Administered by the International Screenwriters’ Association and the Wisconsin Screenwriters’ Symposium, Wisconsin’s Own Screenwriting Contest is open to anyone born in Wisconsin or a current state resident, former state resident for one or more years, Wisconsin’s First Nations members, and students or alumni of any college or university located in Wisconsin. The Grand Prize Winning script was announced during the Wisconsin Film Festival at the Wisconsin Screenwriting Symposium and performed in a Live Table Read with actors from Capital City Theatre.
Prizes include:
- A consultation with a professional script coach or produced screenwriter
- A one-on-one meeting with an industry producer, manager or agent
- Free registration to the 2026 Wisconsin Screenwriters’ Symposium
- and Statewide bragging rights!
Categories for Wisconsin’s Own Screenplay Competition:
- Features (80-120 pages)
- Shorts (20 pages or under)
- TV Pilots (Adheres to industry standard length: 22-25 pages for 30 minute episodic, 45- 63 pages for hour episodic)
- Student (any of the above categories)
Deadlines and Fees for the 2026 Competition:
- Early Bird Entry Deadline: October 5th, 2025
- Standard Fee: $20
- Student Fee (including 2025 graduates): $10
- Regular Entry Deadline: December 22nd, 2025
- Standard Fee: $30
- Student Fee (including 2025 graduates): $15
- Late Entry Deadline: January 16th, 2026
- Standard Fee: $40
- Student (including 2025 graduates): $20
Program Benefits
All submissions read and judged by industry professionals.
Winning categories and the Grand Prize winner announced by the Wisconsin Screenwriters’ Symposium. The Grand Prize-winning script will be performed by actors in a table read during the Symposium.
Great exposure for all levels of Wisconsin screenwriters, from students and beginner writers to advanced, professional writers.
Announcement Dates
Quarter Finalist Announcement: February 4, 2026
Semi-Finalist Announcement: February 18, 2026
Final Winner Announcement: March 15, 2026
Rules
Only PDF files of screenplays accepted.
Screenplays must be written in English.
Cover page should only have Title and name of author(s).
Only original screenplays accepted. Writers must own IP or have rights to the underlying IP if work is an adaptation.
All screenplays should adhere to industry standard formating and length. Feature screenplays must be between 80 – 120 pages. Television Pilots must be 22-26 pages for 30 minute episodic, 45-63 pages for hour episodic. Short scripts should be 20 pages or less.
Competition is open to anyone born in Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s First Nations or current state resident, former state resident for one or more years, and students or alumni of any UW system school or Wisconsin college or university.