Submissions – Scripts

Click here for the main mixed format submissions page, or for Children’s, Flash fiction & short stories, non-fiction, Novels, Poetry, Sci-fi, fantasy, horror etc., or Opportunities on this blog.

Below is a list of some outlets welcoming submissions of scripts (and some opportunities for filmmakers) in various formats (click here for other genres) – do let me know if you know of any others. Thank you.

Radio

• 20th Century Radio invites radio scripts for their ‘Amateur Hour’.
• The BBC Writers’ Room is a great resource for scriptwriters and their opportunities page is regularly updated. Their general submissions page is here, although Radio 4 has theirs here. There was an interesting post about Radio 4’s commissioning process on Michelle Lipton’s blog in July 2009 and http://www.newwritingnorth.com/writers-writing-for-radio-page-1734.html mentions an award that the BBC supports.
• The Bunbury Banter Theatre Co is seeking new writers for a series of short audio dramas to be produced in 2014.
• Casting Call Pro has advice on submitting radio play scripts.
• Lakes Area Theatre invites radio scripts.
• The Moondance International Film Festival also takes radio scripts.
• Radio New Zealand usually takes radio scripts but will consider stage plays (see below).
• Ireland’s RTE Radio 1 has a page on Guidelines for submitting radio drama scripts.
• Shoestring Radio Theatre welcomes radio script submissions from ‘outside writers’.
• Simply Scripts has a section of radio scripts from the golden age which may help when writing historical radio plays.
• British-based Wireless Theatre Company’s submissions page is here.

Screen

• All About Writing Screenplays is a great site for everything screen, especially their Script submission to film agents page. 🙂
• As mentioned above, the BBC Writers’ Room is a great resource for TV & film scriptwriters and their opportunities page is regularly updated. Their general submissions page is here.
• The Big Ugly Review is not currently taking submissions (fiction, poetry, non-fiction, photo-essays, film, music) but this may change.
• Circalit “enables novelists, screenwriters and playwrights to showcase their writing to film producers, book publishers and literary agents”.
• The First Look Project “aims to fulfill the current requests of studios by finding new, high-concept material that can be adapted for film or television among four categories: Feature Screenplay (4 genre divisions), Teleplay, and Adaptation.”
• The Guardian newspaper careers section had an article in April 2011 entitled An insider’s guide to becoming a screenwriter.
• Hollywoodexpress.com has a page of Screenplay Contests and Script Writing Competitions. You can also submit scripts but you have to register first.
• New York based Lang Syne Films invites scripts but only from agented writers. Their submission page is an experience!
• The Moondance International Film Festival has some writer submission tips.
• Scripped says they have “the best screenwriting software on the web” and also has regular competitions. 🙂
• The Sundance Institute has a screenwriters lab for submissions.
• Tumbleweed Productions invite feature films and have an open-ended deadline.
• A new opportunity for writers in the Eastern Counties which includes writers who may have a significant link to the region ie have studied or worked here. The Script Hot House scheme is being run by Write2Screen is welcoming scripts from writers based in the East of England until Friday 2nd August 2013. Click here to apply online and here for a downloadable application form.

Stage

• Almost Random Theatre is running two competitions – 1. Wellbeing Playwriting Competition: We are seeking one outstanding 20 minute play to be put on in Oxford, England in January 2014. The play must be no more than 20 minutes long and require no more than three actors. CLOSING DATE 10th October 2013. 2. Retreats Playwriting Competition: We are seeking one outstanding 10 minute play to be put on in Oxford, England in January 2014. The play must be no more than 10 minutes long and require no more than three actors. CLOSING DATE 10th November 2013. See http://www.almostrandomtheatre.co.uk/competitions. My thanks go to Margaret Taylor for the info.
• The Arch & Bruce Foundation has a yearly playwriting grant “to playwrights who submit full-length plays, screenplays, musicals or operas. All works submitted must present the gay and lesbian lifestyle in a positive manner and be based on, or inspired by, a historic person, culture, event, or work of art. Writing contests close on November 30th of each year. Grants are $1,000 and are not limited to a single winner.”
• Bateau accepts submissions of poetry, flash fiction, playlets, flash nonfiction, comics/graphic stories, and b/w illustration from 1st September to 31st May.
• The Brick Theatre, New York welcomes submissions.
• The Burry Man Writers’ Centre is packed with information.
• London’s Bush Theatre welcomes scripts.
• Circalit “enables novelists, screenwriters and playwrights to showcase their writing to film producers, book publishers and literary agents”.
• The Cobalt Review publishes short stories (fiction and nonfiction), plays, poetry, book excerpts, essays, etc. “We also feature art (drawings, paintings, graphic media, etc). We publish the works of authors regardless of whether they are established, or new or self-published. Unsolicited submissions are accepted year-round. There are no set guidelines as to content or length. All work must be original but can be previously published. If something is previously published, please let us know so that we can work through any copyright issues. All manuscripts must have the author’s name, address, phone number, and approximate word count at the top of the first page, and numbered throughout. All submissions are done online. We do not accept paper submissions at this time. All manuscripts must be written in English or Spanish. Translations are acceptable, but must be accompanied by a copy of the original text. Send your best work. You can submit several stories at a time. There is no submission fee. We will read and consider simultaneous submissions, on the condition that the author notify us immediately, by email, if the manuscript is accepted for publication elsewhere. We do not pay for any work of yours that we publish and you retain all of the rights to your work. This is a volunteer project and we are doing this for the love of literature and art. The editors aim to respond to manuscripts in a timely fashion, and ask that you wait a minimum of six months to send follow-up inquiries. Please send inquiries by email to editors at thecobaltreview@cemapublishing.com and include the phrase “Submissions Inquiry” in your subject line. Need further information? Email us at thecobaltreview@cemapublishing.com. See http://www.cemapublishing.com/The-Cobalt-Review.html.
• eHow.com has advice entitled How to publish a stage play.
• London’s Hampstead Theatre invites submissions.
• www.HIPliterarymagazine.wordpress.com is looking for poetry, fiction, non-fiction, plays, reviews, essays etc. Submissions to ace.coker12@gmail.com.
• Literary Submission Helper.com has various opportunities including their playwriting page.  You get a sample for free but have to pay to see all 500+ across the genre range.
• The Literary Department of The Marlowe Theatre accepts unsolicited script throughout the year and gives critical feedback to all writers within one month of submission. Scripts to be sent to: Creative Projects, The Marlowe Theatre, The Friars, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2AS.
• http://www.newpages.com/classifieds/calls lists a variety of opportunities in varying genres.
• Pioneer Drama is “always interested in publishing new material”.
• PlayCafe.org lists notes on submitting plays to contests and theatres, plus they have a great resources page.
• Florida-based The Players Theatre welcomes submissions by local writers.
• Play Submissions Helper has a list of theaters accepting full length plays.
• Play Submissions Info blog has some great information including 7 Playwriting Contests and Submissions Websites Every Playwright Should Know.
• http://playwrightscalendar.wordpress.com has been recommended to me by interviewee Gary Dooley and looks a great site.
• Playwrights Foundation has a narrow submission window (Sept 1st to Oct 31st).
• Playwrights Horizons welcomes unsolicited manuscripts, but you have to be American, sorry.
• Playwright’s Muse invites you to “get produced, get published, and let your brilliance shine!” and their submissions page is here.
• Playwriting101 has advice on playwriting submission advice, manuscript format elements and international submission formats.
• PlaywritingOpportunities.com has a list of theaters accepting ongoing submissions.
• Radio New Zealand usually takes radio scripts but will consider stage plays “provided they are accompanied by a clear indication of precisely why they are right for radio and how they might be re-worked”.
• London’s Royal Court Theatre welcomes submissions including for their 100-word plays.
• The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester welcomes unsolicited submissions.
• Samuel French is not currently accepting submissions but this may change.
• SKYLINES at Theatre Centre – A new development programme for playwrights wanting to write for young audiences. Thanks to The New Writer magazine for that info.
• London’s Soho Theatre has guidelines for writers wishing to submit to them.
• A STAGE KINDLY Musical Theatre Initiative launches Literary Department with call for submissions – free opportunity for writers and composers. Thanks again to The New Writer magazine for that info.
• Boston-based StageSource has a great list of links for playwrights.
• Plays wanted for the Steyning Festival 2014. The Company, in association with the Steyning Festival, is looking for 6 unperformed plays (maximum length 45 mins) from playwrights in the South East (incl London) for The Steyning Festival Theatre Trails 2014. The plays will be performed by professional actors as rehearsed readings, at site-specific venues in Steyning, as part of the Festival on 25th May & 8th June 2014. This will be the sixth year of the Theatre Trails, one of the highlights of the festival, and this year we are delighted that local actor Gary Whelan will chair the Q & A session at the end of the performances. The submission deadline is Friday 5th December 2013. Scripts should be sent to: Nicky Dewdney, Steyning Festival Theatre coordinator, Clifton, 6A Kingsbarn Lane, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3YR. If you would like your script returned please enclose a stamped addressed envelope, and if you need any more information please contact Stephen Israel at stephen@thecompanysussex.plus.com (please note that emailed scripts will not be accepted)
• The Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh welcome scripts.
• WAC Theatre accepts unsolicited theatre script submissions.
• Women’s Arts lists a variety of ongoing theatre opportunities, mostly for female writers but not all.
• The Writers Store has a great page entitled The Playwright’s Guide to Submitting Smarter: A Baker’s Dozen Tips to Maximize Your Chances and Minimiize Your Aggravation.
• YouthPlays.com invite submissions.

General

• Dark Horse Comics welcomes unsolicited manuscripts.
• Hollywoodexpress.com has a page of Screenplay Contests and Script Writing Competitions. You can also submit scripts but you have to register first.
• Literature Wales lists their Script Writing Service.
• http://www.newpages.com/classifieds/calls lists a variety of opportunities in varying genres.
• QM Jobs blog has advice (and some resource links) for scriptwriting opportunities.
• The Script Consultant has “some thoughts on… scriptwriting opportunities for new writers in the UK”.
• Remi of CE recommends the UK-based SDS Literary Agency. He says, “I am working with them and I am very happy. They are very helpful.“
• I blogged a list of scriptwriting competitions and submissions back in May 2011. Obviously some may no longer be valid (if they’re not ongoing / repeated) but might be worth a look.

Jobs

• Creativepool has a list of scriptwriting jobs, although you do have to register (free) to access it), as do Elance (more listed here), Indeed, Jobrapido, Jobmonkey, networkisa, SimplyHired, Zippia, and ZipRecruiter.
• QM Jobs blog has advice (and some resource links) for scriptwriting opportunities.

Do let me know if you know of any others. Thank you.