The Crime List

Overview

The Crime List recognizes scripts, books, & stage plays in any genre that feature a crime story (murder, gangsters, fraud, corruption, missing persons, kidnappings, revenge, heist, etc.). The showcase is designed to support new(ish) and aspiring writers by awarding a cash prize to help sustain, or kickstart, a writing career. == SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS == SCREENPLAYS *Feature film screenplays - up to 165 pages *Television scripts - up to 90 pages *Short scripts - up to 25 pages *Stories in any genre *Produced or unproduced BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS & SHORT STORIES *Fiction or narrative nonfiction *Any length *Stories in any genre *Published or unpublished STAGE PLAYS *Any length *Stories in any genre *Produced or unproduced TITLE PAGE IS REQUIRED Must include: *Title *Name(s) of writer(s) *If an adaptation, also include the title & writer(s) of the source material ***PLEASE NOTE*** -- The Crime List is not a film festival - it is a writing showcase and is conducted exclusively online. There is no in-person event. There is only one round of judging, and only one winner is selected each year.

Last updated Sep 6, 2026

Legitimacy Analysis

Trust Signals

Festival Details

FilmFreeway communityGold festival

• Filmmaker

  Excited to have a screenplay competition looking for a lot of the aspects that my script has. Looking forward to seeing the outcome.

• Filmmaker

  I am so thankful to have my script "Parlay" officially selected for The Crime List. I am truly honored. Thanks for the amazing experience!

• Filmmaker

  When I saw this festival, I knew I had to enter. It must’ve been fascinating to read all of the submissions, focused on crime in one way or another. Thank you so much for recognizing my screenplay!

• Filmmaker

  Thank you for selecting my work to be part of the festival. It's always trying to get noticed instead of actually winning that's the most important thing for Hollywood.

• Filmmaker

  It was an honor to receive The Crime List Finalist Screenplay Award for Shadow Self. The Crime List is an exceptional festival that gives meaningful international exposure to filmmakers and writers. My story follows a South Side Chicago teenager drawn into a 1960s mob cigarette-smuggling operation, only to discover that the most dangerous criminal is not the man who recruits him, but the reckless shadow within himself. The recognition confirmed my impression that The Crime List evaluates every submission impartially, with its focus firmly on craft, originality, and the power of the story.

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