Announcing The 3rd Annual Palm Springs Women in Film & Television + Stage 32 Short Script Competition!

Exclusively on Stage 32, the BEST Short Script Contest in the World is Back!  This is YOUR chance to get your short script produced this year!

We're Proud to Present our 3rd Annual Palm Springs Women in Film & Television + Stage 32 Short Script Competition!

The Grand Prize Winner Gets Your Short Screenplay PRODUCED for a GUARANTEED budget of $10,000!

Getting your short script produced is the quickest way into the industry. Great short films captivate audiences with concise storytelling, compelling characters, and emotional resonance in a brief yet impactful narrative. Many famous writer/directors started with short films like Damien Chazelle with WHIPLASH, Wes Anderson with BOTTLE ROCKET, Taika Waititi with TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT, Christopher Nolan with DOODLEBUG, Jane Campion with PEEL, and Martin Scorsese with THE BIG SHAVE. The list goes on... and with this competition, we hope for the same success for you.

That is why our Grand Prize for this year's competition is your Short Screenplay PRODUCED for a GUARANTEED budget of $10,000!

Click Here to Enter Today!

In honor of screenwriters everywhere, Palm Springs Women in Film & Television (PSWIFT) has partnered with Stage 32 to launch our one-of-a-kind Short Script Competition open to filmmakers from all countries from around the world, centered on the theme of Sports, the Outdoors, and Mental Health.

The competition is open to writers of all backgrounds and experience levels, the competition invites bold, original short scripts that explore how physical activity, nature, and teamwork impact mental wellbeing. Stories may address themes including resilience, healing, identity, burnout, grief, trauma recovery, inclusion, and the power of human connection—set in any sport or outdoor environment worldwide.

“Storytelling has the power to heal, connect, and create understanding,” said Kim Waltrip, Founder of the Filmmakers Lab. “This competition is about amplifying stories that show how sports and the outdoors can play a meaningful role in mental health, resilience, and hope. We’re excited to partner with Stage 32 to give writers a platform to share these important and deeply human stories.”

Stage 32 CEO Richard Botto added, “At Stage 32, we believe in storytelling that creates impact. Partnering with PSWIFT on a competition focused on sports, the outdoors, and mental health allows us to support writers who are tackling vital conversations through universally relatable experiences. These stories have the power to resonate far beyond the page.”

The winning script is guaranteed production, with a production value of $10,000, and will receive a premiere at the HollyShorts Film Festival, screen at the Garden State Film Festival, and air on ZPTV, a ROKU channel, offering filmmakers a rare opportunity for both high-profile festival exposure and broadcast distribution.

The winning script will be produced by PSWIFT’s Filmmakers Lab. The Filmmakers Lab has produced five short films, four are award-winning and the fifth is in post production, and a season of a variety talk show, “PS After Dark” starring Tristan Rogers.

The members of the Lab will judge the projects and the winner will be announced July 10th. The winning script will be produced in the Winter of 2026.

Our Grand Prize Winner will:

• Have your short screenplay produced by Palm Springs Women in Film & Television for a guaranteed budget of $10,000!
• Have your completed project screened alongside the Stage 32 Short Film Program at our partner festival Hollyshorts Film Festival and the Garden State Film Festival!
• Have your completed project streamed on Roku's ZPTV
• Receive a free membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room, a private, virtual community of writers from around the world the meet and learn from industry professionals like Meg LeFauve (INSIDE OUT, CAPTAIN MARVEL) and Aimee Riviera, VP of Motion Picture Production at Skydance Media (TOP GUN: MAVERICK), Tripper Clancy (STUBER) and managers & agents from WME, CAA, Gersh, Circle of Confusion, Zero Gravity & more!
• Free access to Stage 32’s educational webinar library, which includes over 3,000 hours of content featuring top industry professionals

All 10 Finalists will:

• Receive an exclusive, one page of written coverage from one of Stage 32's professional industry readers.
• Get a free one month membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room,a private, virtual community of writers from around the world the meet and learn from industry professionals like Meg LeFauve (INSIDE OUT, CAPTAIN MARVEL) and Aimee Riviera, VP of Motion Picture Production at Skydance Media (TOP GUN: MAVERICK), Tripper Clancy (STUBER) and managers & agents from WME, CAA, Gersh, Circle of Confusion, Zero Gravity & more!

Let last year's winner, Katy Dore tell you why you should enter!

Palm Springs Women in Film & Television (PSWIFT) is a nonprofit organization, founded in 2001, dedicated to empowering, promoting, educating, and nurturing its members – both women and men – involved in the entertainment, communication, and media industries. PSWIFT is also focused on educating, inspiring, and bringing in more production work to the Coachella Valley. We welcome entries from filmmakers all over the world.

The PSWIFT + Stage 32 Short Script Competition gives you the opportunity to show your chops and shine by getting your script made, providing you access to some of the top executives in the business and exposure to film festivals and worldwide online crowds. This is access, opportunity, and exposure you won't find anywhere else!

Click Here to Learn More!

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