Palm Springs Women in Film in partnership with Stage 32 present our 3rd Annual Short Film
Screenwriters Contest
In Loving Memory of Carolyn Moloshco

The Grand Prize Winning Script is guaranteed production, with a production value of $10,000!

Great short films captivate audiences with concise storytelling, compelling characters, and emotional resonance in a brief yet impactful narrative. Getting your short script produced is the quickest way into the industry. Many famous writer/directors have started with short films like Damien Chazelle with WHIPLASH, Wes Anderson with BOTTLE ROCKET, Taika Waititi with TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT, Christopher Nolan with DOODLEBUG, Jane Campion with PEEL, and Martin Scorsese with THE BIG SHAVE. The list goes on... and with this competition, we hope the same success for you.

That is why our Grand Prize is your Short Screenplay is guaranteed production, with a production value of $10,000 - just like these films!

 

 

PSWIFT + Stage 32 Short Script Competition

Theme: Sports, the Outdoors & Mental Health

Palm Springs Women in Film & Television (PSWIFT) and Stage 32 invite writers to submit short scripts that explore the powerful relationship between sports, the outdoors, and mental wellbeing. We encourage bold, compelling, and heartfelt stories that embrace our innate connection to movement, nature, teamwork,and healing.

Click to submit your script!

Eligibility

• Open to all genders, all levels of writing experience.

• Writers must own rights to all submitted material.

• Scripts must be original and written in English.

Script Requirements

• Genre: Narrative (drama, comedy, family, thriller, inspirational),

• Length: 5–12 pages (excluding title page).

• Format: Standard screenplay format in PDF.

• Setting: Must incorporate sports or the outdoors (any geography, any sport).

• Theme Requirement: Must depict an impact on mental health (e.g., healing, struggle, teamwork, resilience, coping, trauma recovery, disability inclusion, burnout, grief, identity, etc.).

Prohibited:

• Glamorizing self-harm or addiction

• Hateful or discriminatory content

• Graphic depictions without purpose or consent

Our Grand Prize Winner will:

• Have your short screenplay produced by Palm Springs Women in Film & Television for a guaranteed production value of $10,000!

• Have your completed project screened alongside the Stage 32 Short Film Program at our partner festival Hollyshorts Film Festival and the Garden State Film Festival!

• Have your completed project streamed on Roku's ZPTV

• Receive a free membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room, a private, virtual community of writers from around the world the meet and learn from industry professionals like Meg LeFauve (INSIDE OUT, CAPTAIN MARVEL) and Aimee Riviera, VP of Motion Picture Production at Skydance Media (TOP GUN: MAVERICK), Tripper Clancy (STUBER) and managers & agents from WME, CAA, Gersh, Circle of Confusion, Zero Gravity & more!

• Free access to Stage 32’s educational webinar library, which includes over 3,000 hours of content featuring top industry professionals

All 10 Finalists will:

• Receive an exclusive, one page of written coverage from one of Stage 32's professional industry readers.

• Get a free one month membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room, a private, virtual community of writers from around the world the meet and learn from industry professionals like Meg LeFauve (INSIDE OUT, CAPTAIN MARVEL) and Aimee Riviera, VP of Motion Picture Production at Skydance Media (TOP GUN: MAVERICK), Tripper Clancy (STUBER) and managers & agents from WME, CAA, Gersh, Circle of Confusion, Zero Gravity & more!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.