Studio21 2025 script competition opens to find hit micro-drama as the sector booms
Studio21 International has opened its 2025 script competition with a mission to uncover a hit microdrama that can appeal to a contemporary audience worldwide.
Building on its 2024 Studio21 Scene-By-Scene Script Competition – designed to uncover compelling contemporary stories that can reach a 21st century audience across platforms – the 2025 competition is titled The Studio 21 Micro Drama Script Competition.
The competition invites entries for series made up of 2-5 minute episodes, with a total of 40-60 episodes across the series.
Entrants should submit:
• The first three episode scripts (of between 2-5 minutes per episode) as a single file with the end of each episode clearly marked.
• A treatment for the full series, to run between 40- 60 episodes.
You can enter online by CLICKING HERE.
There is a £30 fee to enter.
Studio21 partner Hayley McKenzie said: “Microdrama is a rapidly expanding scripted market and I’m excited to see how the talented screenwriting and filmmaking community adapt to help define and shape it.”
We remain open to scripts in any fiction genre, but priority will be given to projects that meet the following criteria:
• Explore progressive themes.
• Engage with the audience in new and innovative ways.
• Deliver short episodes of between 2-5 minutes.
• Create hooks that make us want to watch the next episode.
• Have a driving narrative across the series.
• Can be produced on a small budget.
The winning project will pick up a development deal with Studio21 to take the series to market, together with a £2000 cash prize.
Studio 21’s David Jenkinson added: “The Studio21 script competition has always attracted the most progressive new writers, and last year we made the first steps into developing newform drama designed to be released digital first. This year we are evolving that approach to find a hit microdrama, which has become a key driver for the scripted business.”
Previous winners now have their shows in development with leading producers, and the raft of new writers and projects taken under the Studio21 wing is commanding the attention of coproducers and commissioners worldwide.
From the pool of submissions, made between 7 July, 2025 and 17 September, 2025, a shortlist of 21 projects will be selected.
From these, six finalists will be chosen to present their script to the global drama business at Content London 2025.
Shortlisted entries will be announced on Friday 10 October, 2025, and the six finalists will be announced on Friday 31 October, 2025.
The Studio 21 Micro Drama Script Competition is produced in association with C21Media, Content London and Script Angel.
Each finalist will also receive a free consultancy session from Script Angel.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS
For more information, including submission requirements & guidelines, eligibility criteria, FAQs and FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS CLICK HERE.
If you are experiencing any issues with your submissions, please email info@studio21.com
