Awards and festival achievements can be powerful early milestones in your career. These honors not only recognize your creative work but also help validate your skills to future employers and collaborators. Including them on your resume or in a portfolio can help your work stand out in a competitive industry. Even just submitting can be a great exercise when working with deadlines and learning how to present your work publicly.

FilmFreeway is a great resource to browse thousands of film festivals and screenwriting competitions. (Most of the festivals featured here are also listed on FilmFreeway).