Palm Springs Intl. Screenplay Award

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Festival Description

2025 FALL COMPETITION NOW OPEN...where EVERY entry receives PROFESSIONAL FEEDBACK!

Now providing winners and selected finalists DIRECT EXPOSURE TO PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS! 

 EVERY ENTRY GETS PROFESSIONAL WRITTEN ANALYSIS!

Home of the famed Palm Springs International Film Festival* and playground for generations of entertainment industry moguls and international celebrities.

Every word of your script...or every frame of your trailer/video will be studied and analyzed by established Hollywood film and television WGA, SAG, DGA Award-winners with hundreds of credits at every major Hollywood studio, network, and streamer.

There are no unpaid interns or amateur readers involved in our process at any time.

Winners and Finalists get far more than "attaboys" and laurels:
• Screenplay Contest Winners earn LIVE STORY CONFERENCES with award-winning WGA writer-producers, engraved trophies, professionally written script analysis, professional memberships, and promotional placement in the online "Writers Walk of Fame"
• Media Winners (pitch decks, sizzle reels, trailers) receive LIVE SCREENINGS & MARKET ANALYSIS with DGA-WGA-SAG judges, engraved trophies, FREE ADMISSION to "Money for Your Movie: Guaranteed" to learn the proven system for financing film projects, and Marquee Promotional Placement in the Palm Springs Online Screening Room

*not affiliated

Deadlines

RIVIERA

10/31/2025

COACHELLA

11/20/2025

INDIAN WELLS

12/10/2025

JOSHUA TREE - FINAL

12/31/2025

Short Description

Every word of your script will be studied and analyzed by established Hollywood film and television WGA, SAG, DGA Award-winners with hundreds of credits at every major Hollywood studio, network, and streamer.

wgawriters@palmspringsscreenplayawards.com

Official Website

https://www.palmspringsscreenplayawards.com

Rules+Terms

What happens to your script or your video when you enter
The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards
& Sizzle Reel-Trailer-Pitchdeck Festival?

• Your script or video file is uploaded into our firewall-protected data portal.
• Your script is read and evaluated against professional marketplace standards.
• Your Sizzle Reel, Movie Trailer, or Pitch deck is screened multiple times and judged on its marketability.
• Scores are assigned; written analysis (far more than "coverage") is then composed, edited, and validated by members of the Senior Judging Panel.
• There are no unpaid interns or amateur readers involved in our process at any time.

• Screenplay contest material submitted to The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards & Pitchdeck - Sizzle Reel - Trailer Festival is accepted via electronic submission only.

• Script submissions must be in PDF file format, the title ONLY indicated in the PDF file name. Submissions as Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter files will not be read, scored, or judged.

• Media submissions (Pitchdeck-Sizzle Reel - Trailer) must be in PDF, MP4 or YouTube link format and in conformance with FilmFreeway guidelines.

• There is no limit to the number of screenplay, teleplay, or short film scripts you may submit. There is no limit the the number of media submissions.

• Submitted material must be received by midnight of each monthly deadline date and submission fee payment must accompany your material.

• All entry fees are non-refundable; submissions in any file format other than those acceptable to FilmFreeway will be disqualified.

• Page count limitations: Short Film Scripts = 30pp Television Scripts = 70pp Feature Screenplays = 130pp Entries exceeding those page limits will incur a 20% reading fee surcharge.

• Pitchdecks are limited to 20 slides. Sizzle Reels are limited to three minutes in length. Trailers are limited to seven minutes in length.

• All material submitted to these contests must be original, and all rights must be wholly owned by the writer(s).

• Screenplays and scripts must be submitted by the credited writer. Screenplays and scripts written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with consent of the other(s). Media entries must include the names of writer-director.

• All writers must be credited on title pages.

• If a screenwriting/filmmaking team is chosen as a winner, prizes will be given to the screenwriter submitting the project. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing the prize money, with no direction from The Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards Contest administrators, staff, or judges.

• Once submitted, material is promptly assigned to analysts and judges and reading/scoring begins. Revisions, rewrites, addenda, or substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered screenplay or script material require a separate entry.

• Multiple entries are accepted. Submitting the same script pages for different levels of analysis is fine. In all cases, each entry or request for varying levels of analysis must be entered individually. When multiple levels of analysis are NOT entered individually, only the highest level of analysis will be provided with no refunds for other analysis services.

• By using our service, you authorize us to use any trusted third-party online and cloud-based services and databases for hosting, managing and/or transmitting your submission file(s), including FilmFreeway.

• All copyright, ownership and derivative rights to the material submitted to The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards & Pitchdeck-Sizzle Reel-Trailer Festival contest(s) remains with the original rights holders and/or author.

• By submitting material to the contest, writer/filmmaker gives contest administrators permission to promote the work and the writer/filmmaker to third parties, including professional literary managers and agents at their sole discretion. By submitting material to the contest, you agree to hold Butterfly Beach Media Inc., its officers, managers, employees, contractors, and representatives of all kinds harmless against any and all claims. No assurances, warranties, or guarantees are either implicitly or explicitly made as to the efforts or lack of response by any and all third parties to whom The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards & Pitch deck-Sizzle Reel-Trailer Festival may send or transmit material.

• Plagiarized or non-original written materials will be disqualified.

• Once announced and delivered, all prize package items and taxes appurtenant thereto are the responsibility of the recipient.

• All scores are final and purely at the discretion of the Senior Judging Panel.

• Writer/filmmaker acknowledges that any and all written feedback and analysis commentary is objectively presented and intended to be illustrative, instructive, and helpful in guiding the writer along a professional path. Scores and comments are in accordance with current professional film and television industry standards, but writer/filmmaker accepts them as purely subjective pursuant to the judgment and opinion of the individual reader-analyst and agrees not to request, demand, or suggest alternate, different, or revised written feedback; no guarantees of satisfaction on the part of the writer are expressed or implied.

Eligibility:

• All screenwriters and filmmakers, without regard to professional or amateur status, age, gender, race, ethnicity, country of origin, native language, political orientation, or sexual preference are eligible.

• The screenplay, television script, short film script material or visual media submitted must be in English.

• All screenplay, television script, or short film script material submitted to other competitions or contests is eligible.

• There are no limitations or restrictions as to date of authorship of submitted screenplay, television script, or short film materials.

• The screenplay, television script, short film script material, or visual media submitted must not be encumbered by any obligation to, or option held by, any third party prior to entering the screenplay competition.

• Materials submitted are accepted via electronic submission only.

• There is no limit to the number of screenplay, teleplay, short film scripts, or visual media files you may submit.

• Submitted material must be received by midnight of each monthly deadline date and submission fee payment must accompany your material.

• All entry fees are non-refundable; submissions in any file format other than PDF will be disqualified with no refund.

• Page count limitations: Short Film Scripts = 30pp Television Scripts = 70pp Feature Screenplays = 130pp Entries exceeding those page limits will incur a 20% reading fee surcharge.

• All material submitted to these screenplay contests must be original, and all rights must be wholly owned by the writer(s).

• Screenplays and scripts must be submitted by the credited writer. Screenplays and scripts written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with consent of the other(s).

• All writers must be credited on title page.

• If a screenwriting team is chosen as a winner, prizes will be given to the screenwriter submitting the project. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing the prize money, with no direction from The Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards Contest administrators, staff, or judges.

• Once submitted, material is promptly assigned to analysts and judges and reading/scoring begins. Revisions, rewrites, addenda, or substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered screenplay or script material require a separate entry.

• Multiple entries are accepted. Submitting the same script pages for different levels of analysis is fine. In all cases, each entry or request for varying levels of analysis must be entered individually. When multiple levels of analysis are NOT entered individually, only the highest level of analysis will be provided with no refunds for other analysis services.

• By using our service, you authorize us to use any trusted third-party online and cloud-based services and databases for hosting, managing and/or transmitting your submission file(s), including FilmFreeway and/or Coverfly.

• All copyright, ownership and derivative rights to the material submitted remains with the original rights holders and/or author.

• By submitting material to the contest, writer gives contest administrators permission to promote the work and the writer to third parties, including professional literary managers and agents at their sole discretion. By submitting material to the contest, you agree to hold Butterfly Beach Media Inc., its officers, managers, employees, contractors, and representatives of all kinds harmless against any and all claims. No assurances, warranties, or guarantees are either implicitly or explicitly made as to the efforts or lack of response by any and all third parties to whom The Wiki Screenplay Contest LLC may send or transmit material.

• Plagiarized or non-original written materials will be disqualified.

• Once announced and delivered, all prize package items and taxes appurtenant thereto are the responsibility of the recipient.

• All scores are final and purely at the discretion of the Senior Judging Panel.

• Writer acknowledges that any and all written feedback and analysis commentary is objectively presented and intended to be illustrative, instructive, and helpful in guiding the writer along a professional path. Scores and comments are in accordance with current professional film and television industry standards, but writer accepts them as purely subjective pursuant to the judgment and opinion of the individual reader-analyst and agrees not to request, demand, or suggest alternate, different, or revised written feedback; no guarantees of satisfaction on the part of the writer are expressed or implied.

LIMITED ROLE: The role of The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards and Butterfly Beach Media, Inc. is limited to forwarding winning material to select managers who have expressed interest in reviewing winning material. We make no guarantees regarding their response or engagement, and we do not participate in or assume responsibility for any future communication or relationship between writers and managers.

Awards + Benefits

Grand Prize for Best Script (Screenplay, TV script, or Short Script) or Best Media (Pitch Deck, Sizzle Reel, Trailer):
• Winning (and selected Finalist) entries go directly to our roster of trusted Hollywood literary managers for consideration of representation. This is the INSIDE TRACK to a professional screen or television writing career.

Best Sizzle Reel, Movie Trailer, or Pitch Deck
• Marquee Placement at The Screening Room to drive online exposure to the industry.
• Free Admission to "Money for Your Movie: Guaranteed", the proven system for raising film financing
• Live Screening & Marketing Analysis with WGA-DGA-SAG Judges

Best Screenplay, TV Pilot, or Short Script
• Live Story Conference with award-wining Senior Level WGA Judge
• Promotional Placement at The Screening Room to drive online exposure to the industry.
• Written Studio-grade analysis

Accepted Formats + Categories

Pitch Deck, Sizzle Reel, Trailer, Feature Screenplay, TV Script, Short Screenplay

Notification

01/18/26

Submission Fees

RIVIERA

PITCH DECK: $64
SIZZLE REEL: $64
TRAILER: $64
SCREENPLAY: $74
TV SCRIPT: $69
SHORT: $59

COACHELLA

PITCH DECK: $69
SIZZLE REEL: $69
TRAILER: $69
SCREENPLAY: $79
TV SCRIPT: $74
SHORT: $64

INDIAN WELLS

PITCH DECK: $79
SIZZLE REEL: $79
TRAILER: $79
SCREENPLAY: $89
TV SCRIPT: $79
SHORT: $69

JOSHUA TREE - FINAL

PITCH DECK: $89
SIZZLE REEL: $89
TRAILER: $89
SCREENPLAY: $99
TV SCRIPT: $89
SHORT: $74

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MENTORS

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ADDITIONAL PICTURES

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Submitted Screenplays

Screenplay name

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Palm Springs Intl. Screenplay Award

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Deadlines

RIVIERA

10/31/2025

COACHELLA

11/20/2025

INDIAN WELLS

12/10/2025

JOSHUA TREE - FINAL

12/31/2025

Notification

01/18/26

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Submission Fees

RIVIERA

PITCH DECK: $64SIZZLE REEL: $64TRAILER: $64SCREENPLAY: $74TV SCRIPT: $69SHORT: $59

COACHELLA

PITCH DECK: $69SIZZLE REEL: $69TRAILER: $69SCREENPLAY: $79TV SCRIPT: $74SHORT: $64

INDIAN WELLS

PITCH DECK: $79SIZZLE REEL: $79TRAILER: $79SCREENPLAY: $89TV SCRIPT: $79SHORT: $69

JOSHUA TREE - FINAL

PITCH DECK: $89SIZZLE REEL: $89TRAILER: $89SCREENPLAY: $99TV SCRIPT: $89SHORT: $74

MENTORS

There are no mentors to display at the moment.

Heading 5

Heading 5

Heading 5

ADDITIONAL PICTURES

There are currently no pictures to show.

Submitted Screenplays

Screenplay name

Project Typ

Description

Submitted By:

Email:

PITCH DECK: $64
SIZZLE REEL: $64
TRAILER: $64
SCREENPLAY: $74
TV SCRIPT: $69
SHORT: $59

PITCH DECK: $69
SIZZLE REEL: $69
TRAILER: $69
SCREENPLAY: $79
TV SCRIPT: $74
SHORT: $64

PITCH DECK: $79
SIZZLE REEL: $79
TRAILER: $79
SCREENPLAY: $89
TV SCRIPT: $79
SHORT: $69

PITCH DECK: $89
SIZZLE REEL: $89
TRAILER: $89
SCREENPLAY: $99
TV SCRIPT: $89
SHORT: $74