Your Short Screenplay PRODUCED for a guaranteed budget valued at $10,000!

 

Palm Springs Women in Film & Television (PSWIFT) and Stage 32 are launching a global Short Script Competition celebrating screenwriters everywhere.

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The winning script will be produced by PSWIFT’s award-winning Filmmakers Lab with a guaranteed $10,000 in-kind budget and will shoot in Winter 2025/2026. The finished film is guaranteed screenings at HollyShorts, the California Independent Film Festival, the Garden State Film Festival, and will stream on ZPTV’s Roku platform.

 

Stage 32 will also provide the winner with mentor Steve Desmond, writer of Knock at the Cabin and director of Monsters. The top 15 finalists receive written feedback, and all Quarter-Finalists and Semi-Finalists receive laurels.

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Scripts must be 5–15 pages, in English, owned by the submitting writer, and set in a location workable for the Palm Springs area. Unlimited submissions; no age limit.

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“We’re thrilled to partner with Stage 32 on this unique opportunity for filmmakers,” said PSWIFT Filmmakers Lab Chair Kim Waltrip. “This collaboration helps bring a filmmaker’s dream to life.”

“PSWIFT has long championed hands-on opportunities for filmmakers, and we’re excited to support the next emerging creator,” added Stage 32 CEO Richard Botto.

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Important Dates & Fees

Early Bird Entry :  TBD

Regular Entry: TBD

Late Entry : TBD

Quarter Finalists will be announced:

Semi Finalists announced:  TBA
Finalists announced:  TBA
Winner announced: TBA

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Click here to submit your script

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Past Winners

• Kate Spates - Accidental Date 2022

• Kate Orsini - Aftermath 2023

• Patricia Semler - Exit Interview - 2024

• Katy Dore - Perfect - 2025

• Malia Botello - 2025 

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About Palm Springs Women in Film & Television

Palm Springs Women in Film & Television (PSWIFT ) is a nonprofit organization, founded in 2001, dedicated to empowering, promoting, educating and nurturing its members – both women and men – involved in the entertainment, communication and media industries. PSWIFT is also focused on educating, inspiring and bringing in more production work to the Coachella Valley. https://pswift.org/

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About Stage 32

Stage 32 links entertainment industry creatives, professionals and executives globally and has 1 million members worldwide The platform is recognized throughout the industry as the leaders in film, TV and digital education and is the networking and education partner of organizations such as Netflix, the American Film Market, the Cannes Film Festival Marche du Film and many other festivals, film commissions and film and television organizations around the world. Industry professionals, production companies and creatives use the platforms script services to vet projects, assist with budgeting, and hone their material.

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Founded in 2011 by Richard "RB" Botto, Stage 32 works with over 1,000 industry professionals and executives worldwide who provide education, instruction and professional opportunities for members of the platform. Stage 32 currently has over 2,000 hours of exclusive film, television and digital craft and business education in its library. Members of the Stage 32 community use the platform daily to build their network, incubate projects, take online webinars, classes and labs, find work, cast and crew their projects and for other professional pursuits. Stage 32 members range from talent on the rise to Emmy, BAFTA and Academy Award Winners. 

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In Loving Memory of Carolyn Moloshco
Namesake of the PSWIFT Screenwriters Contest

Carolyn Moloshco was a quiet force whose impact on journalism, storytelling, and our creative community was anything but. A charter member of Kim Waltrip’s Filmmakers Lab, Carolyn brought her sharp editorial eye, unshakable integrity, and generous spirit to every project she touched.

Best known in the Coachella Valley for her decades-long career in broadcast journalism, Carolyn was the heartbeat of NBC Palm Springs, serving as a trusted assignment editor and mentor. She set high standards, but always led with empathy—her first question in any crisis was, “Are you OK?” That simple phrase defined her: strong, nurturing, and endlessly compassionate.

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Carolyn’s passion for storytelling extended beyond the newsroom. She was a gifted screenwriter, crafting compelling short films like Accidental Date, The Splendor of You, and made her directorial debut with Exit Interview. Whether in the edit bay or the writer’s room, Carolyn elevated every story—and every person—around her.

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In honor of her talent, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to storytelling, we are proud to name the PSWIFT Screenwriters Contest after Carolyn Moloshco. May her legacy continue to inspire future generations of writers to tell meaningful stories with heart, courage, and grace.

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