BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Mayor Brandon Scott’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment (MOACE) has announced the opening of entries for its 2026 screenwriting competition, aimed at Baltimore-based screenwriters whose stories reflect the city’s culture and landscape.
“This competition is an incredible chance for some of Baltimore’s most talented writers and aspiring filmmakers to share their stories, and showcase the best of our city,” Mayor Scott said in a press release. “I am especially excited that this year we have expanded this opportunity to include young creatives from across the city, providing another unique platform for them to showcase their talent, creativity, and promise. Good luck!”
Eligible participants include screenwriters who live in the city and students attending high schools or colleges in Baltimore.
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All submitted scripts will be evaluated by students in Coppin State University’s urban arts program, led by Dr. Garey A. Hyatt, Program Coordinator for Visual and Performing Arts within the Department of Humanities, and Keith Mehlinger, Director and Associate Professor of Morgan State University’s Screenwriting and Animation (SWAN) Program within the Cinematic Arts and Sciences Department.
The top scripts will then be judged by a panel of industry professionals, including film and television writers, directors, producers, and faculty from film schools.
The competition includes categories for Episodic, Feature Film, and Short Film scripts.
Youth screenwriters must be high school students in grades 9-12, including homeschooled students. Adults must be 18 years or older and not currently enrolled in high school.
All scripts must be written in industry-standard format and submitted as a PDF.
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Submission fees for the adult competition are $50 for feature scripts, $40 for episodic scripts, and $25 for short scripts.
Youth participants and college students with a valid student identification can submit for free.
Winners will be announced during Charm City Live 2026, with $10,000 in cash and prizes awarded across both Youth and Adult categories.
The submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
The application and full guidelines will be available online at https://www.baltimorecity.gov/moace/bfo/screenwriting-competition-26.
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