Submissions are open now through November 15. Get your screenplay in.

Kinolime NXT · Fall 2026
Your script. Real judges. Real money.

Submissions Period
Sep 7, 2026
Submission Closed
Nov 16, 2026
Public Voting
Nov 23, 2026
Judges Panel
Dec 7, 2026
Public Voting
Dec 14, 2026

What You Win

$5,000 to make your film.

Plus scholarships for runners-up and a grant for your school's arts program.

Every tier of NXT pays out real money, straight to you.

Winner Receives:
- $5,000 Grant
- $2,500 Scholarship
Two Runner Ups: $1,000 + $500 scholarship each
Seven Semi-Finalists: $250 grant for their school’s arts program.

Note: All funds go directly to student writers and their guardians.

For Student Screenwriters

More than a prize. A real start.

Real short-film production experience. Portfolio-ready recognition. Professional feedback from working screenwriters and producers. Hands-on practice in storytelling and collaboration. This isn't a contest for a trophy. It's your first producer credit.

Fall 2026 Schedule

Six weeks to submit. Your community decides the rest.

Submission: Sep 7 – Nov 15
Review week: Nov 16 - Nov 22
Round 1 (Public Voting): Nov 23 - Dec 6
Round 2 (Judges Panel): Dec 7 – Dec 13
Round 3 (Final Vote): Dec 14 – Dec 22
Winner Announcement: Dec 23

SPRING 2026 RUNNERS-UP
Two more stories
that made the top three.
Maya Bourak's Ice Cream Apocalypse and Suzy Shah's The Version I Was both fought their way to the top three.

MB

I'm really proud of the journey I gave her, how she grows by facing her pain.
Maya Bourak, on her main character

Kinolime NXT · Fall 2026
Your script. Real judges. Real money.

$5,000 to make your film.

Plus scholarships for runners-up and a grant for your school's arts program.

Write it. Rally votes. Make the cut.

More than a prize. A real start.

Six weeks to submit. Your community decides the rest.

SPRING 2026 RUNNERS-UP
Two more stories
that made the top three.
Maya Bourak's Ice Cream Apocalypse and Suzy Shah's The Version I Was both fought their way to the top three.

Competition

Company

Site Info

Resources

$5,000 to make your film.

Plus scholarships for runners-up and a grant for your school's arts program.

Write it. Rally votes. Make the cut.

More than a prize. A real start.

Six weeks to submit. Your community decides the rest.

SPRING 2026 RUNNERS-UP
Two more stories
that made the top three.
Maya Bourak's Ice Cream Apocalypse and Suzy Shah's The Version I Was both fought their way to the top three.

Kaija Adler won NXT

Submissions close November 15
Ten weeks. That's all you get. Get your script in before the window closes.

A national scholarship program your students can enter for free.

1. Schools Submit Original Scripts

Each school may submit up to ten original student-written short scripts (5–15 pages) via their verified profile.

2. Kinolime NXT Showcases All Scripts

After a contextual review, scripts advance to the voting round and are posted on the Kinolime NXT platform.

3. Round 1 - Public Read & Vote for Top 10

Read any script and vote. Every vote earns Lime$, and the more you read and vote, the more you earn.

4. Round 2 - Judges' Panel

Industry professionals and Kinolime judges review the top-ranked scripts and select 3 finalists.

5. Audience Decides The Winner

From the three finalists, the audience reads and votes on which story Kinolime finances. Only those who voted in Round 1 can cast a final vote.

From Finals Week to Final Draft

The winning story secures a $5,000 production grant to begin its journey from script to screen + $2,500 scholarship for the winning writer of the script.

Kinolime NXT · Fall 2026Your script. Real judges. Real money.

$5,000 to make your film.

Plus scholarships for runners-up and a grant for your school's arts program.

Write it. Rally votes. Make the cut.

More than a prize. A real start.

Six weeks to submit. Your community decides the rest.

SPRING 2026 RUNNERS-UP Two more stories that made the top three. Maya Bourak's Ice Cream Apocalypse and Suzy Shah's The Version I Was both fought their way to the top three.

Competition

Company

Site Info

Resources

$5,000 to make your film.

Plus scholarships for runners-up and a grant for your school's arts program.

Write it. Rally votes. Make the cut.

More than a prize. A real start.

Six weeks to submit. Your community decides the rest.

SPRING 2026 RUNNERS-UP Two more stories that made the top three. Maya Bourak's Ice Cream Apocalypse and Suzy Shah's The Version I Was both fought their way to the top three.

Kaija Adler won NXT

Submissions close November 15Ten weeks. That's all you get. Get your script in before the window closes.

A national scholarship program your students can enter for free.

1. Schools Submit Original Scripts

Each school may submit up to ten original student-written short scripts (5–15 pages) via their verified profile.

2. Kinolime NXT Showcases All Scripts

After a contextual review, scripts advance to the voting round and are posted on the Kinolime NXT platform.

3. Round 1 - Public Read & Vote for Top 10

Read any script and vote. Every vote earns Lime$, and the more you read and vote, the more you earn.

4. Round 2 - Judges' Panel

Industry professionals and Kinolime judges review the top-ranked scripts and select 3 finalists.

5. Audience Decides The Winner

From the three finalists, the audience reads and votes on which story Kinolime finances. Only those who voted in Round 1 can cast a final vote.

From Finals Week to Final Draft

The winning story secures a $5,000 production grant to begin its journey from script to screen + $2,500 scholarship for the winning writer of the script.

Kinolime NXT · Fall 2026
Your script. Real judges. Real money.

SPRING 2026 RUNNERS-UP
Two more stories
that made the top three.
Maya Bourak's Ice Cream Apocalypse and Suzy Shah's The Version I Was both fought their way to the top three.

SPRING 2026 RUNNERS-UP
Two more stories
that made the top three.
Maya Bourak's Ice Cream Apocalypse and Suzy Shah's The Version I Was both fought their way to the top three.

Submissions close November 15
Ten weeks. That's all you get. Get your script in before the window closes.