Calling all aspiring screenwriters! Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced that the Baltimore Screenwriting Competition 2026 is accepting entries. The overarching goal of the competition is to find and showcase Baltimore’s most talented screenwriters, helping to build a pipeline of independent film making in Baltimore. The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment (MOACE) is open to applications for the competition, which is a new, expanded initiative looking to highlight Baltimore screenwriters telling Baltimore stories. There are prizes for feature film, episodic, and short film formats. Scott and MOACE have also organized the competition to expand youth participation in the arts. “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,” Scott said. “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!” Scott created MOACE in April 2025 to coordinate entertainment, nightlife, art, and film activities in Baltimore, with the ultimate goal of supporting local artists, entertainers, and creators in the city. Screenwriters must live in Baltimore City, and students must attend Baltimore City high schools or colleges located in Baltimore City to be eligible to apply. Youth screenwriters may include Baltimore City high school students in grades 9-12, including homeschooled students. Adult screenwriters include people aged 18 years and older not enrolled in high school. All scripts must be written in industry-standard format and submitted as a PDF. Youth participants and college students with a valid student identification may submit scripts for free. Submission fees for the Adult competition are $50 for Feature film, $40 for Episodic film, and $25 for Short film. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Applications and full guidelines are available online at the Screenwriting Competition 2026 page of the MOACE website. All scripts will be preliminarily reviewed by students in Coppin State University’s Urban Arts Program, started by Dr. Garey A. Hyatt, program coordinator for Visual and Performing Arts in the Department of Humanities. Keith Mehlinger, director and associate professor of Morgan State University’s Screenwriting and Animation (SWAN) Program in the Cinematic Arts and Sciences Department, will also evaluate the scripts. Top scripts in each category – including Episodic, Feature film, and Short film – will then be judged by a panel of industry professionals. The panel will include film and television writers, directors, producers, and film school faculty. Winners of the competition will be announced during Charm City Live 2026. $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded across the Youth and Adult categories. “Baltimore has always been a city of storytellers! This competition creates space for writers to tell the stories that only they can tell, rooted in their neighborhoods, histories, and lived experiences,” said Bria Sterling-Wilson, deputy director of MOACE. “By investing in emerging and youth voices, we’re not just supporting film, we’re shaping the future of how Baltimore is seen and heard.” ...read more read less