Next Storyteller
Grants
Empowering storytellers to find their voice
Talent competition
Actor Grant
The New Tampa • Wesley Chapel Film Festival Actor Grant celebrates the art of performance. Open to actors of all ages, this competition invites participants to showcase their talent before a panel of industry professionals on February 20th.
The winner will be recognized and presented with the Actor Grant live at the Closing Ceremony that same evening—a moment to honor dedication, craft, and the transformative power of performance.
What you receive
√ Cash grant presented at the Closing Ceremony—must be present to receive
√ One-hour consultation with an industry professional
√ Recognition on the festival’s official platforms
√ Networking opportunities with film industry professionals
√ The honor of presenting this award to next year's recipient (2028)
How you’re chosen
√ Perform a monologue or a scene from film or television, with a reader if needed
√ Performances take place in person before an audience and judges on Saturday, February 20, 2027
√ Judged by industry professionals
√ Winner announced at the Closing Ceremony
√ $20 entry fee, which includes festival entry from one hour before call time, plus admission to the closing night event—fee waived if event pass is purchased
Writer Competition
Screenwriter Grant
The New Tampa • Wesley Chapel Film Festival is proud to offer the inaugural Screenwriter Grant, designed to nurture emerging talent in our local community. This grant supports current screenwriters of all levels, who demonstrate exceptional promise in the art of writing.
We believe the next great storytellers are already among us—in our classrooms, in our workplace, in our neighborhoods, behind their cameras. This grant is our investment in their future.
What you receive
√ Cash grant presented at the Closing Ceremony—must be present to receive
√ One-hour consultation with an industry professional
√ Recognition on the festival’s official platforms
√ Networking opportunities with film industry professionals
√ The honor of presenting this award to next year's recipient (2028)
How you’re chosen
√ Submit a script for a short film, no more than 10 pages
√ Introduce yourself and give your tagline in person, before an audience and judges, on Saturday, February 20, 2027
√ Judged by industry professionals; scripts are read in advance of the festival
√ Winner announced at the Closing Ceremony
√ $20 entry fee, which includes festival entry from one hour before call time, plus admission to the closing night event—fee waived if event pass is purchased
Eligibility
Submission Criteria
√ Resident of New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, or the surrounding areas of Pasco and Hillsborough counties
√ Currently working in the film industry
√ Applications must be submitted by the deadline: November 30, 2026
(Applications open August 31, 2026. Limited to 10 contestants.)