The Third Coast Festival also runs a shortform audio competition called Radio Ephemera.
http://www.thirdcoastfestival.org/shortdocs_2008_archive_about_RE.asp

Entries can be documentary or fiction, or a hybrid of the two. And there seems to be a trip to Chicago for the winners...

The Third Coast Festival (www.thirdcoastfestival.org/) is held annually in Chicago to celebrate and showcase all forms of audio work.

They've commissioned five short "phone plays" which are well worth a listen at http://www.thirdcoastfestival.org/audio_library.asp

More info on the plays:
WAIT FOR THE BEEP
A collaboration with Steppenwolf Theatre to create a
series of mysterious "phone plays"

Imagine this scenario: A cell phone rings and the owner is no where in sight...
so you pick it up. You see that there are unheard messages and, driven by curiosity,

A radio drama which applies the concept of being unable to instantly register ones birth name, due to titles, identities and attributes attained from various areas of society.

A three minute radio drama chronicling the thoughts of a paranoid man governed by a police state. Utilising key radio drama techniques and Pro Tools professional editing software as well as the added realism of original sound effects, the drama provokes strong emotion and raises key areas and issues of debate.

This drama is about the lengths people will go to become a celebrity. In particular one man called Squib who has been on the fringes of celebrity for a long time and now believes it’s his turn and there’s not a lot he won’t do to get there.

A 3 minute Radio Drama with a plot that develops quickly when the Friendship of the two characters is tested after the disappearance of some money. This problem spirals into a drama which twists and turns and the audience are left wondering who’s guilty and who’s innocent. As events unfold an unexpected twist explains what has really been going on.

This is a drama presentation on Paranoia which is a disturbed thought process characterized by excessive anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion.

Blessed with talent and ability, William Benton-Diggins tells of his rise to success, and his down fall to alcohol. After losing everything, Williams only hope is to seek help through group therapy. Through his story, we see how William is constantly battling with his inner conscience to regain the life he once held.

The drama focuses on the lives of young students today, referring to how they deal with a heavy workload and other aspects such a peer pressure and time management.

A Halloween like no other.

Short horror audio produced by Brokensea Audio for the Halloween 2007 season.

Script by Paul Mannering

Original Audio Production by BrokenSea
...and the link is dead. Ill find a copy of the audio file and post a link ASAP