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2026 Rules and Guidelines

All submissions must adhere to the 2026 BlueCat Screenplay Competition Rules & Guidelines.

Awards

  • Every script submission will receive a complimentary written analysis.
  • The Feature Screenplay Winner will receive $3,000.
  • The Short Script Winner will receive $3,000.
  • The Fellini Award will be awarded to the Best Screenplay from any category (Feature or Short) of the 2026 Competition written by a writer residing outside the USA and will receive $2000.
  • All cash prizes will be disbursed 30 days after the winners are announced.

Eligibility

  • All submissions must be original and the sole property of the applicant(s).
  • All ages are eligible.
  • Must be in English.
  • Feature screenplays must be between 65-125 pages in length.
  • Short screenplays must be between 1-29 pages in length.
  • There is no limit to the number of entries you may submit.
  • You may submit a script once. You may not submit the same script more than once.
  • All script entries must be uploaded in PDF format.
  • Under absolutely no circumstances will substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entry script(s) be made. Scripts will not be returned.
  • If a submitted script becomes optioned, produced or purchased between the time of submission and the end of the judging period, that script will no longer be eligible.
  • Competition judges, readers and employees of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition, past and present, and their immediate friends and families are not eligible to enter.
  • Previous winners of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition are not eligible.
  • Scripts, including outlines, treatments, pitches, log lines or any developmental material related to the script, that has previously won any contest, competition, grant, lab, fellowship, mentorship, reading or award of any kind, are not eligible.
  • Screenplays that have been submitted to any competition or contest prior to December 13th, 2022 are not eligible.
  • Past and present scripts consulted on through Gordy Hoffman’s screenplay consultation service or the BlueCat workshops are not eligible.
  • Past USC and UCLA students of Gordy Hoffman are not eligible.

Resubmissions

Your script is eligible for resubmission. Resubmission allows you to revise your script and resubmit it to BlueCat.

  • Each entry is considered a stand-alone submission. Your resubmitted script will not replace your original entry.
  • Resubmissions will receive script analysis.
  • Entrants can select a previous reader, a new reader or no preference. If your previous reader is no longer available, you can request a new reader or a refund.
  • Each script may be resubmitted twice.
  • Script titles cannot be changed upon resubmission. The author(s) must meet all eligibility requirements.
  • Resubmissions will open after the first analyses are sent—all entrants will be notified.

Submission Deadlines and Fees

  • Opening Deadline: June 17th, 2025. Feature Screenplay $59, Short Script $25.
  • Early Deadline: July 22nd, 2025. Feature Screenplay $65, Short Script $30.
  • Regular Deadline: August 19th, 2025. Feature Screenplay $75, Short Script $35.
  • Final Deadline: September 25th, 2025. Feature Screenplay $85, Short Script $40.
  • Late Deadline: November 11th, 2025. Feature Screenplay $95, Short Script $50.
  • Resubmission Fee by November 11th, 2025. Feature Screenplay $65, Short Script $30.
  • Resubmission Deadline: December 16th, 2025.
  • Resubmission Fee by December 16th, 2025. Feature Screenplay $80, Short Script $45.

Screenplay Analysis Schedule

  • All analysis provided to the entrants is complimentary.
  • All submissions submitted by June 17th, 2025 will receive their written analysis by July 17th, 2025.
  • All submissions submitted by July 22nd, 2025 will receive their written analysis by August 14th, 2025.
  • All submissions submitted by August 19th, 2025 will receive their written analysis by September 18th, 2025.
  • All submissions submitted by September 25th, 2025 will receive their written analysis by November 6th, 2025.
  • All submissions submitted by November 11th, 2025 will receive their written analysis by December 10th, 2025.
  • All resubmissions submitted by December 16th, 2025 will receive their written analysis by January 6th, 2026.

Competition Results Announcement Schedule

  • Quarterfinalists will be announced on January 13th, 2026.
  • Semifinalists will be announced on January 27th, 2026.
  • Finalists will be announced on February 17th, 2026.
  • Winners will be announced on February 24th, 2026.