HAUS Film Festival has long been an organization dedicated to amplifying independent voices in genre cinema, with a particular focus on Horror, Action, Underground, and Sci-Fi. Based out of Toluca Lake, Burbank, the epicenter of Hollywood, HAUS Film Festival is excited to announce a screenwriting competition for up-and-coming writers. The top screenplay will win a $250 cash prize, and there will be laurels for judge’s selections, including prizes for best Afrofuturism and Cyberpunk screenplay.

“Screenwriting cannot be taught. It must be learned. You must be autodidactic. You can only learn it from life experience paired with writing and writing and writing. In your own Voice. In your own way. I believe the only way to achieve this is by being passionate about being a writer more than you are about the potential outcome or result.”

—Paul Guyot, Kill the Dog

Submitted screenplays will need to follow a certain format, as laid out in The Screenwriter’s Bible by David Trotter, because we want you to learn to do it right. These are to be short screenplays, no longer than 30 pages. Detailed instructions, requirements, and formatting guides can be found on the Screenwriting Competition page. Rejections due to formatting errors will not be explained.

Writers who are interested in receiving in-depth feedback can choose to upgrade their entries. HAUS Film Festival is proud to engage with film industry professionals and professional writers to offer comprehensive reviews of submitted screenplays, including making suggestions for re-writes and offering insight on voice, pacing, characterization, and more.

Got a story? Submit your screenplay

HAUS Film Festival’s screenwriting competition is an exciting opportunity for up-and-coming screenwriters to share their stories, get valuable feedback, and receive awards and laurels. Submit your screenplay to HAUS Film Festival today!