Mayor Scott Opens Baltimore Screenwriting Competition 2026 with New Youth Category

Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment announced that entries are open for the Baltimore Screenwriting Competition 2026, an expanded program aimed at lifting local voices in episodic, feature and short film formats. The city is emphasizing access for young creatives while offering $10,000 in cash and prizes across Youth and Adult categories and promising visibility for winners during Charm City Live 2026.

“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]. “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!”

The competition is open to screenwriters who live in the City of Baltimore and to students attending high schools or colleges in Baltimore. Youth screenwriters are defined as Baltimore City high school students in grades 9-12, including homeschooled students. Adult screenwriters are age 18 and older and not enrolled in high school. College students with valid student identification may submit for free.

All scripts must be written in industry-standard format and submitted as a PDF. Adult submission fees are $50 for feature scripts, $40 for episodic scripts and $25 for short scripts. Youth participants and college students with a valid student ID may submit for free. The submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

The city has built an academic partnership into the evaluation process. All submitted scripts will receive preliminary evaluation from students in Coppin State University’s Urban Arts Program, led by Dr. Garey A. Hyatt, and from Keith Mehlinger, Director and Associate Professor of Morgan State University’s Screenwriting and Animation (SWAN) Program. David Warfield, screenwriter and professor at Morgan State University, serves on the competition advisory committee. 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.

Bria Sterling-Wilson, Deputy Director of MOACE, framed the initiative as cultural investment. “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. 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.”

For Baltimore writers and students, the competition reduces financial barriers for young entrants and links neighborhood narratives to citywide cultural programming. Prepare scripts in industry-standard PDF format and submit by March 15 to be considered; winners will be announced at Charm City Live 2026, giving selected writers a city-stage moment and a pathway to greater exposure.