⭐Big Break 2024 Is OPEN For Submissions!⭐

A message from our partners Final Draft!

Author

Rianne Pictures
April 25, 2024

Is this your big screenwriting career break? Don’t miss out on the chance to share over $80,000 in cash and prizes, and kickstart your screenwriting career with meetings with executives, producers and managers.

Big Break winners and finalists alike have had their screenplays optioned and produced and have secured high-profile representation as well as lucrative writing deals.

In recent years, over 50 Big Break semi-finalists, finalists and winners have signed with professional representation. Many have had scripts optioned, sold and produced. Others have found full-time work in television. While still others are being currently introduced to the various facets of the film and television industry through professional career guidance.

This year’s deadlines/prices:

  • Regular Deadline is Monday, May 20, 2024
    Shorts: $45.00
    Feature & Television: $65.00
    Diversity Feature & Television Entry: $65.00
    Shorts Entry + Feedback: $85.00
    Feature & Television + Feedback: $130.00
    Diversity Feature & Television + Feedback: $130.00

  • Final Deadline is Monday, June 10, 2024
    Shorts: $55.00
    Feature & Television: $75.00
    Diversity Feature & Television Entry: $75.00
    Shorts Entry + Feedback: $95.00
    Feature & Television + Feedback: $140.00
    Diversity Feature & Television + Feedback: $140.00

  • Extended Deadline is Friday, June 28, 2024
    Shorts: $65.00
    Feature & Television: $85.00
    Diversity Feature & Television Entry: $85.00
    Shorts Entry + Feedback: $105.00
    Feature & Television + Feedback: $150.00
    Diversity Feature & Television + Feedback: $150.00

Dates reflect deadlines for electronic submission of scripts. All entries must be electronically submitted by midnight (Pacific Time) on their respective deadlines.

Jason Kaleko

Signed with Dallaslyn Lamb and Matt Rosen at Rain Management Group

 2023 Grand Prize Feature Winner

Jason Ginsburg

Signed with Gravity Squared Entertainment

2022 Top 3 in Comedy/Feature for Unexplainable

Natalie Wood

Signed with manager at Meridian Artists

2022 Grand Prize TV Winner

"Everyone recognizes the names Final Draft, and Big Break. It absolutely made a difference in getting my material read." – Frank Arthur Smith, 2020 & 2021 Quarterfinalist 

 Learn about some of our success stories!

2 Grand Prize Award Winners: One Feature Grand Prize and one TV Grand Prize winner will be selected from the 11 Feature Genre and TV Format award winners.

Each Grand Prize Award Winner:
Winners receive the prizes below plus the prizes listed under the Category Winners section. 

  • $10,000 Cash

  • Apple iPad

  • Dell XPS Laptop

  • Roundtrip airfare to Los Angeles plus 3 night hotel accommodation

  • UCLAex Masterclass

  • 1-year subscription to ScriptHop

  • Cocktails with Big Break Grand Prize Alumni

  • 60-90 minute career/meeting prep session from screenwriting career coach Lee Jessup

  • Copy of Save the Cat! Story Structure Software and book

  • Query Letter or One-Sheet analysis and a personalized, signed copy of The Screenwriter’s Bible by Dave Trottier

  • Final Draft Go™ App for iPhone and iPad.

Additional prizes for TV Grand Prize winner:

  • Script Consultation from Jen Grisanti Inc.

  • One-hour career coaching session with Carole Kirschner to create a personalized game plan for leveraging the contest win.

Each Feature and TV Winner Receives:

  • $1,000 Cash

  • Final Draft 13

  • The New York Film Academy - Attend multi-week online immersive program in both film & television writing

  • 5 Career coaching sessions with screenwriting coach Lee Jessup

  • 60-minute webinar with screenwriting career coach Lee Jessup on how to capitalize on your Big Break win

  • Participation in a 6-Week Teleseminar from Jen Grisanti Inc.

  • A 4-month InkTip Pro Membership – As an InkTip Pro Member, thousands of filmmakers can find and read your scripts, and you’ll be able to pitch directly to production companies every week

  • Free entry to any Script Pipeline Season – Feature or TV

  • One year subscription of MasterWriter software

  • Free Big Break Contest entry for 2025

  • Script coverage from Big Break readers

  • A Copy of Save The Cat! Strikes Back by screenwriter Blake Snyder.

  • 6 month subscription to ScriptHop

Short Script Winner Receives:

  • $1,000 Cash

  • Final Draft 13

  • Feedback on a verbal pitch or pitch deck, plus a 1-hour feedback session with Seed & Spark

  • Free Big Break Contest entry for 2025

  • A 4-month InkTip Pro Membership – As an InkTip Pro Member, thousands of filmmakers can find and read your scripts, and you’ll be able to pitch directly to production companies every week

  • 6 month subscription to ScriptHop

  • One year subscription of MasterWriter software

Short Script Finalists Receive:

  • One-on-one consultation with Seed & Spark on crowdfunding, producing, and distribution

Looking for resources to help you sharpen your skills? Check out Final Draft's Screenwriting Resources for more ways to develop and grow as a screenwriter!