For over a decade, the Launch Pad Competitions have led to more signings, success stories and careers than any other screenwriting competition.

Our prestigious juries of industry members include managers, agents, producers and executives at companies across Hollywood.

We advocate for top finalists and winners, and share their work with the right industry members to advance their career. We also offer exclusive partnerships with management and production companies to give writers an extra leg up. 

Enter now for a chance to join this tradition of Launch Pad success.

With O. Valerie Nicolas

THORO Artists is a bespoke management/production company representing cutting-edge creatives & crafting thought-provoking content. O. Valerie Nicolas is a 20-year entertainment industry veteran and prolific content producer whose works include television, film, new media and podcasts. As Principal of Ol’ Soul Pictures, she has produced several projects including The Black Beauty Effect, Brown with Blue, The Department of…Ed, the mater mea podcast and the 2022 SXSW award-winning short, Glitter Ain’t Gold. Prior to venturing into TV/Film, Valerie managed music artists, coordinated music conferences, and even owned an independent record label. The start of 2021 began a new chapter in her career when she co-founded the literary management and production company, THORO Artists.

Requires Add-On or Top 10 placement

With Miguel Ángel Faura

Miguel Ángel Faura is producer at Nostromo Pictures, whose production credits include “Red Lights” starring Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, and Robert De Niro; “Grand Piano” starring Elijah Wood and screenplay by Damien Chazelle; and “Down a Dark Hall” starring AnnaSophia Robb and Uma Thurman. Their recent credits include the Spanish language Netflix projects “Bird Box Barcelona,” “Through My Window” and its sequel “Through My Window: Across the Sea” as well as the series “Santo.” Miguel’s individual production credits also include Denis VIlleneuve’s “Enemy” starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

Requires Add-On or Top 10 placement

The winners will be chosen based on the following criteria: (i) The originality and commerciality of the premise; (ii) The effectiveness of the plot and structure in serving that premise; (iii) The professional quality and creative use of the writing, formatting and presentation; (iv) The use of dialogue to advance the character, story and entertainment value of the project; (v) The originality, believability and emotional investment in the characters and their impact on the overarching story and themes.

Initial reads will be completed by professional industry readers, after which the top scored scripts will be named to a Second Round. At this point, our internal team of readers will read all remaining submissions to allow for extensive internal discussions over the relative merits and weaknesses of each project. Through internal conferences, we narrow down a list of 100 finalists. At this point, writers may be asked to submit supplemental information (a brief bio, a bible for their tv pilot, etc.) to assist in the decision making process. 

Further rounds of internal reading and discussion, as well as consultations with our signing and option partners, narrows the finalists down to 10, at which point our panel of industry judges read the scripts and determine our winners. 

Any entrant may be deemed ineligible at the sole discretion of Launch Pad. We reserve the right to amend these rules at any time.

1. All scripts MUST BE submitted as a PDF.
2. All pilot scripts must be under 70 pages (any script with more than 70 pages will be charged an additional $1 per page) 
3. Do not submit any form of pitch document with your pilot script.
4. Do not include any identifying information (name, address, etc) on any page of your submission EXCEPT for the Title Page, which will be removed before sharing with readers to preserve anonymity. As such, the Title Page can include any information you would like. 
5. Scripts with multiple writers are allowed (however, all entry fees must be paid under one account and all prizes to be shared among writing partners).
6. All submissions must be the sole property of the writer(s). Any submissions of existing characters and or stories not in the public domain, as well as any intellectual property that the writer does not own will be disqualified.
7. Pilots with a prior option are allowed, but at the time of submission and for the duration of the contest, must remain exclusively the writer’s property.
8. The only scripts not allowed to be entered are those which have already sold, been produced, have previously earned our “TB Recommends” or “Launch Pad Recommends” honors, or received a Top 50 placement in a previous Launch Pad competition, regardless of format.
9. Launch Pad uses Coverfly to manage our submissions and reads. Updated drafts accepted through the Coverfly website only.
10. The Launch Pad and all judges/readers will utilize whatever criteria they deem appropriate in deciding a winner.
11. All scripts will remain the property of the writer(s) throughout the contest (at no point will anyone from the judge’s panel, or Launch Pad ever attach themselves to your work without your consent).
12. Entrants may be contacted as a result of the contest by Launch Pad, its partners, the judging panel or other industry professionals in regards to representation, production, sale and/or option of the entered work.
13. Entrants are under no obligation to sell their work or otherwise attach themselves to representation in any form – this includes the guaranteed option and guaranteed signing add ons
14. General script entries will not receive feedback, however, you can opt to upgrade and receive feedback on your script submission.
15. The contest is open to entrants who will be 18 or older at the time of the winners announcement. It is an international contest and open to entrants worldwide.
16. The Launch Pad reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to change or modify these terms at any time without notice.
17. By entering this competition, you agree to receive periodic emails from The Launch Pad and The Tracking Board. You may unsubscribe to these at any time.
18. All entrants understand and agree to allow Launch Pad to post details on their script (title, writers name, logline, genre, and competition details) as well as regarding the writer (biography, picture) to their site, or sister site to help promote the entrants’ work.
19. By entering the competition, entrants are acknowledging their eligibility for the competition. The vast majority of entrants enter in good faith, and validating everyone at the entry stage would be inefficient and take away from efforts reading and finding the best scripts. Therefore, we check eligibility at the Top 100 Finalist stage, which allows us to confirm eligibility prior to winner selection. If an issue comes to our attention earlier, we will address eligibility issues in earlier rounds on a case-by-case basis.
20. All purchases and submissions are final. No refunds will be issued.
21. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
22. Except where prohibited by law, participation in the contest constitutes each entrant’s consent to LaunchPad and its agents’ and contest sponsor’s use of entrants’ names, likenesses, photographs, and/or personal information for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. All uses of a entrants’ information are in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
23. Employees of the Launch Pad and their immediate families are ineligible to participate in this contest. Any such submission will be immediately disqualified.
24. You agree to release and hold harmless LaunchPad, its subsidiary, parent and affiliated companies, prize contributors, judges, readers, sponsors, and any other organizations responsible for administering, advertising, or promoting the competition, and every one of their respective members, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) past and present from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s entry, participation in the competition and/or acceptance or use or misuse of prize; provided however, that such release will not apply to any commercial exploitation of the script by a Released Party in violation of your rights under applicable copyright law; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the LaunchPad and its sponsors, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys fees) relating to an entrant’s participation in the competition and/or entrant’s use or misuse of Prize.