Short Script Competition 2026; Amplifying Female & Gender Nonconforming Filmmakers.
Submit your script below before June 19th.
Women X 2026 Script Competition
Do you have a story that deserves the spotlight? Our festival’s Script Competition is your chance to have your work read, showcased, and celebrated. We welcome scripts of all genres from the UK and beyond, to share with us the exciting potential not yet in production.
Our script competitions are open to all female and gender nonconforming writers, whether they are experienced professionals or new to the industry, although we would say this competition is aimed more for those who are struggling to move their script into production or have found difficulty securing funding. But rest assured there is no age limit or bracket.
How to enter
Your script must be original — no adaptations, remakes, or rehashes.
Written in English, please.
Open to female and gender nonconforming writers only.
Solo writers only — no co-writing teams or groups.
Maximum 15 pages
Scripts that have already been filmed or have shooting dates booked in? Not eligible.
Want to enter more than one script? Go for it! Just remember: each needs its own entry fee.
Scripts generated by AI? Not what we’re looking for.
You can submit via our website below, or through Filmfreeway.
DEADLINE DATE: June 19th 2026
All finalists will be invited to the festival with a complimentary pass to take part in our writers residency activities, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive an industry, with the 1st prize winner taking home £100 to aid their development of their script.
2025 Women X Script Competition
In September 2025 we celebrated the finalists of our second script competition and invited all finalists to be part of our weekend writers residency, where they took part in workshops, feedback sessions and a pitching event. The 2025 competition was sponsored by Celtx.
1st Place - Leila Lockley, 2nd Place - Urvi Kohli, 3rd Place - Agatha Chapman-Poole [All pictured below, L to R]
Finalists - Abril Carpio Marion, Alice Panerai, Annie Hodson, Arwen Roberts, Calif Chong, Charlotte Amelia, Ella Dorman-Gajic, Emily Hine, Elinor Anne Campbell, Georgia Leigh-Taylor, Giovana Chiconelli, Helen Bendell, Issy Sophie Halpin, Juliana Sumsion, Leora Randall-Tavori, Lola Valerie Yolanda Kenet, Maggie Dickinson, Mhairi Ledgerwood, Meng Han Hsieh and Agustina Figueras, Mimi Vlaovic, Nara Toktoshova, Sarah Dawes, Vatsala Patel, Zoë Swann,
2024 Women X Script Competition
In September 2024 we celebrated the finalists of our second script competition with a coffee morning and awards ceremony, which was attached to our BIFA accrediated film festival Women X and sponsored by Final Draft and Coverfly.
1st Place - Natalie Beech, 2nd Place - Amanda Ajomale, 3rd Place - Angel Lloyd [All pictured below, L to R]
Finalists - Amy Mains, Beth Rowland, Bethany White and Jessa Thompson, Isobel Bruce, Jenny Recaldin, Joanne Thomson, Jordy Chappell, Julie Tsang, Lily Howkins, Lily Rose Thomas, Lizzie Lomas, Marcelle Nuke, Michelle Lindsay-Baharie, Mrinalini Basu, Ruby Mastrodimos, Sally Llewellyn and Sarah Grant
2023 Women X Script Competition
In July 2023 we introduced our first script competition, which was attached to our BIFA accrediated film festival Women X.
We were overwhelmed by applications, and loved celebrating our 10 finalists at the festival and awarding our top 3 scripts with prizes.
1st Place - Grace Cassidy, 2nd Place - Zoe Bullock, 3rd Place - Lucy Chappell [All pictured below, L to R]
Finalists - Amelia Pitcher, Angel Lloyd, Courtney Buchner, Farrah Chaudhry, Elise Bowes, Jess Moore, Lucy Foster.
10th birthday themed competition
With Rianne Pictures turning 10 in November 2023, we wanted to host a competition for all writers to get involved with the celebration.
We opened up submissions for either a short film or pilot podcast episode, that include a 10th birthday party. Allowing writers to be as creative as they felt on all other elements of their story, but they had to have a 10th birthday party involved in the script someway, somehow.
Running a volunteer led organisation for over 10 years has been a wonderful and challenging journey, so we wanted to celebrate with our community and give an opportunity to spotlight some creative writers and showcase some exciting stories!
We held an intimate coffee morning at the BFI’s Woman With A Movie Camera Summit [Pictured Below] where our ten finalists and team came together to celebrate eachother’s work.
3rd place: Girlfriends and Girl Friends by Courtney Ceanne Buchner
2nd place: Unwell by Michelle Lindsay-Baharie
1st place: Ladybugs In Top Hats by Kate Driver.
Finalists - Elizabeth Connick, Jenny Recaldin, Julie Tsang, Kate Willis, Lydia Jenkins, Mollie Semple, Ruby Phelan.
