March 18, 2026 - Hollywood State University's School of Screenwriting and Playwriting today announced the inaugural Sullivan Prize, an annual award recognizing the best original feature-length screenplay produced by an HSU student during the academic year. The prize includes a $10,000 cash award, professional script coverage from three working industry readers, and a formal pitch meeting with a participating production company.

The Sullivan Prize is open to all currently enrolled HSU students regardless of major, and submissions will be evaluated by a panel of working screenwriters, literary managers, and development executives drawn from the university's industry partner network.

"A screenplay is the foundation of everything we make," said Dr. Elena Garcia, Dean of the School of Media Arts and Technology, who helped develop the program. "The Sullivan Prize is our way of saying that the best writing at this institution deserves to be seen by the people who can actually do something with it."

Submissions for the inaugural Sullivan Prize will open September 1, 2026, coinciding with the start of the Fall semester. The award will be presented at HSU's annual Graduate Film Festival in December.

The prize is named for William Charles Sullivan, HSU's founder, whose eleven Academy Award-winning films as director and producer remain among the most celebrated works of early Hollywood's golden era.

Founded in 1923, Hollywood State University has a long history of educational advancement in entertainment arts and remains committed to shaping the future of the film, television, and media industries.