Is your screenplay or TV pilot ready for the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Competition?

With dozens of screenwriting contests out there, it’s important to consider which ones are worth your time and money. Over the past 20 years, the Big Break Screenwriting Contest has become one of the most respected contests in the industry, launching several careers for aspiring writers.

The Big Break Screenwriting Competition rewards screenwriters in 11 genres the chance to win up to $80,000 in cash and prizes, including a trip to Los Angeles for a series of A-list executive meetings with managers, producers and executives. The contest is judged by top industry professionals, including renowned agents, managers, producers, and studio execs, offering unmatched networking and career opportunities.

In recent years, over 50 Big Break Screenplay Contest winners, finalists, and semi-finalists have signed with professional representation. Many have had scripts optioned, sold, and produced, while others have found full-time work creating or working on television series for Netflix, FX, Apple TV, and Max.

Some Big Break success stories include:

• The Mul Brothers category winning script Faster Than Horses is in pre-production with Ansel Elgort attached to star
  
• Natalie Wood signed with manager from Meridian Artists
  
• Joseph Greenberg sold his script Man Alive to 20th Century Fox for Noah Hawley (Fargo) to direct
  
• Aadip Desai signed to Good Fear Film & Management, received a 2019 ABC/Disney Fellowship, and became a staff writer on The Goldbergs
• Joshua Flanagan signed with UTA and had his script optioned by Legacy Pictures
• Paula Sabbaga signed with Brian Spink of REALM, staffed on The CW's Dynasty and Walker, and is adapting The Grimm Legacy novels for Disney+
• Dustin Milligan signed with Anonymous Contest
• Greta Heinemann is developing her own TV projects with Netflix and FX, in addition to working on a movie for Amazon Studios with Barry Levinson directing, Priyanka Chopra starring, and David Permut producing
• Benjamin Kramer signed with Heroes & Villains Management
• Adam Kline signed with Circle of Confusion and has a feature in production at Netflix
• Mira Z. Barnum signed with TFC Management and wrote for the Netflix series Partner Track, and is now staff writer on The Irrational
• Frank Arthur Smith is in post-production on his comedy series Open to It
  
• Aaron Horwitz's Big Break finalist script Green Bank has a director and actors attached
• Neil Pollner signed with Big Break judge Alex Barnes for representation

"The world of screenwriting contests is very exciting these days with so many to choose from, but it’s hard to know which ones are worth the entry fee. With Big Break, there’s no question. It’s worth it." -- Jason Kaleko, 2023 Grand Prize Feature Winner

"I’ve no doubt my career has shifted in a hugely positive direction via the connections I’ve made and it’s all because of Big Break." -- Alix Reeves, 2023 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 Diversity Category Quarter-Finalist

2021 Big Break Drama Category Winners The Mul Brothers

Creating a Screenwriting Career Off a Big Break Win

The primary focus of the Big Break Screenwriting Contest has always been to establish a screenwriting career for winners and finalists.

One of the differentiators between Big Break and other screenwriting contests is Final Draft’s commitment to championing screenwriters, helping writers from all over the world get their material in front of the eyes of filmmaking professionals.

But how can screenwriters differentiate themselves from other writers?

Jeff Portnoy, literary manager at Bellevue Productions and a judge for this year’s Big Break, says it all comes down to originality.

“You need to stand out. That is hard when there are over 6,000 applicants in a competition like this. When it comes to concept/premise/logline, be bold. They should be loud and buzzy. And of course, the voice/prose on the page needs to grab your attention.”

When judging a script, Portnoy says character, dialogue, and voice are the first things that grab his attention.

But winning the contest is only part of establishing a career in film and television. Success is when opportunity meets preparation. The Big Break Screenwriting Contest can give you the opportunity, but you must be prepared. Are you ready to use that leverage to show off your ability to collaborate, and maintain your voice, while constantly working at your craft?

Not only do Big Break's winners gain professional opportunities, but so do many quarter-finalists, semi-finalists, and finalists, such as the Mul Brothers, whose 2021 Drama Category Winning script Faster Than Horses is now in pre-production.

The Big Break Screenwriting Contest was created to turn aspiring screenwriters into working professionals. Part of that is encouraging success beyond the contest -- to offer real opportunities to work in the film and television industries. Big Break is more than just prizes; it’s the first major step to a screenwriting career.

Are you ready to take your screenwriting career to the next level? The Big Break Screenwriting Contest opens for entries March 10, 2025.