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APPLICATIONS FOR FIRST DRAFT YEAR 2 (2026–27)
ARE NOW OPEN!
Full Programme Guidance and the application questions are now available to view and download below, allowing you to prepare your application. Once prepared , you can submit your application using the button below.
Applications will close at 12:00 noon on Monday 7 September 2026.
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
FIRST DRAFT is a feature film script development programme created for emerging Scotland-based screenwriters, supporting bold, original ideas from early story development through to a polished FIRST DRAFT feature screenplay.
Delivered by The Portal Arts in partnership with Development Executive Lizzie Gray, the programme forms part of Screen Scotland’s Talent Builder initiative and is designed to discover, support and elevate the next wave of Scottish screenwriting talent.
Our focus is on distinctive voices and compelling stories that reflect the richness, diversity and creativity of Scottish society, with the potential to resonate internationally.
This paid development opportunity gives selected screenwriters the time, editorial support, financial backing and meaningful industry engagement needed to develop their work in a focused and ambitious way.
We welcome ideas across all genres and tones, as long as the project is character-driven, creatively bold, visually compelling, emotionally engaging and has the potential to resonate with audiences in Scotland and beyond.
FIRST DRAFT supports the development of standalone, feature-length screenplays written in standard industry screenplay format. We are not currently accepting applications for microdramas, vertical dramas, episodic short-form series or other content designed primarily for mobile-first platforms.
Screenwriters should expect to develop and refine a robust story outline before progressing to screenplay drafting, with the aim of delivering a polished FIRST DRAFT feature screenplay by the end of the programme.
As this is an intensive development opportunity, successful applicants must be able to commit meaningful time to independent writing and active participation throughout the programme. This includes regular meetings, workshops, masterclasses and training sessions, both online and in person.
Screenwriters will be selected in November 2026 and announced in early December, with the full programme running from January to December 2027.
WHAT SELECTED SCREENWRITERS WILL RECEIVE
- One-to-one editorial support and tailored script development guidance.
- Workshops, masterclasses and meaningful industry engagement.
- Editorial feedback from Screen Scotland.
- Development fees of up to £15,000, paid in instalments linked to agreed milestones.
- Up to a further £5,000 for identified development support, assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- Additional support for identified access requirements.
IS FIRST DRAFT RIGHT FOR ME?
Applicants should have demonstrable experience writing in screenplay format and have previously developed, or be currently developing, a feature film screenplay.
You may still apply if your previous completed work has been in short-form, provided you are now actively developing a feature-length screenplay and can submit a strong continuous screenplay writing sample of at least 30 pages.
FIRST DRAFT is also open to applicants with equivalent long-form storytelling experience, such as television writers who have written one-hour episodes, or playwrights or radio writers whose work demonstrates a comparable narrative scope.
Applicants are not required to have had work produced or commissioned.
ELIGIBILITY
Every screenwriter and co-writer named in an application must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Live in Scotland and remain based in Scotland for the duration of the programme (if selected, proof of identity and a Scottish address will be required)
- Be aged 18 or over
- Not be in further education for the duration of the programme
- Not have previously had a feature film screenplay theatrically distributed
- Not have previously received development support from Screen Scotland’s main development fund
- Not be a staff or Board member of either The Portal Arts or Screen Scotland
We welcome:
- Individual screenwriters
- Co-writers, with the development fee shared between the co-writers
- Screenwriters applying with or without a producer and/or director attached
- Applicants from under-represented backgrounds
HOW TO APPLY
Before applying, please download and read the PDFs on the following links:
These documents explain the application requirements and eligible writing samples. Further help can be found by visiting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and our Accessibility Statement covering things like the assessment process and support available.
When you are ready, and have collated your information in the correct format, please complete the Online Application Form using the button below.
Applications must be submitted by 12:00 noon on Monday 7 September 2026. We strongly encourage applicants to upload their documents and submit the form well in advance of the deadline. This will allow time to overcome any submission issues before the site gets very busy!
CONTACT US
If you’d like more information about the programme, wish to request a 1:1 with our Programme Producer or have a general enquiry, please use our FIRST DRAFT Contact Form to get in touch.