For Screenwriters in Grades 8 – 12

Submissions are now open!

Submissions Open 11/15/2024 until 3/7/2025!

Montclair Film’s EMERGING SCREENWRITING COMPETITION celebrates the work of screenwriters who are in the 8th through 12th grades. The emerging screenwriters’ screenplays represent a wide range of styles and voices that showcase the diverse talents of young people who are using story to express themselves.

The screenplays can be submitted in a variety of genres including Comedy, Drama, Action/Adventure, Sci-fi/Fantasy, and Horror, and will be adjudicated by a jury of screenwriting and filmmaking professionals.

The Perks

• The Grand Prize Winning script will be performed at a table read by actors at the award ceremony.
• Winners will be celebrated at our annual ESC Award Ceremony
• Winners will be acknowledged in a Montclair Film press release and on their website
• Winners in each category receive emailed script consultation from an experienced screenwriter

The Rules

• Short Film or Web Series Pilots will be accepted up to a length of 12 pages (not including the title page).
• Submissions must be submitted as a PDF
• Formatting: 12-point Courier font. 1.5 inch left margin. 1-inch right margin.
  • Scripts must be formatted correctly to be considered. If you did not write your screenplay in screenwriting software (Final Draft, Movie Magic, etc.), consider re-writing it using Writerduet.com or Celtx.com, both of which have free options.
• Each writer may submit no more than two screenplays.
• Scripts may be submitted with multiple genres including Comedy, Drama, Horror — or a genre not listed.
• Awards are determined by the ESC Jury.

For more information contact: Education@Montclairfilm.org