PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Greater Philadelphia Film Office will open submissions Aug. 3 for its 2027 Joan Bressler Set in Philadelphia Screenwriting Competition, offering more than $20,000 in prizes as it seeks feature film and television pilot scripts that showcase the Greater Philadelphia region.
The annual competition is open to screenwriters nationwide and requires submitted scripts to feature the Philadelphia region as a central setting or a location suitable for filming. The Greater Philadelphia Film Office announced the competition is accepting entries exclusively through FilmFreeway.
The competition’s largest award is a $10,000 grand prize for a feature-length screenplay. Additional awards include a $5,000 Prime Time TV Pilot Prize sponsored by Comcast/NBCUniversal, a $5,000 Content for Kids Prize sponsored by Hallee and David Adelman, and the $1,500 Nina Lo Presti Award for a female screenwriter sponsored by Laurie Lo Presti.
Finalists will receive written evaluations from the judging panel, which includes producers, writers and entertainment executives, and will be invited to an awards reception next spring.
The 2027 competition also introduces an optional $50 script coverage program, providing entrants with one page of professional feedback. Writers who advance to finalist status will receive a refund of that fee.
“We’re excited to offer new feedback avenues for writers and continue connecting talented storytellers with industry professionals,” GPFO Co-Executive Director Erin Wagner stated.
The competition was renamed in 2025 in honor of longtime Greater Philadelphia Film Office leader Joan Bressler.
Entries submitted by Sept. 15 qualify for the $75 early-bird rate. The final submission deadline is Oct. 19, with the standard entry fee increasing to $100. Finalists will be notified Jan. 29, 2027, and winners will be announced March 31, 2027.
To help prospective entrants prepare, the Greater Philadelphia Film Office will host a “Tips for SIP” workshop on Aug. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Studio Symphony in Philadelphia. Presented in partnership with Maestro Filmworks, the session will feature screenwriter and SIP co-founder Brian Wade and focus on screenplay development, competition requirements and writing scripts that can be produced in the Philadelphia region.
Tickets for the workshop are available at: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/gpfo-4/tips-for-sip-screenwriting-workshop-2027-edition
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