Original series pilot
The first episode of a series you or your team have the authority to submit.
Open for Registration - Entries Open October 15
PilotRush
Create the pilot. Prove the story. We can help turn it into a series. We are looking for the first episode of an original vertical microdrama with the potential to become commercially viable IP.
Registration is now open. Create your profile today and be ready to submit when entries open October 15.
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Countdown to submissions opening: October 15, 2026
9:16
Vertical only
~60s-10m
Episode length
IP
Jointly-owned
$5K
Cash prize pool
The brief
Episode one, not a one-off.
Create the first or pilot episode of an original vertical microdrama series. The episode must introduce a repeatable world, compelling characters and a story engine strong enough to continue beyond one video.
We are not simply collecting short videos. We are looking for creators and original IP that can grow into produced, financed and distributed series.
How it works
Register now, submit from October 15, and show us that your pilot can sustain a full series.
01
Registration
Create your profile
Register now, introduce yourself, and get ready before entries open October 15.
02
Creator
Submit episode one
From October 15, submit a link to the first episode of your original vertical series.
03
Jury
Get judged
Producers and showrunners review every entry.
04
Winners
Build the series
Win cash, then enter development conversations that could take the story into production, financing, sponsorship and distribution.
What to submit
One production-ready pilot episode that proves the concept, characters and repeatable story engine of your original series.
9:16 vertical video
Between 60 seconds and 10 minutes, designed for mobile-first viewing.
Accessible viewing link
Submit a working video URL that the jury can open throughout judging.
English subtitles
Required whenever spoken dialogue is not in English.
Clear submission rights
Every creator and team member must have authority over all submitted material.
One strongest entry
One pilot per creator or team, entered in the most suitable competition track.
Competition tracks
Pick the track that fits your pilot. Each track is judged on its own, so every story competes with its own kind.
Track 01
Hotel-based
Stories that live inside a hotel - guests, staff, secrets behind every door.
Track 02
Guys group or romance
A tight crew of friends - loyalty, chaos, or a love story that breaks the group.
Track 03
Girl group & beauty
A group of friends around the beauty world - ambition, rivalry, glow-ups.
Track 04
Sports & cars
Competition stories where the car is a character of its own.
Track 05
Wildcard
Doesn't fit anywhere else? Surprise us - any genre, any world.
How entries are scored
Every entry gets the same scorecard. No production budget required - only a story that holds a thumb still.
01
30%
Hook
Do the first 5 seconds stop the scroll?
02
25%
Story & structure
Clear want, real stakes, an ending that demands episode 2.
03
20%
Craft
Framing, sound, pacing and edit at vertical standard.
04
15%
Casting & performance
Faces and voices we believe - human or generated.
05
10%
Scalability
Could this run for 60 episodes without running dry?
Guaranteed competition awards
$5,000 Total Cash Prizes
$2,500
1st place
The top cash award, plus consideration for series development opportunities.
$1,500
2nd place
Cash prize and a professional review from our creative team.
$1,000
3rd place
Cash prize and a one-on-one story consultation.
More than cash
Your pilot could be the start of a real series.
The strongest projects may move into conversations with Vertical Future / Microdra.ma and participating partners. These opportunities are considered separately from the guaranteed $5,000 cash prizes.
01
Full-series production
02
Continued financing
03
Brand sponsors and partners
04
Platform and app distribution
05
Social promotion and featuring
Selective opportunity
Vanguard Accelerator
Up to $50,000 in combined value
Selected creators may be invited to apply to the Vanguard Accelerator for focused support turning a proven pilot into a commercially viable series. Invitation and acceptance are selective, are not guaranteed by winning PilotRush, and are separate from the guaranteed cash prizes.
+AI generation and production credits
+Cash or production support
+Technology credits
+Mentorship
+Creative development
+Business and commercialization
Who is watching
Entries are reviewed by the microdrama team together with invited producers and app partners from the vertical drama market.
Yael Tamar
Founder, executive lead
Looks for hooks, audience fit and production scalability.
Chris Werner
Partner, executive
Reviews structure, pacing and series potential.
Guest jury
Producers & app partners
Rotating guests from publishers and short-drama apps we work with.
Key dates
From the day submissions open to the winners announcement - the season at a glance.
Oct 15, 2026
Submissions open
Sign up free and start shooting. Registration takes two minutes.
01
Oct 26, 2026
Entries close
Upload your pilot before the deadline. Late entries are not judged.
02
Nov 2026
Shortlist published
The jury watches every entry head to head. The strongest pilots rise to the top.
03
Within 30 days
Winners announced
Winners get cash, the meetings, and the spotlight.
04
What a strong pilot looks like
A few of our own vertical pilots, for reference. Yours does not need this budget - it needs this discipline.
The Little General
BOTMATES
The Fashion of Chess
Silver Creek
The rules
- - Your pilot must be vertical (9:16) and between 60 seconds and 10 minutes.
- - Any genre, any language - subtitles recommended for non-English entries.
- - AI-produced and live-action entries are both welcome.
- - Winning pilots are jointly-owned IP between the creator, microdra.ma, and sponsors.
- - One entry per creator or team.
- - Entries close October 26, 2026. Winners announced within 30 days.
Questions
Does it cost anything to enter?+
No. Entry is free and always will be for the S01EP01 Contest.
Can I enter a pilot I already published?+
Yes, as long as you own it and it was made in the last 24 months.
Do you take any rights to my work?+
Non-winning entries remain yours. Winning projects move forward under the jointly-owned IP terms accepted during registration, so the creator, microdra.ma and participating sponsors can develop the series together.
Can I submit before October 15?+
Not yet. Registration and creator profiles are open now. Pilot submissions unlock on October 15, 2026.
Can a team enter together?+
Yes. Sign up with one contact person and list the team in your logline.
What if my pilot is not in English?+
Any language is welcome - just add subtitles so the judges can follow.
How many entries can I submit?+
One per creator or team, so send your strongest work.
Create the pilot. Prove the story. We can help turn it into a series.
Sign Up to CompeteRegistration is open.
Create your free creator profile today. Video submissions unlock on October 15.
Sign Up to Compete