Southern Screenwriting
Competition 2026-2027
Designed to discover and support emerging screenwriters who can authentically capture the voice, culture, and complexity of the American South through compelling, character-driven storytelling.
"The Southern Screenwriting Competition aims to celebrate authentic Southern voices while identifying and supporting talented writers with stories capable of becoming compelling feature films."
ROUND ONE
Treatment Submission
- Submissions accepted November 1st through December 18th, 2026
- $35 submission fee per treatment
- No more than a five-page treatment for an original feature-length screenplay or episodic series
- Screenplay must be set in the American South
- Stories must feature Southern characters and themes
- Submissions must be original works, not previously produced or optioned
Following Round One, 20 finalists will be selected and announced by January 4th, 2027.
ROUND TWO
Screenplay Submission
- 20 finalists selected from Round One submissions
- Finalists announced January 4th, 2027
- Full feature-length screenplay or full-length pilot due by March 19th, 2027
- Judged on character development, story, dialogue, originality, emotional impact, and Southern authenticity
- Writers retain full ownership of all submitted work
Participants retain full ownership of all rights to submitted treatments and screenplays.
A total of $10,000 in prize money awarded to the top three finalists
FIRST PLACE
SECOND PLACE
THIRD PLACE
$5,000
$3,000
$2,000
Winners Announced
April 16th, 2027