Script Categories
Drama Feature Screenplay presented by Writers Guild of America, East
Drama Screenplay Award presented by Writers Guild of America, East
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.
Enderby Entertainment Award
Enderby Entertainment Award
The Enderby Entertainment Award category is open to feature scripts in all genres with an original concept and distinctive voice that can be independently produced under $10 million. Co-founded by Rick Dugdale and Daniel Petrie, Jr. (Beverly Hills Cop, The Big Easy), the production company acquired the 2008 AFF Finalist script Stranded (now titled Dawn Patrol) which premiered at the 2014 Festival starring Scott Eastwood and Rita Wilson.
Entry Requirements:
- Requires an additional $25 entry fee
- Must first be entered in either the Feature Drama or Feature Comedy categories
Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship
Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship
Acclaimed producer Barry Josephson has been a longtime supporter of AFF since the very first festival in 1994 when he optioned the winning script from the Screenplay Competition. For the seventh year, Barry will present the “Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship” which will provide a one-on-one mentorship for the writers of two scripts – one feature script and one teleplay pilot – selected from the Final Round of the 2023 Screenplay Competition. Finalists will be invited to apply and AFF will select the top writers for Josephson Entertainment to further review. The selected fellows will be announced and presented by Barry Josephson at the Awards Luncheon on October 28, 2023. Each fellow will be flown to LA to be mentored by Barry and take meetings with various executives from Josephson Entertainment to take their writing to the next level.
Entry Requirements:
Must be entered in: Comedy or Drama Feature, or TV Pilot categories.
The Rooster Teeth BIPOC Fellowship
The Rooster Teeth BIPOC Fellowship seeks scripts from underrepresented writers in the industry. While open to any genre, submissions should generally align with Rooster Teeth’s voice: an emphasis on comedy concepts that feature ordinary people in extraordinary situations, coming-of-age stories, or other engaging journeys of self-discovery.
The winner will receive a $2,500 prize and will be flown (travel-expenses covered) to Austin for a three-day-long mentorship with Rooster Teeth’s team. The winner will meet with Rooster Teeth executives and their development team.
Entry Requirements:
- Requires an additional $25 entry fee
- This category is only open to writers who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). To submit to this category please select one of the options within the Demographics section in this form. Applicants from underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply.
The Rooster Teeth Women & Animation Fellowship
The Rooster Teeth Women & Animation Fellowship seeks scripts from women looking to enter into the field of animation. While open to any genre, animation scripts should generally align with Rooster Teeth’s voice: an emphasis on comedy concepts that feature ordinary people in extraordinary situations, coming-of-age stories, or other engaging journeys of self-discovery.
The winner will receive a $2,500 prize and will be flown (travel-expenses covered) to Austin for a three-day-long mentorship with Rooster Teeth’s team. The winner will meet with Rooster Teeth executives and their development team.
Entry Requirements:
- Requires an additional $25 entry fee
- This category is only open to writers who identify as female. Applicants from underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply.
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!
For questions regarding submissions and special inquiries, please email our new Screenplay Department Manager: Alyssa Alvarado – scriptdirector@austinfilmfestival.com
For questions regarding reader inquiries and opportunities, please contact our new Script Competitions Manager: scriptmanager@austinfilmfestival.com or call at 512-478-4795.