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!
In addition to the Short Scripts and Short Films, this year's competition is also open to Vertical Films. A Vertical Film is a movie designed to be watched with the screen held upright - portrait mode - rather than the traditional horizontal (landscape) format. Think of TikTok, Instagram Reels, Snapchat stories - but created with cinematic intention, narrative structure, and artistic framing.
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
• Vertical Films: 3 minutes or less total runtime
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 | December 2nd, 2025
Early | December 28th, 2025 | $35
Regular | January 23rd, 2026 | $45
Late | February 20th, 2026 | $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 Quarterfinalists announcement date*
Grand Prize (1)
Short Script Category
- A Month Mentorship with one of our listed Execs!
- 5x Free Open Pitch Sessions
- 5x Months of Roadmap's "Pitch Fitness Club"
- 3x Virtual Shorts consultations chosen from our listed Execs
- 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 listed Execs!
- 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
- Screening at BraveMaker Film Festival
*The winning Short film must be delivered on DCP & include open captions for audience inclusivity*
Grand Prize (1)
Vertical Film Category
- A Month Mentorship with one of our listed Execs!
- 5x Free Open Pitch Sessions
- 5x Months of Roadmap's "Pitch Fitness Club"
- 3x Virtual Shorts consultations chosen from our listed Execs
- Vertical Film featured Roadmap Writers' Instagram & TikTok
- Live virtual interview with Roadmap Writers
*The winning Vertical film must have SDH-style captions for audience inclusivity*
See below for a full list of placements and prizes!
Announcement Dates
Quarterfinalists | March 20th, 2026
Semifinalists | April 10th, 2026
Finalists | April 24th, 2026
Winners | May 11th, 2026
*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 480 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!
One of our winners, Gerardo Maravilla, acquired representation as a result of his participation in the Short's Competition.
Competition Placements
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
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
Quarterfinalists
- One 60-Minute Group Strategy Webinar with an industry Executive (May 2026)
- 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!