with a secure online screener. Each accepted film must be submitted in the .mp4 or .mov format, preferably. By submitting to the festival you confirm that you own the rights of the film, including the rights to the music in the film. By submitting to the festival you give consent to the festival programming staff to screen your work in front of the private audience of the Women's Independent Film Festival community. There is no minimum running time. Films must have been completed on or after Jan 1st, 2019. All genres are welcome Filmmakers may submit multiple entries as long as each film is submitted with its own Entry Form, online screener and paid Entry Fee.
o Categories: Shorts, Feature Film, Documentary, Animated
Los Angeles Asian Film Festival
Los Angeles Asian Film Awards, originally called Las Vegas Asian Film Awards (LVAFA), was an independent festival that resides beneath the umbrella of AOF MegaFest, which is in its 19th year, is the largest film event of its kind in the world. Held in Las Vegas at the Premiere Theaters and Locations, the show regularly exceeds 20,000 guests and attendees. After a first successful annual event in Las Vegas with the legendary AOF MegaFest in summer 2021, it moved to Los Angeles, the center of the world film industry. Opportunities at Los Angeles Asian Film Awards are literally like no other in the world; Los Angeles Asian Film Awards can put more resources together and offer a wide variety of industry guests, seminar speakers, and panelists. We invite you to join festival director, Award-Winning Filmmaker and Writer Lureen Wu and honorable judge, director Roger Christiansen ("Friends," "Hannah Montana," "Tango Down") as they bring you a selection of pure Asian Cinema for Screenings and Awards. The situation surrounding COVID-19 has caused much pain in the film and entertainment industries, and no group has been affected more than Asian Filmmakers, Writers, and Creators. The Los Angeles Asian Film Awards is a hub and platform for Asian filmmakers to have their works seen and voices heard. Festival Director Lureen Wu was born and raised in Shanghai, China. She worked as a TV director in Shanghai for years, including TV documentaries, TV commercials, celebrity talk shows, and music videos. Early in her career in Shanghai, Lureen worked with the Emmy Award-winning television interviewer, Nancy Merrill, in the English talk show "Nancy Merrill: Minds of Millionaires" on the international channel of Shanghai TV Station(SMG) and CCTV NEWS. After moving to the United States, Lureen continued pursuing her career in film. She worked with filmmakers who are part of some best-known movies and TV shows such as Friends, Les Misérables（2012), The Big Bang Theory, Saw, Sex and The City, Iron Man 2, Grey's Anatomy, The Princess Diaries, Stranger Things, Game of Thrones......Our Festival is open to ALL Asian filmmakers, talents, and writers of all genres and lengths.
o When/Where: December 13
o Deadline: March 31 (Early Bird Deadline), May 31 (Regular Early Deadline), June 30 (Regular Deadline), July 31 (Regular Late Deadline), August 31 (Late Deadline), September 30 (Extended Deadline) November 15 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $40-$55
o Eligibility: We are Accepting submissions for feature Narrative and Documentary, short Narrative and Documentary, Music Videos, TV Commercials, short/feature scripts. All genres are welcome. The festival programming staff will place your film in the appropriate category. To Enter for Competition your film or Project must have a writer, producer, talent or director of Asian descent in order to be eligible for awards.
o Categories: Feature, Short, Documentary, Documentary Short, Animation
WRPN Women's International Film Festival
Welcome to the WRPN Women's International Film Festival, where distribution and feedback opportunities abound for films made by women or films that carry subjects relating to concerns about women's issues. WWIFF is a sister festival to the Depth of Field International Film Festival, a FilmFreeway “Top 100 Reviewed” festival alumni. Distribution: over the years, our sister festivals have sent hundreds of films and screenplays to 3 established Distribution companies who have already signed contracts with dozens of our filmmakers. WWIFF now operates with that same advantage! These distributors do not take unsolicited submissions; your top award-winning with WWIFF gets you into our private distributor review group. This is a Free Service provided exclusively to our top winners. Don’t forget Feedback: The one element most festivals ignore.
o When/Where: May 9, 2026
o Deadline: January 31 (Regular Deadline), March 31 (Late Deadline), May 31 (Extended Deadline), August 31 (Last Chance Deadline)
o Application Fee: $36-$80
o Eligibility: While WWIFF is a female-focused film festival, we will also accept films produced and/or directed by men if one or more self-identifying top production members are female (including but not limited to cinematographers, producers, writers, editors, or films featuring a strong female presence on screen). We will not exclude films directed by men if the topic is significant to women and women's issues. WWIFF is granted the right to use an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for competition at the festival for promotional purposes. A clip of winning entries may also be streamed on the WWIFF.COM website and WRPN.TV.
o Categories: Feature, Short, Documentary, Screenplay
The Women’s Independent Film & Television Festival
The Women's Independent Film & Television Festival is a chance to share and celebrate greatness in the world of female filmmaking. Our incredible community ranges from directors, to producers, to screenwriters, to actors, to content creators! Whatever the medium: We build this festival to shed light, deliver opportunity and celebrate the achievements of women in the world of filmmaking, storytelling and beyond! We're going into our 3rd year celebrating The Women's Independent Film & Television Festival and we're so excited for this year's work, partnerships, competitions and more. Whether a finalist or not, all officially selected filmmakers will be invited to join us at the Women's Independent Film Awards for screenings, networking, resources, collaboration, learning, partnerships and for our official premieres and awards ceremony blocks. The Women's Independent Film & Television Festival was created to encourage female content creators with unique backgrounds to share their stories/ The festival will promote the work of women filmmakers and recognize them globally for their achievements in film. Women have to be involved in the creation of ALL submitted films! That can be either as directors, producers, writers, performers, etc. Just as long as they were involved in the creation of the submitted work.
o When/Where: October 9-12
o Deadline: November 30 (November Deadline), January 31 (January Deadline), March 1 (February Deadline), March 31 (March Deadline), April 30 (April Deadline), May 31 (May Deadline), June 30 (Regular Deadline), July 31 (Regular Deadline), September 1 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $10-52
o Eligibility: All entries should be sent via FilmFreeway with a secure online screener.
Each accepted film must be submitted in the .mp4 or .mov format, preferably.
By submitting to the festival you confirm that you own the rights of the film, including the rights to the music in the film.
By submitting to the festival you give consent to the festival programming staff to screen your work in front of the private audience of the Women's Independent Film Festival community.
There is no minimum running time.
Submission fees are non-refundable
Films must have been completed on or after Jan 1st, 2019.
All genres are welcome
Filmmakers may submit multiple entries as long as each film is submitted with its own Entry Form, online screener and paid Entry Fee.
o Categories: Short Film, Feature Film, Documentary, Experimental
The Women’s Independent Film Festival
The Women's Independent Film Festival is a chance to share and celebrate greatness in the world of female filmmaking. Our incredible community ranges from directors, to producers, to screenwriters, to actors, to content creators! Whatever the medium: We build this festival to shed light, deliver opportunity and celebrate the achievements of women in the world of filmmaking, storytelling and beyond! We're going into our 3rd year celebrating the Women's Independent Film Festival and we're so excited for this year's work, partnerships, competitions and more. Whether a finalist or not, all officially selected filmmakers will be invited to join us at the Women's Independent Film Festival for screenings, networking, resources, collaboration, learning, partnerships and for our official premieres and awards ceremony blocks. The Women's Independent Film Festival was created to encourage female content creators with unique backgrounds to share their stories/ The festival will promote the work of women filmmakers and recognize them globally for their achievements in film. Women have to be involved in the creation of ALL submitted films! That can be either as directors, producers, writers, performers, etc. Just as long as they were involved in the creation of the submitted work.
o When/Where: October 9-12 2025
o Deadline: October 30 (October Deadline), November 30 (November Deadline), January 31 (January Deadline), March 1 (February Deadline), March 31 (March Deadline), April 30 (April Deadline), May 31 (May Deadline), June 30 (June Deadline), July 31 (Regular Deadline), September 1 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $10-$60
o Eligibility: All entries should be sent via FilmFreeway with a secure online screener. Each accepted film must be submitted in the .mp4 or .mov format, preferably. By submitting to the festival you confirm that you own the rights of the film, including the rights to the music in the film. By submitting to the festival you give consent to the festival programming staff to screen your work in front of the private audience of the Women's Independent Film Festival community. There is no minimum running time. Films must have been completed on or after Jan 1st, 2019. All genres are welcome Filmmakers may submit multiple entries as long as each film is submitted with its own Entry Form, online screener and paid Entry Fee.
o Categories: Shorts, Feature Film, Documentary, Animated
Onscreen
Loco
Casting "Loco" a dark comedy about men and women who turn into animals when their blood is up, based on the classic Merimee novella (considered the originator of the femme fatale in Western lit).
o Roles: Robin - Lead: 30-45
Open to any ethnicity woman in her 30s/Early 40s (the script describes her as 37). A lawyer who works for the rich and powerful, still too young to have any real power herself, though right at the doorstep of power. Guilt ridden, hates her job, both because it’s boring, too many hours, she has no life, and job always puts her on the wrong side of issues, against those she’s sympathetic with. Very smart/sensitive, smart enough to be aware of or at least emotionally burdened by feeling of horror/injustice at the world, but too sensitive/shy/afraid to do anything about it in beginning. Catholic girl who’s lost her faith. Secretly very passionate, mentally and physically, mind and body constantly at war with each other. A dancer/athlete/science nerd would work well in this. Need an actress who can cover both ends of her arc and every point in between, from repressed/miserable/depressed/lost nerd/lady lawyer to Queen of the Jungle.
o Rate: $421 / day Total Pay: $8,420 (est. 20 days of work) Meals for shooting days. Actress with interest in and ambition to produce is a big plus and additional pay available through Rhapsody Digital Entertainment for this.
Offscreen
LA Independent Women in Film Awards
LA Independent Women Film Awards focuses on international and U.S. film and script projects of all genres. Every season, the IMDb qualifying fest recognizes projects with a female producer, director, lead actress, writer, cinematographer, editor, composer, etc. All topics related to women's thoughts, women's fate, life conditions, women's views and so on are welcome to participate. All the winners will be promoted through various online magazines in California and can request to receive certificates and laurels. All the winners can request for screening through our festival. Our mission is designed to help create a platform for our filmmakers to be seen, but more importantly, get them the industry exposure to help sustain their craft for many years to come.The members of our jury will be award winning artists working in media from all over the world. All the award winners can request to be a jury member of a new edition of the festival in order to vote for one of the categories. LA Independent Women Film Awards is an outstanding event for promoting female artists working in media from all over the world.
o When/Where: August 31
o Deadline: August 14 (Final Deadline)
o Application Fee: $30-$60
New York International Screenplay Awards
New York International Screenplay Awards is an international screenplay competition for screenwriters who aspire to connect with the US industry workers and explore the US markets. NYISA winners will be connected to the US film industry by the valued Sponsors; InkTip, Script Mailer, R2W2 talent & project accelerator/ consulting, Script Reader Pro, Screenwriting Software Final Draft!, And much more!
o When/Where: May 7
o Deadline: July 7 (Early Bird Deadline), November 24 (Regular Deadline), February 9 (Late Deadline), April 13 (Extended Deadline)
o Application Fee: $18-$60
o Eligibility: All scripts must be submitted in English, formatted in 12-point courier font.
Entry fees must be paid in U.S. dollars. Entry in the competition is void where prohibited by law.
Screenplays written by up to four people may be entered in the contest. Only one entry fee is required for such entries. All writers' names should be listed on the online entry. All writers must authorize the submission of the entry. If a screenplay is written by multiple authors, prizes will be divided at the writers' discretion.
All entries must be uploaded in PDF format. (www.freepdfconcert.com)
Entrants to the NYISA retain all rights to their screenplays.
Entries must be received by the applicable Entry Deadline.
Once a script has been entered into the competition, we will not accept substitutions or revised drafts. If you wish to submit a revised draft of your script, you must enter it as a new submission.
NYISA will not share your screenplay with anyone except the official judges of the competition.
By entering the NYISA, you represent that your entry is your original work, and does not infringe on the copyright or other rights of other people.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
We do not accept hardcopy submissions by mail.
Submissions must be the original work of the applicant. Entries may be adapted from the applicant's own work.
The decisions of the judges are final.
NYISA reserves the right to make any necessary changes, postponements, or cancellations to event scheduling at our discretion.
Notification of winners and official finalists will be sent by email and posted on our website. It is the responsibility of the winners to redeem any prizes allotted to them by the NYISA or our sponsors. Applicants will be responsible for providing current contact information and mailing addresses for prize redemption purposes.
Feature screenplays must be between 41 and 150 pages in length.
Short screenplays must be between 1 and 40 pages in length. Please email us if you have a longer screenplay that you would like to submit.There is no limit to the number of screenplays you may submit.
Under absolutely no circumstances will substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entry screenplay(s) be made. Screenplays will not be returned.
Screenplay titles cannot be changed upon resubmission under any circumstances.
o Categories: Feature, Short, TV Pilot
New York Screenwriting Awards
New York Screenwriting Awards, is an international screenplay competition based in New York. Screenwriters who would need recognition to be able to contact agents and producers can submit their screenplays. New York Screenwriting Awards has four editions per year. Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter editions. Winners will be announced on the NewY work Screenwriting Awards website, via emails, and FilmFreeway. Winners of each category will receive a prestigious digital certificate and the official laurel. New York Screenwriting Awards has been run by MAE Media House, one of the most prestigious creative writing consultancies in New York, since 2015.
o When/Where: September 20
o Deadline: July 5 (Early Bird Deadline), August 15 (Regular Deadline), September 15 (Extended Deadline)
o Application Fee: $18-$60
o Eligibility: Trailers must be included in your FilmFreeway submission, to be considered for official selection.
We do not accept student films or "Works in progress."
Films must have been released, no earlier than January '2020
Those who submit films, must own the rights to the film, own the rights or have proper clearance for the original or selected music featured in the film, and footage.
All Non English films submitted, must include English captions.
This festival reserves the right to make amendments/revisions to the event itinerary, or postpone due to possible/forthcoming COVID-19 restrictions.
By submitting: You consent for our festival to use still shots and/or footage from your play or film, for promotional purposes.
We do not pay screening fees to films selected to screen in our festival.
o Categories: Short Film
Swordfish Productions Pictures
Swordfish Productions Pictures is interviewing for the following Crew positions for an $80,000 Live-Action Short in New York.
o Roles: DP/Lighting, Picture Editor/Color, Sound Recorder/Mixer/Editor, Script Sup/Production Designer, 1stAD, Wardrobe/Hair/Makeup, Crafty, 2 PAs.
o Submission Guidelines: Please email 1-2 page Current Resume with 2 Biz Refs all contact info to SPECIALFILM@gmail.com.
Hollywood Storytellers Script Competition
The Hollywood Storytellers Script Competition (formerly The LA International Script Competition) is an annual event where outstanding Feature, Short, and TV Pilot Scripts are evaluated and placed in our all-inclusive genre contest. One writer from each genre and medium will be awarded the genre winner of their respective category. One feature screenplay writer, one short screenplay writer, and one TV pilot script writer will advance and receive the overall "grand prize winner" title. Call for entries open in January and close in November with announcements and subsequent information to follow. If you have a produced script, we'd be delighted to invite you to submit to our sister competition: The Hollywood Storytellers Film Festival
o When/Where: March 21-22
o Application Fee: $28-80
o Deadline: May 31 (Regular Deadline), July 31 (Extended Deadline), September 30 (Last Call Deadline), November 2 (Final Deadline)
o Categories: Feature Script, Short Script
Torch Literary Arts
Torch Literary Arts welcomes submissions of original creative work by Black women writers. We are interested in work that challenges and disrupts preconceived notions of what contemporary writing by Black women should be. Your stories and poems are valuable and necessary. Write freely and submit what you are excited to share with the world. Submissions are accepted for Friday Features only. We accept submissions on a rolling basis. Simultaneous submissions to other journals are welcome as long as they are identified as such and we are notified immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.
o Deadline: Rolling Basis
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: Include a one (1) page cover letter noting the title(s) of the work(s) submitted.
Upload your text submission as a Word (DOC, DOCX) or portable document format/PDF (PDF).
Typed, double-spaced (poetry may be single-spaced) pages.
Numbered pages.
Margins should be set at no less than 1” and no greater than 1.5”.
Poetry: submit up to five (5) poems totaling no more than eight (8) pages.
Fiction, Hybrid genre: 12-point font. No more than ten (10) pages or 2500 words (whichever is achieved first). Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained.
Drama/Screenwriting: submit one act or a collection of short scenes no longer than ten (10) pages. Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained. Indicate if a performance video or dramatic audio reading will be available with the text submission if selected.
Restrictions: We do not reprint previously published work for TORCH Friday Features.
o Categories: Scripts
A24
Based in NY and LA, A24 is the Academy Award-winning film and TV studio behind feature films such as Minari, Midsommar, Moonlight, Ex Machina, Uncut Gems, and this summer’s Zola and The Green Knight. A24 TV productions include the Emmy-winning series Euphoria for HBO starring Zendaya, Hulu series Ramy from Golden Globe-winner Ramy Youssef, the eponymous variety series from viral comedy sensation Ziwe for Showtime, the forthcoming Joseph Gordon-Levitt Apple series Mr. Corman, and the Netflix anthology series Beef starring Oscar nominee Steven Yeun and Ali Wong.
o Seeking: Various Roles
o Location: Los Angeles, CA & New York, NY
o Website: https://a24films.com/jobs
The Kate Spade New York Foundation
o To honor Kate Spade’s legacy of empowering and inspiring women and girls, the National Council for Behavioral Health is excited to provide complimentary Mental Health First Aid training to communities throughout the five boroughs of New York City and New Jersey and in partnership with organizations that specifically support these populations.
What is Mental Health First Aid?
Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.
The National Council for Behavioral Health shares Kate Spade New York Foundation’s belief in “the power of women to transform their communities” through empowerment. In support of this mission, we are offering through a competitive application process, select Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid training, fully funded!
o Location: New York, NY
o Website
Funding
Roy W. Dean Grants
Now entering its fourth decade, the Roy W. Dean Film Grants fund independent feature films, documentaries, web series, and short films with budgets of $500,000 or less that are unique and make a contribution to society that, without its help, might otherwise never get made.
o Deadline: April 29 (Short Film Grant), June 30th (Roy W Grant - Summer), October 31 (Roy W Grant - Fall), November 30 (Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant)
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: We want a one page synopsis (or outline) of the film and the first 10 pages of your script. Please be sure also include the following:
Style, format and approach to the material, including any distinct visual or technical elements.
What are your plans for distribution?
Are you the producer, director, what?
How is this project unique and how does this project benefit society?
What is your relationship to the material?
List name and position of proposed key production personnel (producer, director, cinematographer, editor, etc.) List their relevant experience or credits.
o Contact: artistdevelopment@filmindependent.org
Artslink International Fellowship
The ArtsLink International Fellowship program prioritizes applicants whose social practices seek to actively engage communities on issues related to the current climate emergency and human rights. We will actively encourage artists and arts leaders whose work is making a vital contribution to furthering people’s awareness, understanding, and active participation in environmental and/or social justice issues. Additionally, we will prioritize artists recently displaced from or still working in Afghanistan and Ukraine.
o Deadline: Letter of Inquiry deadline will be announced in January 2025 Fellowships take place in 2026: online research in May and in person residencies in the US in October-November
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: CEC ArtsLink welcomes applications from contemporary artists, curators, and arts leaders whose work is shaped by community engagement and social practice strategies, and informed by our most urgent local and global issues. We welcome applications from artists of any generation and invite those with both traditional and non-traditional artistic backgrounds. Applicants must be citizens of one of our network countries. If you are living outside the region, please indicate where you are currently based. Please note that an ability to communicate both verbally and in written English will be essential to success in the program. Undergraduate students and research scholars are not eligible. Arts leaders/curators must be affiliated with an arts organization in the non-commercial sector or work as individual independent arts professionals. Artists seeking placement in commercial firms are ineligible. ArtsLink International Fellows from prior years are not eligible to reapply.
Sloan Distribution Grant
The Sloan Distribution Grant is a $50,000 grant awarded by Film Independent to a film that is entering its distribution phase. Eligible films must depict themes, stories and characters grounded in real science, technology or economics.
o Deadline: Rolling
o Application Fee: $65
o Eligibility: Applicants must be the producer of a narrative fiction feature film.The film should prominently feature science, mathematics and/or technology in the story and/or have a leading character that is a scientist, engineer or mathematician. Films with innovative marketing and distribution plans are encouraged to apply. All submitted films must be at least 70 minutes in length. Applicants must be legal residents of the United States. Film must be entering its distribution phase.
o Contact: artistdevelopment@filmindependent.org
Panavision New Filmmaker Program
Panavision believes in helping students and beginning filmmakers achieve their dreams. More than 25 years ago, Panavision launched the New Filmmaker Program, an ongoing grant program that loans camera packages to film schools, training programs, and independent filmmakers – at little or no charge. Panavision’s commitment to the industry's future provides student and beginning filmmakers the opportunity to work with professional grade equipment early in their careers.
o Deadline: Rolling
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Submit your proposals at least two months before you plan to shoot. Due to the high demand for Panavision cameras and equipment, it is essential that you plan ahead and contact us early.
Proposal materials will not be returned.
The New Filmmaker Program does not discriminate as to the nature of the project that can receive equipment grants. Any form, from experimental to documentary to musical to traditional narrative, is welcome.
Camera grants are available only for productions in the United States. Customs laws make transportation of cameras out of the US prohibitive. No exceptions.
The New Filmmaker Program will not allow cameras to be used on projects that perpetuate racial or sexual stereotypes and prejudices. Pornography is absolutely unacceptable.
Grant recipients must obtain insurance from an outside insurance agent. Students can generally have the school issue the necessary policies. Plan ahead! This can take several weeks to implement. The process varies from school to school, so check with your film department. Productions that are not attached to a school must obtain the necessary insurance from an independent broker. Panavision must receive proof of insurance two weeks prior to prep dates. EQUIPMENT WILL NOT LEAVE THE BUILDING WITHOUT PROPER INSURANCE. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Approved proposals are subject to a service fee for equipment.
Anamorphic lenses are not available via the New Filmmaker Program
All gear is requests are subject to availability
o Contact: nfp@panavision.com
Catapult Film Fund
Catapult Film Fund provides development funding to documentary filmmakers who have a compelling story to tell, have secured access to their story, and are ready to shoot and edit a piece for production fundraising purposes. Our mission is to enable filmmakers to develop their films to the next level at a moment where funding is hard to find.
o Deadline: Rolling
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Catapult does not fund student films.
Documentaries must be 28 minutes or longer in length. We do not fund series.
Animation is okay. Documentary/narrative hybrids will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Development funds must specifically be used for the process of completing a fundraising piece, which may include writing, shooting and editing once story and characters are in place.
Applicants must own the copyright of their production, and have artistic, budgetary and editorial control over their project.
Applicants should preferably have previous film or television production experience in a principal role (director, co-director, producer, co-producer) as demonstrated by submitting a previously completed work sample.
Applicants who have not yet produced or directed their own feature length documentary should demonstrate that they will be working with an experienced filmmaker in a principal role.
Catapult only makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations. In most cases, this will mean getting a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor for the project. A film production company or individual, including applicants from outside the US, may submit an application without a fiscal sponsor in place. Please see the FAQ section for more details.
o Contact: info@catapultfilmfund.org
Residencies
Experience by Industry Standard- 2026 Residencies
We’re thrilled to announce that applications are officially open for the 2026 cycle of Experience Residencies– a paid nine-month apprenticeship program from Industry Standard, supported by Netflix. A launchpad for careers in documentary post production, the program offers hands-on work experience, individualized mentorship, and curated networking with top-tier filmmakers and studios. Experience Residencies assist emerging talent to gain access, visibility, and real-world readiness in one of the industry’s most competitive sectors. Experience Residencies empower early to mid-career professionals in premium post-production through immersive, nine-month paid apprenticeships focused on documentary filmmaking. Participants gain hands-on experience within specialized tracks, working alongside industry leaders in high-performing post-production environments. The program offers deep exposure to professional workflows, guided by meaningful mentorship that accelerates skill-building and industry insight—knowledge that often takes years to acquire. By working alongside top producers and creative teams, participants gain real-world experience and access to valuable networks early in their careers. Open to all, the program is designed to expand access to creative careers and increase visibility for talent from all backgrounds.
o Deadline: August 10
o Application Fee: N/a
o Eligibility: Experience Residencies are open to all. This program is designed to create greater access and visibility into creative careers for individuals from all walks of life. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be eligible for employment in the United States.
18th Street Arts Center
18th Street Arts Center values art making as an essential component of a vibrant, just, and healthy society. Its mission is “to provoke public dialogue through contemporary art making.” Founded in 1988, 18th Street Arts Center has fostered and supported the work of many of Los Angeles’ most engaging artists, and has built bridges to artist communities around the globe.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: Yes
o When: Ongoing
o Eligibility: The Visiting Artist Residency Program accepts applications from working, professional artists who demonstrate a deep commitment to their practices. The program is open to artists of all generations, nationalities, and disciplines. Applicants are required to cover studio rental costs themselves. Although we primarily support visual artists, 18th Street Arts Center will consider applications from performing artists, writers, and filmmakers as well.
o Address: 1639 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
o Contact: 310-453-3711
Other Resources
NOTE: For more resources, visit our pages of Resources - Funding, Submissions, and more.
NYFA SOURCE - The New York Foundation for the Arts maintains the most comprehensive national directory of awards, services and publications for artists in the NYFA Source section of their website.
FILM FREEWAY - Film/Video artists can check Film Freeway at: