There's nothing better than a great short. Why? Because writers need multiple paths to break in and shorts are a time-tested way to do that. Shorts are a challenging but satisfying art form when done well. So many legendary filmmakers broke in and made a splash via shorts it would be impossible to name them all here!
The Roadmap Writers Shorts Competition is another avenue for you to get industry professionals to experience your work!
The competition is open to any genre of:
• Short Scripts: 30 pages or less, excluding the title page
• Short Films: 35 minutes or less total runtime
This year, the winning Short Film will be screened at BraveMaker Film Festival!
*the winning Short Film must be delivered on DCP & include open captions for audience inclusivity*
We will name a winner in each category!
Entry Pricing & Deadlines
Launches | November 22nd, 2024
Early | December 22nd, 2024 | $35
Regular | January 22nd, 2025 | $45
Late | February 22nd, 2025 | $55
*All deadlines are at 11:59 pm PST on the submission date*
Add Feedback Notes | +$45
Receive a one-page analysis of your script.
*All Feedback Notes will be returned within 7-10 business days of the Top 50 announcement date*
Grand Prize (1)
Short Script
- A Month Mentorship with one of our competition mentors!
- 5x Free Open Pitch Sessions
- 5x Months of Roadmap's "Pitch Fitness Club"
- 3x Virtual shorts consultations
- A monthly 30-Minute Marketing & Strategy Call with Roadmap's CEO and Director of Operations for 6 months!
Grand Prize (1)
Short Film Category
- A Month Mentorship with one of our competition mentors!
- 5x Free Open Pitch Sessions
- 5x Months of Roadmap's "Pitch Fitness Club"
- A monthly 30-Minute Marketing & Strategy Call with Roadmap's CEO and Director of Operations for 6 months!
- Personalized marketing outreach for your project
- Consideration for distribution with Shawn Landrum Films
- Screening at BraveMaker Film Festival
*the winning short film must be delivered on DCP & include open captions for audience inclusivity*
See below for a full list of placements and prizes!
Announcement Dates
Top 50 | March 22nd, 2025
Top 26 | April 12th, 2025
Top 10 | April 30th, 2025
Winners May 9th, 2025
*dates subject to change*
Roadmap Writers is a leader in screenwriting education and training taught by working industry executives & literary representatives. In almost seven years, Roadmap has helped more than 400 writers get signed to representation with agents and managers at companies like CAA, WME, Gersh, 3 Arts, Circle of Confusion, Wonder Street, Zero Gravity, Good Fear, Echo Lake Entertainment, and many more!
2025 Shorts Competition Judges
- Briana Franklin | Talent Agent, People Store | BIO
- Jonathan S. Brostoff | Creative Executive at Platinum Dunes | BIO
- James Moorer| One Moorer Media & Management | BIO
- Shawn Landrum | Shawn Landrum Films | BIO
Tony Gapastione | Founder, Executive Director at BraveMaker
One of our winners, Gerardo Maravilla, acquired representation as a result of his participation in the Short's Competition.
Competition Placements
Top 10 Finalists
- 3 months of Roadmap's "Pitch Fitness Club" Program
- 3 Free Open Pitch Session credits. Choose to pitch to execs or reps
- 30-Minute Marketing & Strategy Call with Roadmap CEO
- Personalized marketing outreach for your project
Top 25 Semifinalists
- 1 month of Roadmap's "Pitch Fitness Club" Program
- 1 Free Open Pitch Session credit. Choose to pitch to execs or reps
- 15-Minute Marketing & Strategy Call with Roadmap CEO
Top 50 Quarterfinalists
- One 60-Minute Group Strategy Webinar with an industry executive
- Featured on Roadmap Writers Website
Scoring Criteria
Submissions will be judged by independent industry experts using the following criteria.
The questions are not exhaustive but are examples of what judges might consider in each category.
Premise/Concept
- Is it unique/original? Is it a new spin on a familiar story?
- Does the concept have longer form potential for either film or TV?
- Can it succinctly be explained?
- Do the actions and obstacles advance the story?
Characters
- Are the characters well-developed?
- Is their purpose or struggle clearly identifiable?
- Do they have a clear and complete arc?
- Are they multi-layered?
- Are the characters relatable or accessible to the reader/viewer?
Dialogue
- Does the dialogue elevate the scene?
- Does it heighten the overall story?
- Does it propel the story forward?
Story
- Is the story compelling?
- Does it serve to drive the characters and events forward in a meaningful way?
- Does it emphasize a deeper theme?
- Does the story explore new ideas?
Structure
- Does the story have a clear beginning, middle, and end?
- Does it have the appropriate structural beats?
- For scripted work, is it formatted properly?
- For filmed content, is it edited effectively?
Voice/Style
- Does the writer use interesting word choice and sentence structure?
- Do they have a unique way of viewing and relaying what’s happening in the story?
- Does the writer/filmmaker have a unique perspective?
Download a pdf of this below!
Learn how this competition helped Gerardo Maravilla, Short Script Winner of the 2023 Roadmap Writer's Shorts Competition, gain representation!
Thank you to our esteemed judges!
