Manchester Film Festival Screenplay Competition

Overview

The Manchester Film Festival Screenplay Competition is the prestigious script prize of the BAFTA-qualifying Manchester Film Festival, with writers warmly encouraged to attend the buzzing ten-day event. Now in its 13th year, Manchester Film Festival provides screenwriters with a chance to have their scripts read and appraised by filmmaking peers and industry insiders. While the competition is run from the UK, international submissions are encouraged. Unlike some other competitions, the MFF Screenplay Competition prides itself on being associated with a thriving in-person festival. Wherever they place, writers are encouraged to join us in Manchester in March 2027 to make the most of our programme of screenings, industry talks and networking events. Competition coordinator ScriptUp is a UK-based script consultancy with an eight-year track record of working alongside production companies, studios and individual writers to develop, improve and produce their scripts. With a team made up of working screenwriters, they ensure that every submission is read thoroughly and judged fairly. SELECTION PROCESS All submissions will be read by a team of industry readers with a strong background in screenwriting appraisal. Scripts are judged across seven creative and commercial criteria. - On the announcement date, February 3rd 2027, the top third of submissions will be ranked as Quarterfinalists and will receive Manchester Film Festival laurels. - At the same time, the top twenty screenplays will be ranked as Semifinalists and will receive a free Filmmaker Pass to the 2027 Manchester Film Festival in addition to Semifinalist laurels. The Filmmaker Pass allows writers to network with film professionals, take in all screenings for free, and attend after-parties. - From the twenty Semifinalists, five screenplays will be selected as Finalists.* These writers will receive a free Filmmaker Pass to the 2027 Manchester Film Festival, where their scripts will be read and critiqued by an industry jury, as well as being featured at the festival's Screenplay Showcase event, with the finalist writers invited to present their projects in front of our filmmaker audience. * This selection will include at least one short script, one TV script and one feature script. - During the festival week, each of the jury members provides scores and full written feedback on the finalist screenplays, which will be compiled into a Finalist's Report. - The script with the highest aggregate jury score will be crowned the Overall Winner at the festival's main prize-giving event in March 2027 at the Odeon Great Northern, Manchester.* The overall winner will be awarded a Manchester Film Festival statuette alongside other prizewinners in the festival. * Location and time subject to change. In-person attendance isn't compulsory. INDUSTRY JURY The jury for this year's competition will be made up of executives, writers and agents from leading companies within the industry. Juries from past years have included: • Lare Oyefusi, Commercial Planning, Disney+ • Adam Carter, Head of Development, Shush Films • Ben Lankester, BIFA-nominated director • Rupert Stonehill, Film & TV Agent, Independent Talent • Charlotte LeMaire, Film Advisory, Endeavor Content • Henry Holmes, Script Development, Gaumont & PBJ Agency • Shanika Hyslop, Editor, Bloomsbury Publishing • Camila Legaspi, Chief Content Officer, Latina Media Ventures • Beatriz Menéndez, Film & TV Department, Curtis Brown • Archie Thomson, writer of James McAvoy's California Schemin' • Ella Troup, Producer, iGeneration Studios CONTACT Feel free to contact the ScriptUp team to ask any further questions: felix@scriptupstudio.com

Last updated Sep 12, 2026

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• Filmmaker

  I adore the Manchester Film Festival. It is well run and a blast to attend. It is a BAFTA qualifying festival so it is also an honor to have your film selected. The screenplay competition is good and top notch. Having my script, JUIF selected the same year my film played there felt awesome.

• Filmmaker

  I was thrilled to gain quarterfinalist in Manchester because SWEET SOUNDS is about John Newton, writer of 'Amazing Grace', who later was an abolitionist against the slave trade. In 1788, 10,639 Manchester people petitioned parliament against the slave trade! (There are 50 million slaves worldwide today. ) Thank you Manchester.

• Filmmaker

  I was honored to be a Quarterfinalist in this competition! Thanks for recognizing my dark comedy pilot, The Mannings.

• Filmmaker

  Delighted and honoured to see my science-fiction adventure story, Tatala, find a warm welcome from film lovers in the UK. Many thanks to the readers for taking the time to share their expertise. Congratulations to all from fair Formosa. A T Beaune Taipei, Taiwan

• Filmmaker

  Thank you for taking notice and giving my screenplay “Child Support” to be the quarter finalist. Looking forward to submitting again in the future.

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