JHRTS HOME | JHRTS SCRIPT COMPETITION | PRIZES | WINNERS LIST | SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
About the Competition:
The JHRTS Script Competition was started in 2020 by the JHRTS Los Angeles board which was looking for a way to place the spotlight on its talented members with screenwriting abilities. The annual competition seeks outstanding scripts from JHRTS members. The judging committee is comprised of previous and current members of the Los Angeles and New York JHRTS Executive Boards, who work at leading entertainment companies.
2025-2026 WINNERS LIST
RUNNER UPS
1/2-HR FINALIST
Power Couple – Ari Donnelly
1-HR FINALISTS
Inhale/Exhale – Meggie Spellman
FEATURE COMEDY FINALIST
Dadchelor Party – Brandon Collins
FEATURE DRAMA FINALIST
Shells – Justin Horowitz
We are so grateful to have you as a JHRTS member, look forward to seeing you at future events, and to reading your script in next year’s competition!
Prizes:
Each first-place winner receives:
– At least three script reads and general meetings with industry professionals.
– Personalized Coaching for General Meetings
– Participation in a virtual table-read, showcasing a 15-20 minute excerpt of your winning script, with a wide variety of industry professionals in attendance.
– A membership to the International Screenwriters’ Association.
– One free month of Stage 32 Writer’s Room.
– One free pitch session with Stage 32.
Each second-place winner (runner-up) receives:
Books from Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat! Such as:
– Save the Cat! Strikes Back!
– Save the Cat! Goes to the Indies
– Save the Cat! Writes for TV
Rules & Terms
– Submissions will be accepted this year via FilmFreeway.
– Scripts can only be submitted by current JHRTS members. Membership must be active both at point of submission and through Fall 2025.
– Co-Written Scripts are accepted with a maximum of two (2) writers, provided that all contributing and named writers meet the membership requirement above.
– All submitted scripts must be original and unproduced projects.
– Only one (1) script may be submitted into the competition, by any writer or writing team. Multiple submissions will not be reviewed. Scripts submitted in previous years of the JHRTS Pilot Script Competition will not be considered.
– Feature scripts must be entered for either Comedy or Drama, and Pilot scripts as either half-hour/multi-cam or hour.
– All submissions, once received, will be graded blind and judges’ feedback will not be released to writers.
– Submissions for the script competition may not be sent to judges or any member of the JHRTS Executive Board directly. Doing so will disqualify you from the competition.
Thank you for your participation! We look forward to reading next year’s submissions!
Thank You To Our 2025-2026 Script Competition Prize Partners!
Save the Cat!® is the world’s bestselling story methodology introduced by screenwriter Blake Snyder in 2005 with his first book, Save the Cat! Snyder’s acclaimed ideas, methods, and software have provided thousands of writers with the resources they need to develop their screenplays and novels. The Save the Cat! books, workshops, story structure software, and story coaching unlock the fundamentals and mechanics of plot and character transformation.
International Screenwriters’ Association
The ISA is dedicated to empowering screenwriters of all levels. Our focus is to provide writers with the tools to elevate their craft, career, and connections while establishing a solid relationship to the film community. The website is an all-encompassing resource hub where members can showcase their work and success and gain access to industry pros, writing gigs, classes, podcasts, industry pro tips, production resources, and more. With partnerships with companies like The Wrap, Women in Film, MGM, Nickelodeon, and NBCUniversal, the ISA has quickly become the leading resource for screenwriters. Join the community at http://www.networkisa.org and on social: @NetworkISA
Stage 32 is the world’s largest social network and educational site for film, television and theater creatives. Launched in September of 2011, the community is now filled with over a quarter-million members from every country on the planet. Simply put, Stage 32 is the online community uniquely populated by the most creative people on Earth. The Stage 32 Writers’ Room is a private community of screenwriters and professionals from around the world dedicated to supporting one another and providing you the tools you need to be a professional writer.
Junior Hollywood Radio & Television Society (JHRTS), created in 2000, is the junior membership of the Hollywood Radio Television Society (HRTS). JHRTS continues the HRTS tradition of community building by coordinating top-level programming for young executives, who are the future of the television, radio, film, new media, and advertising industries.
CLICK HERE TO BECOME A JHRTS MEMBER
Since 1947, the Hollywood Radio & Television Society (HRTS) has been recognized as our industry’s premier information and networking forum. Led by a Board of Directors comprising TV, media, and entertainment’s most distinguished leaders and incorporating participation from the top companies across the landscape, HRTS maintains our, 70-year tradition of providing an unparalleled forum for fostering conversation and community through regularly scheduled member events, a thriving mentorship program and other initiatives in Los Angeles, New York City and around the world.
The guidelines, information, and prizes are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please email [email protected]