Script Categories
Drama Feature Screenplay
Drama Screenplay Award
The category is open but not limited to feature drama scripts in genres such as historical, western, family, romance, horror, thriller, etc.
Comedy Feature Screenplay
Comedy Screenplay Award
The category is open but not limited to feature comedy scripts in genres such as dark comedy, satire, family, animation, slapstick, horror, etc.
Horror Award
The Horror Award is open to any feature horror script including dark suspense, thriller, sci-fi and macabre themes.
Entry Requirements:
- Requires additional $20 entry fee
- Must first be entered in either the Feature Drama or Comedy categories
Sci-Fi Award
The Sci-Fi Award is open to science fiction, fantasy, horror, surrealism, myth/legend and fantastical storytelling.
Entry Requirements:
- Requires additional $20 entry fee
- Must first be entered in either the Feature Drama or Comedy categories
Short Screenplay
Entry Requirements:
- Open to any narrative short script in all genres 5 to 40 pages in length.
Drama Teleplay
Open to spec scripts for any currently airing television program AND original pilot scripts (no bibles or treatments will be accepted).
Drama Teleplay Pilot
Open to any pilot script written in the one-hour or half-hour format for an original drama television series.
Drama Teleplay Spec
Open to any spec script for a current drama television show in the one-hour or half-hour format.
Comedy Teleplay
Open to spec scripts for any currently airing television program AND original pilot scripts (no bibles or treatments will be accepted).
Comedy Teleplay Pilot
Open to any pilot script written in the half-hour or one-hour format for an original comedy television series.
Comedy Teleplay Spec
Open to any spec script for a current comedy television show in the half-hour or one-hour format.
Scripted Digital Series
Open to short-form episodic scripts intended for the web. Writers can submit 1-3 episodes of their series totaling no more than 30 pages.
Have a web series you want to submit? Want more information? Check out our Digital Series Competition page!
Playwriting
Open to full-length stage plays 60-90 pages or that could reasonably be performed within 90 minutes on stage.
Have a play you want to submit? Want more information? Check out our Playwriting Competition!
Fiction Podcast
Open to ongoing, original, serialized stories designed for the podcast medium.
- Writers can submit up to three episodes 3-30 pages in length
- Include a series outline, detailing the events of the remaining episodes in the series
Have a podcast script? Want more information? Check out our Fiction Podcast Script Competition!

SCRIPT COVERAGE
Every good writer has a good reader. For established screenwriters, it’s often a producer, a spouse, or a fellow screenwriter. Whoever it is must be objective and fluent in the language of screenwriting.
Those coverage readers put scripts into the right hands, using an industry method so consistent you can give your own script a significant head start by applying their evaluation and rewrite techniques before sending your work into the world. The Austin Film Festival Coverage Program gives you that strategy and helps you to implement it.
Questions?
For general questions our FAQ can be read here and our Rules can be viewed here.
Still in need of assistance? The AFF Screenplay Department is happy to help! Email at screenplay@austinfilmfestival.com or call at 512-478-4795.