Ready to See Your Story on Screen?
The Wilmington University & Wilmington International Film Festival (WIFF) are hosting a Student Screenwriting Contest, and it’s FREE to enter!
The Wilmington International Film Festival (WIFF), in partnership with Wilmington University, is proud to announce the 2nd President’s Emerging Storyteller Award Student Screenplay Competition, an exciting opportunity for the next generation of storytellers to bring their ideas to life.
The Competition
This year’s competition invites high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to write an original 8–10-page screenplay inspired by the theme:
Theme: Opportunity and Building for the Future
Grand Prize: One outstanding student writer will receive the President’s Emerging Storyteller Award, a FULL four-year scholarship to Wilmington University.
🎥 Plus:
The winning screenplay will also be produced into a short film by Film Brothers Productions to premiere in the 3rd Annual Wilmington International Film Festival 2027.
Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026
Writers are encouraged to explore how opportunity, innovation, perseverance, education, and community can transform lives and shape the future. Stories may be dramatic, comedic, suspenseful, inspirational, sci-fi, experimental, or any genre that creatively captures the theme.
🏅 Winners Announced:
Winner will be announce WIFF Sunday Awards Brunch on October 11, 2027 at The Chancery Market: 1313 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE.
Competition Overview & Eligibility
Inspired by the mission, vision, and values of Wilmington University, this year’s screenplay competition challenges students to explore how opportunity and building for the future can positively impact individuals and communities.
Wilmington University emphasizes accessibility, innovation, career readiness, and student-centered learning. Through storytelling, students are encouraged to imagine futures shaped by determination, creativity, leadership, and meaningful opportunities.
Whether your story takes place in a small neighborhood, a futuristic city, a school, a workplace, or an entirely imagined world. We want to hear your voice.
This competition is open to: High School Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Students must currently be enrolled in high school in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, or New Jersey
Submission Guidelines
Screenplay Requirements:
- Length: 8–10 pages
- Format: Standard screenplay format
- Font: 12 pt. Courier
- Genre: Open
- Original Work Only
- Individual submissions only
- Scripts must be submitted as a PDF
Theme:
Your screenplay should focus on a character or community pursuing an opportunity that changes their future or creates a meaningful impact.
Along with your screenplay, students should answer the following short essay questions and submit with their screenplays.
Essay Questions
Essay responses should be no more than 500 words and provide the review panel with clear and compelling insight into the student film‐
maker’s artistic vision, creativity, and passion for storytelling.
Essay Question 1: What inspires you to pursue filmmaking as an artistic expression? What draws you to storytelling through film, and how do you use this medium to share your voice, perspective, or creativity? Reflect on your personal experiences, influences, or aspirations in filmmaking.
Essay Question 2: Please explain how your life experiences have influenced your educational journey, future ambitions, and/or career choice. How would you describe your work ethic, and how do you approach challenges and setbacks in your creative journey?
Essay Question 3: From a financial standpoint, what impact would this scholarship have on your education?
Submission Process
- Platform: Submissions will be accepted through our online submission form below.
- Deadline: Mark your calendars! All entries must be received by August 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.
- Required Information: When submitting, you’ll need to provide your full contact information, age category, script title, essay question responses, and a short one-paragraph synopsis, along with confirming your originality and agreement to the contest rules.
Judging Criteria
Our esteemed panel of judges will include experienced filmmakers, screenwriters, industry professionals, local historians, and community leaders. Judging will be blind, meaning judges will not know the identity of the writer. Scripts will be evaluated based on:
- Creativity and originality of the story
- Strength of character development (within the page limits)
- Dialogue quality
- Adherence to the “Row Homes” theme and “City Mention” requirement
- Pacing and structure
- Overall impact and readability
- Proper screenplay format
Awards & Recognition
🏅 Finalists & Recognition
Selected finalists will be recognized during the Wilmington International Film Festival and featured in festival materials and promotions.
🥇 President’s Emerging Storyteller Award
A full four-year scholarship to Wilmington University.
🎬 Production Opportunity
The winning screenplay will be selected for adaptation into a short film produced by Film Brothers Productions.
Rights & Legal Information
- Ownership: Writers retain all rights to their submitted screenplays.
- Production Option: The Grand Prize winner grants Film Brothers Productions a one-year option to produce their screenplay as a short film. A separate production agreement will detail credit, profit-sharing (if any), and release.
- Publicity: By submitting, writers agree to allow WIFF to use their name, likeness, and script title for promotional purposes related to the contest and the festival.
Don’t miss this opportunity to tell a story that could shape the future — including your own.
Start writing your screenplay today.
Submissions Close: August 31, 2026