Shore Scripts Short Film Fund
Shore Scripts Short Film Fund

Contact
171 Pier Avenue #145
Santa Monica, CA 90405-5363
Web:
Click here
Email:
contact@shorescripts.com
Contact: Julia Morizawa, Short Film Fund Manager
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Overall: |
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(4.2/5.0) |
Professionalism: |
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(3.7/5.0) |
Feedback: |
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(3.6/5.0) |
Signficance: |
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(4.2/5.0) |
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Objective
The 2025 Spring Season of the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund will award a $15,000 cash production grant to one short script and $4,000 cash in finishing funds to one short film in post-production.
The Short Film Fund provides an opportunity for emerging writers and filmmakers to receive much-needed financial support to get their work produced and seen. Our partnerships with ARRI Rental, Oscar-nominated producer Maria Gracia Turgeon, and Tribeca short film programmer Kimberley Browning elevate the films that come through our Fund through free camera equipment, mentorship, and film festival strategy.
Many of our 22 previously funded short films have screened at some of the top film festivals in the world including Sundance, Tribeca, BFI London, Austin, Cannes, Encounters, and Palm Springs. Show More
Deadline/Entry Fees
Expired. Previous Deadline: 05/02/2025WinningScripts Pro $5 Off Coupon
Notification: Semi-Finalists Announced May 28, Finalists Announced June 9, Winners Announced June 23, 2025.
Eligibility
Open to all. Scripts must be within 2-30 pages and written in English. Finishing fund submissions must be 40 minutes or less and provide English subtitles, if applicable.Rules
- We accept scripts for narrative short films (live action & animation), web series pilots, and proof-of-concept shorts for features and TV series.
- Scripts should be within 2-30 pages. Writers can exceed the recommended limits by up to 15 pages (for a total of 45 pages maximum) for an additional fee of $1 per page. Scripts will need to be uploaded as a PDF. Scripts should be properly formatted according to industry standards at size 12-point Courier. Please only include the script’s title on the cover page.
- Finishing funds submissions should have an expected total runtime of 40 minutes or less. We accept rough cuts, scene assemblies, dailies, and trailers for review. If submitting dailies, please limit the total runtime of the footage provided to 20 minutes. Videos need to be submitted via a link that does not require a download (i.e. Vimeo, YouTube, frame.io, etc.). Please note that we do not offer coverage reports on rough cuts, footage, or finished films.
- We welcome submissions from all countries. All scripts must be written in English. The winning short(s) can be filmed anywhere in the world.
- We accept foreign language films (as long as the script is in English). The finished film will need to have English language subtitles.
- You do not need to be a screenwriter to enter, however, whoever enters the script must have the prior approval and agreement to do so from the writer(s).
- Submissions in which the writer wishes to direct their own script, including first-time directors, will be considered. A previous portfolio of work will help in making this decision, which may be requested if the script advances to the Semi-Finalist round or above.
- All ages may enter; however, the funds would need to be transferred to a legal adult’s account or business account if won.
- All submitted screenplays must be the writer’s original work or they own the copyright. If a writing team enters, both/all writers must consent.
- Previous Short Film Fund applicants may apply, including Finalists. Grand Prize, 2nd Place Winners, and Finishing Funds Winners are ineligible. Proof of concept shorts for scripts that previously won our Feature and/or TV contests are also ineligible.
- Each writer, or writing team, may not have earned more than $50,000 in screenwriting fees in the preceding 18 months. This clause is in place to help us support emerging talent. (Contest and Fellowship awards and writing fees received outside of fiction screenwriting do not count toward this total).
- Shore Scripts staff, associates, and Short Film Fund Judges are ineligible to enter the Fund.
- You may enter a script that has been previously submitted to the Fund.
- You may enter as many scripts as you wish. Each submission requires a separate submission fee. Discounts are available for multiple submissions. For more information, email shortfilmfund@shorescripts.com
- You may enter a newer draft of an already submitted script. There will be a small fee involved. Visit our website for more information about Resubmissions.
- Our Award-Winning Judges including filmmakers, festival programmers, and former Fund winners will decide this season’s Grand Prize Winner. The Finishing Funds Winner will be chosen by members of the Shore Scripts team.
- The decision of Shore Scripts is final. By applying to the Fund each participant agrees to hold Shore Scripts, our judges, and sponsors immune from any competition disputes, claims, liabilities, and expenses.
- The Winners consent to Shore Scripts using their name, script title, and any other relevant information for promotional purposes. This will be used to inform other contestants and the media of the results. The Winners agree to cut a trailer and provide a poster of the film for Shore Scripts to use on our website, social media, and other promotional platforms. We will also be unrestricted in how and where we promote the finished film once it is officially released.
- Shore Scripts will be listed as one of the ‘Production Companies’ on the project and also receive an ‘Executive Producer’ credit. The Shore Scripts logo will need to be added to the end credits.
- Winners who take advantage of the ARRI Rental camera package should also add the ARRI Rental logo to their film’s end credits.
- The Winner’s filmmaking team will have the final call on cast, crew, and edit. Shore Scripts will ask to see the audition tapes of the lead character(s) before they are cast.
- The funds can be transferred to a freelance producer or production company attached to the project, or the winning writer or writer/director.
- Shore Scripts is flexible as to the production dates of the winning project(s). However, if said projects haven’t been filmed within 12 months of our winners’ announcement, Shore Scripts has the discretion to transfer the funds to another submitted project. If the project has been filmed but not completed within 18 months of our winner’s announcement, Shore Scripts has the discretion to take over and complete the project internally or be refunded the awarded funds.
- The winning script or film may have obtained or may obtain funding from other sources and/or have co-production agreements with other companies. However, the terms of those other agreements must allow for the Winner to fulfill Shore Scripts’ terms as stated above.
- Please note that our sponsor ARRI may not be able to supply equipment if the project is to be filmed in a country where they do not operate. Production will also need to cover any logistics and costs of transporting camera equipment to set.
- If Shore Scripts helps a writer gain representation, option, sell, or have their screenplay produced, then we are entitled to state this on our website and any other platforms whenever we see fit.
- By entering a Shore Scripts fund or contest, you authorize us to use any trusted third-party online, cloud-based, and email services and databases for hosting, managing, and/or sending/transmitting your submission file(s).
Please contact us at shortfilmfund@shorescripts.com if you have any questions.
ALL THE INFO: https://www.shorescripts.com/shortfilmfund/
Awards
Grand Prize Winner: Cash production grant of $15,000, free camera equipment rental from ARRI Rental for the duration of production (some restrictions may apply), mentorship with two-time Oscar-nominated producer MARIA GRACIA TURGEON, a Film Festival Strategy Package from Tribeca programmer KIMBERLEY BROWNING, the opportunity to circulate the finished film to select members of our Industry Roster of producers, agents, and managers, and support from the Shore Scripts team from development through distribution.
Finishing Funds Winner: Cash grant of $4,000 in finishing funds, mentorship with two-time Oscar-nominated producer MARIA GRACIA TURGEON, film festival strategy package from Tribeca programmer KIMBERLEY BROWNING, the opportunity to circulate the finished film to select members of our Industry Roster of producers, agents, and managers, and support from the Shore Scripts team through post-production and distribution. Top 5 Finalists (unproduced scripts): Feedback on their scripts from one of our esteemed Judges, the opportunity to have their scripts circulated to select members of our Industry Roster and Directors, and a PDF of the Shore Scripts Film Festival Guidebook.
Top 15 Finalists (unproduced scripts): The opportunity to have their scripts circulated to select members of our Industry Roster and Directors.
Finalists (finishing funds): Feedback on their rough cuts from one of our esteemed Judges and a PDF of the Shore Scripts Film Festival Guidebook.
Semi-Finalists: A PDF of the Shore Scripts Film Festival Guidebook.
Shore Scripts Short Film Fund

Contact
171 Pier Avenue #145
Santa Monica, CA 90405-5363
Web:
Click here
Email:
contact@shorescripts.com
Contact: Julia Morizawa, Short Film Fund Manager
Report Card |
||
Overall: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(4.2/5.0) |
Professionalism: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(3.7/5.0) |
Feedback: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(3.6/5.0) |
Signficance: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(4.2/5.0) |
Report Cards: |
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
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Shore Scripts Short Film Fund

Contact
171 Pier Avenue #145
Santa Monica, CA 90405-5363
Web:
Click here
Email:
contact@shorescripts.com
Contact: Julia Morizawa, Short Film Fund Manager
Report Card |
||
Overall: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(4.2/5.0) |
Professionalism: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(3.7/5.0) |
Feedback: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(3.6/5.0) |
Signficance: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(4.2/5.0) |
Report Cards: |
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
Related Contests
Categories
Contest News
Shore Scripts Names Spring, 2025 Short Film Fund Winners
Paper Tiger by Cameron Kwan has been awarded the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund Grand Prize for Spring, 2025. [Updated: 06/23/2025]
Shore Scripts Announces Short Film Fund Finalists
Shore Scripts has announced their Short Film Fund finalists. Fifteen scripts have advanced, representing the top one percent of all submissions. [Updated: 06/09/2025]
Shore Scripts Announces Short Film Fund Semifinalists
Shore Scripts has announced their Short Film Fund semifinalists. Seventy-five scripts have advanced, representing the top four percent of all submissions. [Updated: 05/31/2025]
Shore Scripts Names Film Fund Finalists
Shore Scripts has anounced the Top 15 Finalists for their Fall Short Film Fund Competition. The winner and Top 5 Finalists will be announced on December 16th. [Updated: 12/04/2024]
Shore Scripts Names Fall Film Fund Semifinalists
Shore Scripts has announced the 81 semifinalists for their 2024 Fall Film Fund Competition, representing the top 3% of all submissions. The Top 15 Finalists will be announced on December 4th. [Updated: 11/25/2024]
Shore Scripts Names Spring 2024 Short Film Fund Winner
To Catch a Siren by Harvey John has been named the Grand Prize Winner from among 1,963 submissions to the Spring, 2024 Shore Scripts Short Film Fund Competition. [Updated: 06/20/2024]
Shore Scripts Names Fall, 2023 Film Fund Winners
Who Are You, Nanu? has been named the $15,000 Grand Prize Winner of the Fall, 2023 Shore Script Film Fund competition. [Updated: 12/14/2023]
Shore Scripts Announces Short Film Fund Finalists
Shore Scripts has announced the Top 15 finalists for their Fall Season, 2023 Short Film Fund, representing less than 1% of all submissions. Winners will be anounced December 14th. [Updated: 12/01/2023]
Shore Scripts Names Film Fund Semifinalists
Shore Scripts has announced the semifinalists - representing the top 3% of all submissions - for their Fall, 2023 Short Film Fund. Finalists will be announced December 1st. [Updated: 11/24/2023]
Shore Scripts Names Film Fund Winners
Eddie Mujica's Loco has been named the Grand Prize Winner of the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund. The script is a surreal, dark comedy about mental health stigma in the Latinx community. [Updated: 06/14/2023]
Shore Scripts Names Short Film Fund Finalists
Fifteen finalists have been selected for Shore Short Film Fund. Two Grand Prize Winners & the Top 5 Finalists will be announced on June 14th. [Updated: 06/02/2023]
Shore Scripts Names Short Film Fund Finalists
Fifteen finalists have been announced for the Fall, 2022 Shore Scripts Short Film Fund. [Updated: 12/01/2022]
Shore Scripts Names Film Fund Winner and Top Finalists
Chelsea Isabella Clark-James has been named the Grand Prize Winner of the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund competition for her script, Nemt, about a driver for a family transportation business who has to find an open medical bed for a long-time alcoholic involuntarily committed for medical detox by the state. [Updated: 06/15/2022]
Shore Scripts Names Short Film Fund Finalists
Fifteen finalists have been announced for the 2022 Shore Scripts Short Film Fund. Two Grand Prize Winners will be announced on June 14th. [Updated: 06/02/2022]
Shore Scripts Announces Film Fund Winner
Joseph Lee has been named the Grand Prize Winner of the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund for his script, Other Homes. [Updated: 12/14/2021]
Shore Scripts Names Short Film Fund Finalists
Fifteen finalists have been announces for Short Scripts Fall Season Film Fund. Two Grand Prize Winners will announced on December 14th. [Updated: 12/01/2021]
Shore Scripts Names Film Fund Winners
EL VALS (THE WALTZ), by Alycya Magaña has been named the winner of the Shore Scripts Film Fund $15,000 Grand Prize Production Grant. [Updated: 06/14/2021]
Shore Script Names Short Film Fund Finalists
Shore Scripts has named the 15 finalists for the Spring Season of their Short Film Fund competition. [Updated: 06/02/2021]
Shore Scripts Names Film Fund Winners
Shore Scripts has announced Two Bears, by Anthony Florez, as the winner of their 2020 Short Film Fund Competition. [Updated: 12/14/2020]
Shore Scripts Names Short Film Fund Finalists
Fifteen finalists have been announced for the 2020 Shore Scripts Short Film Fund Competition. Winners will be announced on December 14th. [Updated: 12/01/2020]
Shore Scripts Names 2020 Film Fund Winner
Lindiwe Makgalemele's The Town has been named the Grand Prize Winner of the 2020 Shore Scripts Short Film Fund Competition. The script is about a seven year old girl who believes she's responsible for a car break-down in an anonymous South African town. [Updated: 06/07/2020]
Interview with 2019 Shore Scripts Short Film Fund Winner James Gould-Bourn
James Gould-Bourne, winner of the 2019 Shore Scripts Short Film Fund Competition, is originally from Manchester, England, but now lives with his wife in Malaysia after four years of living in Lithuania. His debut novel, Bear Necessity, will be published in U.S. on August 4, 2020.
Shore Scripts Names 2020 Film Fund Finalists
Shore Scripts has announced their 15 Short Film Fund Finalists for 2020. Winners will be announced on June 6th. [Updated: 05/26/2020]
Shore Scripts Names 2019 Short Film Fund Winners
A Young Man's Game by James Gould-Bourn has been named the Grand Prize Winner of the 2019 Shore Scripts Short Film Fund, and the project has been awarded $10,000 in cash. Miss Fortunate, by Molly O'Shea been named the $4,000 Second Place Winner. [Updated: 06/06/2019]
Shore Scripts Names Short Film Fund Finalists
Shore Films has announced the 15 Finalsts for their 2019 Short Film Fund. Winner will be announced June 6th. [Updated: 05/26/2019]
Shore Scripts Names Short Film Fund Winners
Shore Scripts has announced Nora Kirkpatrick & Dennis McNicholas as the winners of their 2018 Short Film Fund. They'll be awarded a $10,000 grant to make their short film, Best Seller. [Updated: 06/06/2018]
Shore Scripts Names Short Film Fund Finalists
Shore Scripts has named their 2018 Short Film Fund Finalists. [Updated: 05/26/2018]
Shore Film Fund Winner
to Premier at Tribeca
Claire Fowler, the inaugural winner of the Shore Script Short Film Fund, will be premiering her winning short, Salam, at this year's Tribeca Film Festival. [Updated: 03/14/2018]
Shore Scripts Names Short Film Fund Winner
Ben Gutteridge has been named the Shore Scripts 2017 Short Film Fund winner for his screenplay, The Naked Man. Ben will be awarded $9000 to produce his winning screenplay. [Updated: 06/10/2017]
Shore Scripts Names Short Film Fund Finalists
Shore Scripts has announced ten finalists for their 2017 Short Film Fund Screenwriting Competition. The overall winner will be announced June 6th. [Updated: 05/26/2017]
Shore Scripts Names Short Film Fund Winner
LIFT, by Claire Fowler, about a Muslim Uber driver who make an unexpected connection when she picks up her polar opposite, has been named the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund Winner. [Updated: 07/01/2016]
Interviews
Zero interviews found. If you've finished first, second, or third in this competition, we'd like to interview you.
Shore Scripts Short Film Fund

Contact
171 Pier Avenue #145
Santa Monica, CA 90405-5363
Web:
Click here
Email:
contact@shorescripts.com
Contact: Julia Morizawa, Short Film Fund Manager
Report Card |
||
Overall: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(4.2/5.0) |
Professionalism: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(3.7/5.0) |
Feedback: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(3.6/5.0) |
Signficance: |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(4.2/5.0) |
Report Cards: |
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
Related Contests
Categories
Submit Report Card
You must login to read or submit report cards.
First-time user? Register now to receive FREE email contest updates, news, results, deadline reminders and more. Rest assured, information submitted here is held in strict confidence. MovieBytes never sells or in any way distributes email names or addresses. We promise!