Go South Films Presents

MADE

The film gets made or nobody gets paid.

A screenplay contest where the community funds the budget and the winning project gets produced. Every entry fee goes toward making a real film.

Season I Horror  ·  Sci-Fi  ·  Thriller
Submit Your Script How It Works
0
Submissions
$0
Total Pool
$0
Prize Pool (grows with every submission)
90
Days Remaining
Submissions open · Horror · Sci-Fi · Thriller · Season I

How It Works

Submit your script. We make it.

Every other contest takes your money whether or not a film gets made. We don't. The winning script gets produced — with you, by us, from first draft to final cut. Here is exactly what that means.

01 — SUBMIT
Send us your best Horror, Sci-Fi, or Thriller script

Submission fees vary by deadline tier — earlier submissions get a lower rate. Attach your screenplay, answer three questions about your project, and optionally include a pitch deck. Every entry fee goes directly toward the film budget of the winning project, minus a $9 processing fee.

02 — REVIEW
A jury of working filmmakers reads the shortlist

Every script undergoes a feasibility review first — can this story realistically be produced within the raised budget? Scripts that pass go to our jury. No paid coverage readers. No algorithm. People who have actually made films read your work and make the call.

03 — GREENLIT
Go South Films becomes your production company

The winning filmmaker signs a co-production agreement with Go South Films. We don't hand you a check and wish you luck. We produce the film together — attaching cast and key crew, making creative decisions in collaboration with you, and committing the full budget to getting it made.

04 — MADE
We see it through to completion

From casting to final delivery — we stay in it. Go South Films handles the production infrastructure, legal structure, and distribution strategy. You focus on the film. If we can't find a script worth producing, your entry fee is refunded minus the $9 processing fee.

Eligibility & Rules

Simple rules. Real consequences.

Submission Requirements

  • Feature screenplay, 75–115 pages, PDF format
  • Original, unproduced work — not optioned, sold, or in production
  • Horror, Sci-Fi, or Thriller genre only for Season I
  • One submission per entrant
  • Three project questions required at submission — outline, budget case, creative notes
  • Pitch deck optional — template available to download if you want to use one
  • Writer must own 100% of the rights at time of submission
  • WGA registration or copyright registration recommended but not required
  • US residents only for Season I (Reg CF compliance)
  • Entry fee varies by submission tier — see current deadline and pricing above. A $9 processing fee is retained regardless of outcome. If no winning script is selected, the remainder is refunded in full.
  • Go South Films retains final approval on director and key cast and crew as co-producer on the winning project

Disqualification Criteria

  • Scripts previously optioned, sold, or produced in any form
  • Adaptations without documented rights clearance
  • Scripts requiring budgets clearly above $250K at any reasonable production plan
  • Incomplete submissions — missing deck, missing script, or incomplete form
  • Multiple submissions from same writer under different names
  • Scripts not authored by the submitting writer

Feasibility Check

Every script undergoes a feasibility review before reaching the jury. We assess whether your story can realistically be produced within the raised budget. This is a subjective evaluation — there are no fixed rules. Your budget case and outline are where you make that argument.

The Ownership Model

Everyone gets paid when the film does.

Making a film on a tight budget means everyone bets on the project together. Nobody works for free — everyone has a documented number they are owed. Here is exactly how it works.

Win. Get your film made.
Keep 5% of everything it earns. Forever.

How the money works

1
Go South Films takes a 10% producer fee
Before production starts, Go South Films takes 10% of the total prize pool as a producer fee. This is the only payment we take. On a $90,000 pool that's $9,000 — the rest, $81,000, goes directly into making the film.
2
Everyone on set gets paid — just not everything upfront
Cast and crew are paid a reduced day rate during production — enough to cover their time and expenses. The difference between what they're paid on set and their full rate is written into a legally binding agreement and owed to them once the film generates revenue. This is standard practice on low-budget independent films. Nobody works for free. Everyone has a documented number they are owed.
3
If the film sells or streams, here's the order everyone gets paid
First, any remaining production costs are settled. Then cast and crew receive the rest of the money owed to them from production. Once everyone is made whole, the remaining revenue is split between the people who made it happen.
4
The backend split — your points in the film
Think of this as your ownership stake. Every key person on the film holds a percentage of future revenue. Once everyone from steps 1–3 is paid, the remaining money is divided like this:
5%
Creator
The winning writer. Fixed. Protected.
5%
Cast
Split across principal cast at production.
10%
Producers
Allocated by Go South Films to key contributors.
20%
Contingency
Reserved for DP, editor, name talent, co-producers.
60%
Go South Films
Majority stake. Final say on creative and production decisions.

The winning filmmaker receives 5% ownership in the film — fixed, in writing, before signing anything. Go South Films holds the majority stake and has final say on key creative and production decisions. Additional backend points are allocated to cast, producers, and key contributors at Go South Films' discretion. Full ownership terms are in the co-production agreement you receive before signing. You have 30 days to review it.

Your Submission

Three questions. Optional deck.

The submission form asks you three questions. Answer them honestly — that's the filter. A pitch deck is optional. If you have one, attach it. If you don't, the questions are enough.

↓  Download Deck Template (.pptx)
PAGE 01
The Pitch

One logline. Three sentences on the story. One sentence on why it costs under $150K. No filler.

PAGE 02
The World

Visual references that communicate the tone and world of your film — film stills, photography, paintings, anything that captures your vision. Brief note on what each reference communicates.

PAGE 03
The Budget Case

Locations. Cast size. Shoot days estimate. One paragraph on how this film gets made for the money. Honest math.

PAGE 04
The Filmmaker

Who you are. What you've made. Why you're the right person. First-time directors welcome — show evidence of visual thinking.

PAGE 05
The Ask

What does winning mean for this project. What's the plan from greenlight to shoot. Proof you've thought past "I win, great."

Made · Season I — Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller

Submit your concept.

Submission Tiers

Early Bird
$79
First 6 weeks
Regular
$99
Weeks 7–10
Late
$119
Final 4 weeks

All tiers include the same full review. A $9 processing fee applies to all submissions regardless of outcome.

Entry fee varies by submission deadline — earlier submissions cost less. If no winning script is selected, your entry fee is refunded in full minus the $9 processing fee. That $9 covers the cost of running the contest. Everything else comes back to you.

Your Project — Answer These Three Questions

Upload Your Files

📄

Drop your PDF here or click to browse

🎬

Have a deck? Drop it here. Not required — the questions above are enough. Click to browse

By clicking Submit & Pay you will be redirected to our secure payment page. If no winning script is selected, your entry fee is refunded automatically minus the $9 processing fee.

You must accept the Submission Agreement above before submitting.

The Jury

Real people. Real taste.

Every script that passes feasibility review is read by this jury. No paid readers. No algorithms. People who have actually made things — on budgets that required creativity, not just cash — and who believe a great genre concept is the most powerful thing in independent film right now.

TS
Thomas Simon
Director · DP · Founder

A commercial director and cinematographer with over 15 years working for brands including Louis Vuitton, Nike, Apple, and Mercedes-Benz. His debut feature Iron Dan, a road drama starring Clayne Crawford, marks his arrival as a narrative filmmaker with a distinctive visual voice. He founded Go South Films and created Made to find the stories the industry keeps missing.

AB
A.P. Boland
Writer · Filmmaker

A graduate of the American Film Institute, A.P. Boland trained at the intersection of genre craft and independent filmmaking, with experience at Dark Castle Entertainment and Ghost House Productions. An accomplished screenwriter currently in production on a horror anthology feature, he reads scripts with a genre-rooted eye for structure, dread, and what actually works on a lean budget.

AR
Aaron Jay Rome
Actor · Writer · Director

Aaron Jay Rome has built a career on both sides of the camera, with acting credits in Get on Up, Hot Tub Time Machine 2, and The Vampire Diaries. A working writer and director based in New Orleans, he co-wrote, co-produced, and co-directed the feature Sulfur and the series Hopper & Finch. He reads scripts the way an actor does — for truth in character and dialogue first.

KW
Kyle Walczak
Editor

An Emmy Award-winning editor whose credits span Thor: Love and Thunder, Godzilla vs. Kong, and work alongside producer Chuck Roven and director David O. Russell. Kyle has cut features, documentaries, commercials, and pilots across every budget level. He reads scripts for what will actually cut together as a finished film — not just what reads well on the page.

Questions

Frequently asked.

What happens if no winning script is selected? +
If the jury determines no submitted script meets the standard required to make a film worth making, your entry fee is refunded automatically within 14 business days minus the $9 processing fee. You don't need to request it. No other contest offers this. We do because we'd rather give your money back than make something we're not proud of.
Why does Go South Films have final approval on director and cast? +
Because we are co-producing and investing the prize pool, we have a responsibility to ensure the film gets made well. This isn't about overriding your vision — it's about protecting the project. In practice this means we have a conversation, not a veto. If you want to direct your own script, make that case in your deck. If you have a director in mind, tell us. Our approval exists to prevent situations where an unqualified attachment puts the production at risk.
Do I keep my rights if I enter? +
Yes, completely. You retain 100% of the rights to your script at all times. The only right you grant us is to read and assess your script for the purposes of this competition. If you don't win, that limited license terminates. We never option, produce, or exploit your script without a separate signed agreement.
Can I submit if I'm a first-time director or writer? +
Yes. We don't require credits or experience. What we do require is a compelling script and honest answers to the three submission questions. A pitch deck is welcome but not required. Evidence of visual thinking — short films, photography, other work — can be referenced in your creative notes.
What does "co-produced" actually mean? +
It means we produce alongside you, not instead of you. We bring the production budget, the legal framework, the deferred pay agreements, and our network of actors, post houses, and equipment contacts. You bring the creative vision. You direct or attach a director. We ensure the film actually gets made and delivered.
What if the budget pool is lower than expected — can my film still get made? +
Yes, and this is by design. We work with you to stretch the budget through in-kind contributions — post house relationships, equipment favors, actor relationships. A $35K prize pool is a floor, not a ceiling. The strength of a contained script often makes the difference.
Will I receive feedback on my submission? +
Scripts that do not pass the feasibility review receive a brief note explaining why. Beyond that, individual feedback is not provided. The jury's decisions are final.
Can I submit a script I've entered in other contests? +
Yes, as long as the script has not been optioned, sold, or produced. Entering other competitions does not disqualify your submission here.
I'm a writer-director. Do I get more than 5% since I'm doing both jobs? +
No. The 5% creator point belongs to the owner of the script, regardless of what role you take on in production. Whether you write it, direct it, or both — the creator position is 5%, fixed. This keeps the structure simple and fair across every project. Your upside as director comes from making a film that sells, not from negotiating extra points.
What if I win but we disagree on how the film should be made? +
Then you don't have to sign the co-production agreement. No pressure, no hard feelings. Your rights stay with you entirely — we retain nothing. We move on to the next best project in the pool. This is a creative partnership, not a trap. If we can't find common ground on the vision, forcing it serves nobody.
Plenty of platforms make similar promises. Why should I trust you? +
Fair question. Here is the honest answer.

Independent filmmakers face two problems that nobody has genuinely solved. The first is getting a great script noticed by people with the power to make it. The second is getting it financed. Most platforms address one, badly, and ignore the other entirely. Screenplay contests have a long track record of awarding prizes that rarely translate into anything tangible — a cash prize gets absorbed into rent, a laurel gets added to a query letter, and the script sits in a drawer. Crowdfunding puts the burden on the filmmaker to already have an audience before making the thing that would build one. It is a broken model for most people trying to break through.

We are not claiming to have all the answers. What we are doing is trying something different — a model where the community of writers funds the prize, the prize is a made film rather than a check, and the production company putting its name on the project has real skin in the game. We only make money if the film gets made and sells. That alignment does not exist anywhere else.

Is it still a gamble? Yes. Filmmaking is always a gamble. But this is a lottery ticket where the prize is your project actually getting produced, with a real production company behind it and a real budget to do it with. No other contest can say that. We are trying to be the thing we wished existed when we were the ones with a script and no path forward. Whether we earn your trust is up to us to prove — starting with the first film we make.