45 contests, fellowships and labs with an upcoming deadline, grouped by the lowest price in their current fee line. The median cheapest entry for a paid contest is $59.50. 20 cost less than $50 to enter, including 1 that is free. The lowest price is often the short-script or earliest-tier fee, so a feature entry or a later tier can cost more; every card shows the full fee line. Student-only discounts aren't counted, and 3 programs without a flat entry fee (such as ones that require paid script hosting) are left out. Fees change at each deadline tier, and this page is rebuilt every day. For the cheapest options only, see entry fees $50 or less.
$49 Early (Jan 15, 2027) / $59 Regular (Feb 15) / $69 Late (Mar 15) / $79 Last Minute (Apr 15); Final Deadline announced in April. Discounts for multiple submissions; feedback also available
$30 early (Oct 30) / $50 regular (Mar 19, 2027) application; $2,975 residency fee if selected
Final tier: $29 short / $59 feature or teleplay (45+ pages)
Regular (Oct 31): $30 horror short / $55 feature; final (Dec 4): $35 / $65; extended (Dec 31): $40 / $75
Final (Oct 31): $31 short (up to 35 pages) / $51 feature
Final tier (Oct 31): $35 short / $58 feature; screenplay entries include judge's feedback
Features, shorts and TV pilots: $20 early (Nov 10) / $30 regular (Dec 23) / $45 late (Jan 20, 2027); ISAConnect members $15 / $25 / $40; students $10 / $15 / $20
$39 earlybird (Nov 14) / $49 regular (Nov 28) / $66 late (Dec 12) / $79 final extended (Dec 26)
Late (Nov 20): $25 short or pilot up to 45 pages / $55 feature or pilot over 45 pages; extended (Dec 20): $29 / $59
$35 early (Nov 22) / $45 regular (Dec 20) / $55 late (Jan 24, 2027) / $65 final (Feb 21) / $75 extended (Mar 21) / $85 closing (Apr 18, 2027)
Screenplay $45 early bird (Dec 1) / $50 regular / $55 late / $60 final / $65 last-minute; with feedback $135–$155; shorts (under 50 pages) $25–$45, with feedback $80–$100
Riviera (Oct 31): contest entry only (no feedback) $44 short / $54 TV or feature; with written analysis $64 short / $74 TV / $94 feature; at the Dec 31 final: $69 no feedback, $94 / $99 / $114 with analysis
Final October tier (Oct 31): $69 TV / $74 feature for a 10-page entry; $79 TV / $99 feature for a full script with analysis; contest entry only (no written feedback) $69 feature or TV / $49 short (ISA site)
$40 per application via WIF (non-members; WIF members pay member rates); Black List route needs hosting ($30/mo) + 1 evaluation ($100)
Late (Nov 6): $45 short / $49 TV / $59 feature; final (Nov 27): $49 / $55 / $65 (contest entry; feedback packages cost more)
$49 earlybird (Nov 7) / $55 regular (Nov 28) / $75 late (Dec 5) / $85 final extended (Dec 26); students $45 / $70 / $80 on FilmFreeway
$58 script entry only; $299 premium package (entry + notes + Zoom with founder)
Late tier (Nov 10): $50 short / $95 feature
$57 regular (Nov 16) / $68 late (closes Dec 1, 11:59pm PT) application; tuition if admitted: $1,800 remote retreat, €4,250 Croatia/Ireland retreats, $2,750 Narrative Lab
$59.50 early bird (Nov 18) / $69.50 regular (Dec 9) / $79.50 final (Dec 30)
$59 early (Nov 19) / $79 final (Feb 4, 2027); ISAConnect members $49 / $69 (mega-early closed Oct 29)
$59 regular (Nov 20) / $69 late (Dec 20) / $79 final (Jan 20)
$50 standard application fee on FilmFreeway; entries now only with Sundance's waiver code EpSloanGrantX121426 (posted on sundance.org/deadlines)
$50 pre-register (Dec 30); then $60 early (Mar 5, 2027) / $65 regular (May 1) / $70 late (May 15) / $75 extended (May 31)
$40 per application (each project is a separate application; WIF members get member discounts)
$49 Early (Jan 15, 2027) / $59 Regular (Feb 15) / $69 Late (Mar 15) / $79 Last Minute (Apr 15); Final Deadline announced in April. Discounts for multiple submissions; feedback also available
$70 extended tier (Oct 30)
Late (Oct 31): $60 entry with no feedback / $100 with 2–3 pages of feedback
Take Two (Oct 31): $65 screenplay contest entry (no feedback); with written analysis $94 TV / $99 short / $104 feature; at the Dec 31 final: $84 no feedback, $119 TV / $114 short / $124 feature with analysis
Stage 32 special extended (Nov 1): $95 feature / $75 TV or web pilot / $70 short (entries through Stage 32 only)
$84.50 extended (Nov 2) on Stage 32; FilmFreeway lists $79.50 final through Nov 2
$69.50 regular (Nov 11) / $79.50 final (Dec 2) / $84.50 extended (Dec 7) on Stage 32; FilmFreeway lists $79.50 through Dec 7
$69 final (Nov 15); with Studio Coverage $110 or Development Notes $180 (same price at every deadline); books and video game scripts $79
Final (Nov 17): $75 feature / $60 short / $65 TV pilot / $70 category entries (LGBTQIA+, female-driven, first-time, genre, stage play)
$60 early bird (Nov 21) / $80 regular (Dec 21) / $100 late (Jan 22, 2027), every category; JHRTS and academic members get discounted fees
Final (Nov 24): $69 short / $79–$89 TV / $99 feature / $119 long feature
Late (Nov 27): $70 short / $85 pilot / $95 feature; extended (Dec 31): $80 / $95 / $105
Late (Nov 30): $75 feature or one-hour TV pilot / $65 short or half-hour pilot; extended (Dec 31): $85 / $75 (FilmFreeway standard fees)
Final (Mar 6, 2027): TV pilot $61.19 / feature $66.69; extended (Mar 29): $72.29 / $77.79 (FilmFreeway; earlybird closed Oct 29)
Extended (Oct 31): $95 feature / $90 TV pilot or series / $90 short; last minute (Dec 1): $99 / $95 / $95; feedback included
$100 ($150 with notes)
Extended tier (Nov 6): $110 pilot or short / $140 feature (students $90–$120)
Final tier (Nov 13): $85 short or half-hour teleplay / $90 one-hour teleplay / $100 feature
$90 extended late (Nov 24) / $95 final (Dec 14); if invited, the retreat costs $2,800 per writer ($4,600 per team)
Right now the cheapest entry option for the 37 paid contests with an upcoming deadline runs from $15 to $110, with a median of $59.50. That's usually the earliest tier or the short-script price; feature entries and later tiers cost more, and entries with notes or feedback cost extra.
Yes. 1 programs with an upcoming deadline are free to enter right now, mostly fellowships and writing programs. See Free to enter for every no-fee program, including ones whose next dates are still TBA.
Most contests have several deadline tiers (early bird, regular, late, final, extended), and the fee rises at each one. Entering at the earliest tier you can is the easiest way to save money; see early-bird deadlines.
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