ATLANTIC STORY LAB Slate Screenwriting Contest
ATLANTIC STORY LAB Slate Screenwriting Contest
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Enter the Contest - from $49
    Enter the Contest - from $49

    Atlantic Story Lab - Slate Screenwriting Contest

    WIN A REAL OPTION DEAL-JOIN AN ACTIVE SLATE PITCHED TO STUDIOS & STREAMERS

    WIN A REAL OPTION DEAL-JOIN AN ACTIVE SLATE PITCHED TO STUDIOS & STREAMERS WIN A REAL OPTION DEAL-JOIN AN ACTIVE SLATE PITCHED TO STUDIOS & STREAMERS WIN A REAL OPTION DEAL-JOIN AN ACTIVE SLATE PITCHED TO STUDIOS & STREAMERS WIN A REAL OPTION DEAL-JOIN AN ACTIVE SLATE PITCHED TO STUDIOS & STREAMERS


    By credited Network of Producers w/ Hollywood access for writers; from novice to pro


    Atlantic Story Lab - Slate Screenwriting Contest

    WIN A REAL OPTION DEAL-JOIN AN ACTIVE SLATE PITCHED TO STUDIOS & STREAMERS

    WIN A REAL OPTION DEAL-JOIN AN ACTIVE SLATE PITCHED TO STUDIOS & STREAMERS WIN A REAL OPTION DEAL-JOIN AN ACTIVE SLATE PITCHED TO STUDIOS & STREAMERS WIN A REAL OPTION DEAL-JOIN AN ACTIVE SLATE PITCHED TO STUDIOS & STREAMERS WIN A REAL OPTION DEAL-JOIN AN ACTIVE SLATE PITCHED TO STUDIOS & STREAMERS


    By credited Network of Producers w/ Hollywood access for writers; from novice to pro


    MOST CONTESTS HAND OUT A PRIZE & WALK AWAY. WE PRODUCE.

    WHY ENTER THIS CONTEST

    • Winners get a $1,000 option -plus bonuses, and 2% of the production budget (75k floor, 250k ceiling) if project goes.
    • The first screenwriting contest built like a real development team 
    • Winners are optioned, developed, and placed on an active slate; pitched to studios, streamers, agents, and managers.

    A group of eight people seated around a large oval table in discussion.

    HOW THIS CONTEST IS DIFFERENT

    • Producers with actual studio credits with Hollywood access to buyers. 
    • Categories are specifically curated around lanes we are already working on with studios, streamers, etc. (buyers).
    • Winning writers & their material are championed, not just given an award, a nod, and listed on a website.

    Two women working at a video editing control room with multiple monitors and equipment.

    MORE THAN A CONTEST. A LAUNCHPAD.

    • Winners receive an option agreement, targeted development, and a place on the same slate we use when we walk into real buyer meetings in Hollywood. 
    • If your script rises to the top, it isn’t just celebrated as if that's the end goal. For us, that’s merely the beginning. That’s when our true job begins.

    CATEGORIES (First Slate)

    Gen Z Stories

    Spanglish Family / Rom-Com

    Spanglish Family / Rom-Com

    • Bold, emotionally honest stories about
      the pressures, joy, rebellion, humor, and heartbreak of Gen Z. Comedy, drama, or a mix -what matters is truth, urgency, and momentum.


    • Tonal comps: Booksmart, Lady Bird, Eighth Grade, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Dope.


    • NOTE - We're especially drawn to friendships, odysseys, "escape" stories, and road-movie energy. Modern coming-of-age adventures that feel raw, cinematic. and now. If it has the emotional DNA of Gen Z Thelma & Louise (without copying the plot), we want to read it.

    Spanglish Family / Rom-Com

    Spanglish Family / Rom-Com

    Spanglish Family / Rom-Com

    • Bilingual, culture-rich stories about family, love, and identity. Comedy & drama, or mix. Spanish lines need an English translation at least once so judges understand.  


    • Tonal comps: The Wedding Planner, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Meet the Parents, Instructions Not Included.  


    • NOTE - Wedding chaos, generational differences, Latino family dynamics, romantic complications. Think big family gatherings, culture clashes, & emotional stakes that are both deeply personal and instantly relatable. "My Big Loco Spanglish Wedding" energy lives here.

    Faith & Scripture

    Spanglish Family / Rom-Com

    Faith & Scripture

    • Character-driven stories that engage with faith, doubt, & spiritual struggle without preaching. Open to Old & New Testament & modern-day faith stories. 


    • Tonal comps: The Chosen, Father Stu, Silence, Blue Miracle, Hacksaw Ridge. 


    • Note - We're interested in people wrestling with calling, failure, forgiveness, and grace—prodigals, skeptics, and believers under pressure. Stories where scripture is a source of conflict, comfort, or both. If faith actually costs your characters something, this is your lane.

    Recovery & Hope

    Series Bites (Short/ 20-Min Episodes)

    Faith & Scripture

    • Stories about addiction, mental health, trauma, relapse, and second chances. Gritty is welcome; so is gallows humor. The through-line is movement toward hope, even if it's messy. 


    • Tonal comps: Trainspotting, Beautiful Boy, Flight, Girl, Interrupted, A Star Is Born, Euphoria, Fleabag. 


    • NOTE - Rehab and halfway houses, Twelve-step rooms. Families on the edge. People who screw up, try again, and often screw up again -sometimes sabotaging themselves on the path to healing. We love pieces that understand the dark and the absurd aspects of recovery.

    Public-Domain Remix

    Series Bites (Short/ 20-Min Episodes)

    Series Bites (Short/ 20-Min Episodes)

    • Note: A Format lane - any genre, built around a public-domain source. 

     

    • Fresh takes on public domain -classic literature, myths, or historical events -reimagined for modern audiences, new cultures, or different genres. 


    • Tonal comps: Clueless (Emma), 10 Things I Hate About You (Taming of the Shrew), She's All That, Beverly Hills Cop (Pygmalion). 


    • NOTE - We're excited by angle shifts: Dangerous Liaisons in colonial Colombia & Spain (...producer hint). Or, remain closer, like the Mozart/ Salieri rivalry (Amadeus) (...dev hint). Either way, classic epics, often reframed. If the source is public domain, this is where it belongs.

    Series Bites (Short/ 20-Min Episodes)

    Series Bites (Short/ 20-Min Episodes)

    Series Bites (Short/ 20-Min Episodes)

    • Note: A format lane for short, bingeable, serialized stories. Any genre is welcome in bite-sized episodes designed to be listened to and watched back to back. 


    • Short scripts or pilot-style episodes (15-30 pages each) that play like ~20~ minute episodes. Ideally, you are submitting a mini-season of connected episodes, or at least the first 2-6, plus a brief series overview. 


    • We're looking for: Strong hooks that land fast; and endings that make us say, "I'd let the next episode auto-play."  


    • Crafted for binge-watching in a stack of short episodes, not just as a one-off.

    Prestige / Award Lane

    Wildcard / Producer's Pic

    Prestige / Award Lane

    • Character-driven features or pilots with a strong thematic spine, rich performances, and real emotional weight. Projects that could win a prestigious award and still connect with audiences.


    • Tonal comps: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Chariots of Fire, Whiplash, Spotlight, The Social Network, There Will Be Blood.


    • NOTE - Obsessive artists. Moral dilemmas. Historical turning points. Flawed Visionaries. Underdogs in institutions. The stories that make you lean forward and argue about them afterward. If your script feels like it belongs in the same oxygen as Amadeus or Chariots of Fire - ambitious, emotionally muscular, and cinematic -this is your lane.


    Horror & Thriller

    Wildcard / Producer's Pic

    Prestige / Award Lane

    • Stories that scare, unsettle, disturb, or relentlessly tighten the tension -from grounded psychological horror to supernatural nightmares to sharp thrillers. Comedy, drama, or cross genre blends are welcome as long as the core engine is suspense. 


    • Tonal comps: Get Out. The Babadook, Hereditary, A Quiet Place, Prisoners, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Sinners.


    • NOTE - We're drawn to scripts with smart stakes, big hooks, and characters under pressure. If your story could travel globally, work as a streamer hit, or be pitched as "X meets Y with a wild Z twist," this lane is built for you.


    Wildcard / Producer's Pic

    Wildcard / Producer's Pic

    Wildcard / Producer's Pic

    For stories that don't fit any lane - but refuse to be ignored. Any genre, any tone, any level of weirdness, as long as it feels undeniably different, and unique.


    Tonal Comps: Impossible to define -but think the energy of Everything Everywhere All at Once, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Moonlight, or Swiss Army Man.


    NOTE - This is where we find outliers: The brilliant but unclassifiable. If people say "I've never seen this before," this is your lane. Wildcard entries are judged heavily on voice, originality, and emotional impact -the ingredients that create cult classics and breakthrough careers.

    Dynamic Lanes

    How To Choose Your Lane

    Wildcard / Producer's Pic

    • Categories Open During The Year .


    • The industry moves fast - and so do we. Because this contest is built like a real development slate, we actively track what studios, streamers, buyers, agents, and representatives are seeking right now. 


    • When a new opportunity emerges -a buyer request, a shift in trend, a fresh space worth exploring - we may open a new category mid-cycle or give a ("...Producer hint").


    • NOTE - Writers aren't boxed into a static set of genres that were chosen a year ago. Our slate evolves, and so do the lanes we're seeking. Check back often -your script might suddenly be exactly what we need

    How To Choose Your Lane

    How To Choose Your Lane

    How To Choose Your Lane

    • Not sure where your script belongs? You're not alone - many great projects straddle multiple tones, genres, or emotional engines.


    Here's how to decide:


    • Pick the lane that reflects your script's primary heartbeat. Is it driven by romance? Suspense? Cultural Comedy? Faith? Identity? Choose the category that captures its core.


    • Tag secondary lanes if your project genuinely crosses lines. A Gen Z story with Spanglish elements? A Prestige drama with Recovery Themes? A Horror film rooted in Faith? Great -tag them. Cross-genre work is welcome.

    Adaptations & Rights

    How To Choose Your Lane

    How To Choose Your Lane

    • We welcome adapted scripts - from books, articles, podcasts public-domain, mythology, historical fiction, or true stories. You don't need to hold every right in the universe -but clarity matters.


    • If you control the rights: Great. Note it in your submission. If you don't control the rights: JUST TELL US. In select cases, and always in coordination with you. Atlantic Story Lab may explore rights acquisition with agents, managers, estates, publishers, or rights-holders. No guarantee of success -but you're not left alone.


    • Public-Domain Welcome - including classic literature, historical texts and fiction, folktales, and myths. Fresh perspectives are encouraged. 

    Why This Contest Exists - and - Who's Behind It

    Atlantic Story Lab was created to bridge the massive gap between winning a contest and actually entering development.

    • Most competitions end with a laurel ("prize"). We built one that behaves like a real development slate.


    Our Goal is simple:

    • To build a living slate of projects we believe we can sell - and to give emerging writers a genuine path toward an option, development, and pitching. 


    Atlantic Story Lab was founded to connect writers to a Network of Producers, Managers, Former Studio execs, and Agents; with decades of combined experience in: acquiring, developing, packaging, pitching, selling, and producing stories across:

    • Feature Films
    • Television (Pilots & Series')
    • Adaptations (books, true stories, public-domain, etc.)
    • Music-driven projects
    • Publishing
    • Internet-native and genre-blended storytelling
    • Festival premiere films and prestige projects

    Collectively, our network has worked on, and/ or produced, Television and Feature Films including:


    • L.A. Confidential, The Twilight Saga, Heat, Kingpin, Leaving Las Vegas, The Percy Jackson Series, Beverly Hills Ninja, A Time to Kill, Dumb and Dumber, Murder at 1600, The Stepfather, The Riches, The Wedding Planner, The Agent Cody Banks series, Free Willy, and many more.


    They have worked with, and/or sold projects to, and/or been executives at; major entertainment companies, including:

    • Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Warner Brothers, Orion, ABC, Newline Cinema, Paramount Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, MGM, FX, Fox Television Studios, Universal Pictures, Amblin, MTV, HBO, Sony Screen Gems, Fox 2000 and others.


    They have received recognition , including:

    • MTV Movie Awards, Best Picture honors, Producer of the Year Awards, Vision Awards, and additional industry accolades.


    This contest is not a showcase. It's a development engine.

    • If your work joins our slate, it is championed - the way projects are handled inside a working production company - not just listed on a website and eventually forgotten.

    Rules, Deadlines & How It Works

    Who Can Enter

    • Open to writers worldwide.
    • You can be any age, if you are under 18, you'll need a parent/ guardian to handle payment/ contracts; and signed consent
    • You can enter as an individual or writing team (up to 3 writers credited).

    What You Can Submit (Formats We Accept)

    We are accepting Feature Screenplays,Television Pilots  (and series'), and Series Bites (serialized episodes) - see below -


    Feature Screenplays

    • Standalone feature scripts
    • Length: typically 65-130 pages
    • Any genre that fits one, or multiple, of our lanes


    Television Pilots / Series

    • One hour, limited series, or half hour, teleplays
    • Length: typically 25-70 pages (we're flexible on pilots)
    • With or without a series bible


    Series Bites (Serialized Episodes)

    • Binge-able, shorter scripted episodes designed to stack into a series. Think of these as story chapters built for a book, or modern viewing and listening habits - not traditional shorts.
    • Length: typically 15-30 pages per episode (Recommended sweet spots ~18-22 pages).
    • Can be written as Episode 1 of a planned series (include the plan), or;
    • A cluster of 2-4 episodes (ie: same characters, same world, continuous story)
    • Multiple episodes, past 4, are acceptable if you have more
    • Series Bites can live in any lane (Gen Z, Horror, Spanglish, Wildcard, etc.). You will still choose a primary category (and/ or multiple) when you enter.


    We are not currently accepting unscripted, reality formats, or prose-only submissions.


    Language

    • Scripts must be in English, but may contain other languages (see Spanish note below).


    Format

    • PDF only


    Books

    We do not need books or full manuscripts; submit the script version. If your script is based on a book, article, podcast, true story, etc., mention that and your rights situation in your submission (see below).

    Adaptations, Books & Underlying Rights

    You are welcome to submit scripts based on other material (ie: books, articles, podcasts, true stories, public-domain works, etc. (see below).

    • But you need to be clear about the rights. We can, and may, help in acquiring the rights in certain cases [see below].


    If your script is based on someone else's work (book, play, film/ TV, remake, article, short story, true story, podcast, life rights, public-domain works, or any "other"), that is okay. However, you should either;

    • Already control the rights (option/ purchase, or written permission); or
    • clearly identify the source in your submission so we understand the situation.
    • We will ask for proof of rights before moving forward with any options or sale (business affairs for any buyer will need a clean chain-of-title in order to be able to proceed).


    If you do not control the underlying rights;

    • Let us know
    • In certain cases, if we love the concept and believe its commercial viability; we may, at our discretion, in coordination w/ you, explore securing the underlying rights.
    • No guarantee is made that we will pursue or obtain rights.
    • Any rights work we do is done with you, not instead of you.
    • We cannot move a project into an option or sale unless, and until, the underlying rights issues are solvable. 


    Public-domain material (classics, myths, historical events or fiction, etc.):

    • You do not need permission if the underlying work is truly in the public-domain.
    • We will accept your take to be distinctive and original -a real remix (especially if it is a combination of material), not merely a very minor change or light re-skin.


    For any non-English line of dialogue, please include an English translation at least once (inline or the first time it appears) so monolingual judges don't miss the meaning.

    • Bilingual / "Spanglish" projects are encouraged (see below).

    Language & Spanish Policy

    • Spanish (or any other language) is welcome.
    • For any non-English line of dialogue, please include an English translation at least once (in-line or the first time it appears) so monolingual judges don't miss the meaning.
    • Bilingual / "Spanglish" projects are absolutely encouraged.

    Categories & Lanes

    • You’ll choose one primary category (Gen Z, Spanglish Family / Rom-Com, Faith & Scripture, Recovery & Hope, Public-Domain Remix, Series Bites (Short/ 20-Min Episodes), Prestige / Awards, Horror & Elevated Thriller, Wildcard / Producer’s Pick).
    • You can tag a secondary lanes (or more) if your story genuinely crosses multiple categories.
    • We don’t penalize cross-genre work; the primary lane merely gives us a clear starting point.

    Deadlines & Entry Fee

    Early Bird deadline: 

    • $49 - entries due by February 23, 2026

    Regular deadline: 

    • $59 - entries due by March 23, 2026

    Late deadline: 

    • $69 - entries due by April 27, 2026

    Late late (last minute -perfectionism) deadline: 

    • $79 - entries due by June 1, 2026

    Fees / No Refunds

    • Entry fees are non-refundable once submitted or once an entry slot is reserved, including if an entrant withdraws, is disqualified, or misses deadlines.

    Current status: Submissions open now.

    • You can pay now and upload your script later as long as the final draft is uploaded before the final deadline.
    • You will always see the most up-to-date deadlines and fees on the home page and the "Enter the Contest" button.

    Early Entry (Development Timing)

    • Entering earlier does not affect judging or selection.
    • Projects selected earlier in the process may enter development conversations sooner, allowing more time for notes, revisions, and strategic positioning prior to studio or buyer outreach.
    • All submissions received by the final deadline are fully eligible for awards and slate consideration.

    Prizes & Options (Short Version)

    Grand Prize winner(s) receive:

    •  A $1,000 option fee and a place on the Atlantic Story Lab development slate. 
    • Screenwriting development, and strategic pitching to; buyers, studios, streamers, and reps we work with, just like any other project on our internal slate.
    • A purchase agreement, with bonuses (profit participation), if the project goes into production.
    • The option fee functions as your cash prize
    • Select finalists may also receive option offers and slate consideration.
    • You always keep ownership of your script unless you sign an option / purchase agreement.
    • Note - Entry and/ or placement  does not obligate Atlantic Story Lab to option, purchase, develop, produce, or shop any Submission. Any such relationship requires winning, an option offer, and an Option/ Purchase agreement.

    What a Winning Deal Looks Like (Overview)

    TL;DR: If you win, we exercise the option, and you receive a $1,000 option fee paid upon signing of the option agreement. 


    • You also receive: 2% of the final production budget (min $75,000 / max $250,000), and a $10,000 production bonus (paid upon the first day of principle photography) if the film is made; plus box office kickers, if the film performs.


    • The terms below describe our standard non-WGA template. If you are a WGA member, the final contract will be adjusted to meet or exceed WGA minimums.


    • The full Legal terms will be expanded upon and laid out in a long-form agreement you can review and discuss with your counsel.


    For Grand Prize Winner(s), here is the template (plain language summary) of the deal structure we use.


    Option

    • Initial Option Fee: USD $1,000 (applicable to the purchase price and paid upon signing of the option agreement)
    • Initial Option Term: 18 months
    • Extended Option Fee: Additional USD $1,000 (applicable to the purchase price)
    • Extended Option Term: We may extend the initial Option for an additional 18 months
    • Further Extensions: It may become necessary to extend the option beyond the Extension Option Term. In such a case, any further extensions would require a new written agreement.


    Purchase Price (If the project goes into production)

    • 2% of the final approved production budget, with;
    • a minimum (floor) of USD $75,000, and;
    • a maximum (ceiling) of USD $250,000.


    Payments Schedule (if purchased)

    • Purchase price payable on a standard 20/ 60/ 10/ 10 schedule of:
    • pre-prod/ principal photography/ post-prod/ completion (delivery)


    Production Bonus

    • USD $10,000 payable upon the first day of principal photography


    Box Office Kickers

    • Additional USD $25,000 when the Worldwide Box Office Proceeds (gross receipts) is equal, or greater than;
    • Two (2), three (3), and four (4) times the all-in budget. 


    Rewrites & Polishes

    • Additional work on the script, ie: rewrites, polishes, etc. will be covered by a separate writing services agreement, with fees negotiated and based on scope; or, in the case of a WGA member, meeting or exceeding WGA minimums.


    WGA Writers

    • If you are a WGA member, the option and purchase terms will be adjusted as needed to comply with the WGA Guidelines, as outlined in the MBA of the WGA contract.
    • We will not ask a WGA member to accept less than WGA minimum.


    Important Note

    • The deal terms shown above are a plain-language overview of our typical structure and are not an offer or a complete contract. Final terms (including any bonuses, participation, credit, and WGA compliance) are set only in a fully executed long-form agreement and may vary by project and buyer requirements.

    Ownership & Rights

    You retain all rights to your work.

    • If we option your script, that's a separate agreement you can review and sign (or decline).
    • We do not post your script publicly.


    You represent and warrant you own or control all rights necessary to submit the work, that the Submission does not infringe third-party rights, and that if there are co-writers, you have authority to submit on behalf of all credited writers.


    For adaptations / books/ remakes/ true stories/ "other" etc:

    • If you already control rights, just note that.
    • If you don't, just say so clearly. In some cases, Atlantic Story Lab may, in coordination with you, explore rights acquisition -no guarantee, but it can be a path.

    Judging & Blind Reads

    • Early rounds are read blind (no names on the script pages).
    • We score based on a simple internal rubric: Concept, Character, Dialogue, Structure, Voice, Readability.
    • If a reader realizes they know the writer or material, they recuse (step away) themselves and the script is reassigned.
    • Final decisions factor in both craft and slate fit (can we realistically take this out into the market and sell it?).

    Similar Materials / Independent Development

    Entrant acknowledges Atlantic Story Lab and its readers/judges may have developed, may be developing, or may later develop projects that are similar in theme, idea, plot, characters, setting, or other elements; independently. Entrant agrees no claim will arise from the independent development or use of similar material.

    Feedback

    Our focus is:

    • Choosing strong work for the slate.
    • Then developing those projects like real films / series.
    • We are not promising written feedback for every entry.
    • Finalists and slate projects will receive targeted development notes, rewrite / polish guidance, and strategy conversations as part of the option / development process.

    How To Enter

    1. Go to the home page or any "Enter the Contest" button.
    2. Click the button - You'll be taken to our secure stripe checkout page.
    3. Complete payment and upload your script (now or later -see below about the option to upload later) as instructed.
    4. Atlantic Story Lab is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, or corrupted submissions due to technical or network issues. Entrants are responsible for confirming receipt and meeting deadlines.
    5. Watch your email for confirmation and any updates.
    6. Ready? 
    7. "Enter the Contest" button below.

    Enter the Contest - from $49

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Yes. You retain all rights unless you sign a separate option or purchase agreement with us. The contest itself does not transfer your rights.

    • If you win, you get a real option deal and a spot on our development slate.


    • We sign an option agreement, add your script to the Atlantic Story Lab slate, and work with you to develop, package, and pitch it to buyers.


    • The full deal terms are outlined in your long-form contract. 

    Yes.  During the entry process you can:

    • Pay your entry fee,
    • Reserve your spot, and;
    • Upload your script any time before the final submission deadline. Just make sure the final draft is uploaded by the posted due date, or your entry may be disqualified.

     Yes.  If you're a WGA writer (member of the guild), any option/ purchase and writing services agreement will be structured as needed to meet, or exceed, the terms of the WGA Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA). We will not ask a WGA writer to accept less than WGA minimum.

    Yes. Each script is a separate entry and requires its own entry fee. You may enter in multiple lanes if the projects are different.

    No. All submissions are judged using the same criteria, regardless of when they are submitted.


    However, projects selected earlier in the process may enter development conversations sooner, allowing more time for notes, revisions, and strategic positioning before buyer or studio outreach.


    All submissions received by the final deadline are fully eligible for awards and slate consideration.

    UPLOAD YOUR SCRIPT

    Already paid your entry fee? UPLOAD your SCRIPT HERE, and USE the SAME EMAIL you USED on STRIPE, so we can MATCH them for YOUR ENTRY.

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    ASL Slate Screenwriting Contest

    More than a contest. A launchpad.

    Atlantic Story Lab

    Ready to get your script to real buyers?

    Not just receive a laurel?
    Enter the Contest - $49

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    Slate Screenwriting Contest

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