2024 Screenplay Award Finalists

Shiva Ramanathan discovered the magic of storytelling when an egg hit him squarely during his impromptu stage debut. While it wasn’t the ovation he dreamed of, it kickstarted an adventure even Indiana Jones would tip his hat to. From a graduate degree in Communication to community theater and video

Dwight A. Jolivette is an aspiring screenwriter who lives in Mesa, Arizona. He’s a retired Financial Advisor, which means he didn’t have much money to invest in the stock market but was able to convince others to invest theirs. Dwight has been writing in some form or another for as long as he can

I began my career in musical theater in New York City, and have been a SAG/AFTRA, and Equity member since 1974. I have also been a member of the Directors Guild of America. Although I have both directed and produced TV pilots and films, writing has always been a personal passion. My focus in the

I began my career in musical theater in New York City, and have been a SAG/AFTRA, and Equity member since 1974. I have also been a member of the Directors Guild of America. Although I have both directed and produced TV pilots and films, writing has always been a personal passion. My focus in the

I am a screenwriter based on the Yorkshire coast, England. My scripts in the drama, comedy and family genres have made it to the finals of several major screenwriting competitions. An English literature graduate, much of my professional career has been in public relations, where I have managed media

Thomas Rex is an independent director, writer and producer, currently based in the Kansas City area. He usually works behind the camera, but sometimes acts as well in local independent films. His portfolio is rapidly expanding as he contributes to larger and more industry-relevant films and

Before Lexi Brandt knew what a screenwriter was, she knew that whatever she chose to do with my life, she wanted to make people laugh the way she did when watching movies like “Mean Girls” and series like “30 Rock”. As a graduate of USC’s Writing for Screen and Television major, she can now say with

Before Lexi Brandt knew what a screenwriter was, she knew that whatever she chose to do with my life, she wanted to make people laugh the way she did when watching movies like “Mean Girls” and series like “30 Rock”. As a graduate of USC’s Writing for Screen and Television major, she can now say with

Robert Buscemi writes features and pilots that fall squarely in the indie drama, comedy and dramedy traditions, with a knack for strong female characters. His two first feature scripts, MAMMOTH and SUNDOWNERS, have each scored placements in multiple top screenwriting competitions and earned strong

Ryan is a screenwriter, TV writer and playwright. Studio Nowhere, a half hour comedy series he created, was optioned by 24 FPS Pictures which led Ryan to sign with his first agent. More recently he sold a one hour drama entitled The Four Mothers to Hirsch Pictures. The pilot is shot and currently

Mauro has been living and working for several years in Bucharest, Romania, where he holds the position of manager at the European headquarters of one of the world's leading providers of IT solutions. Originally from northern Italy, he lived in Milan for fifteen years before emigrating, always

Chef Joe Gatto is an author, private chef, and host of the hit cutting-edge cooking show, Joe Gatto’s From Scratch, currently airing on Pluto TV. His radio show From Scratch on NPR/ WBUR Radio Boston is a fan favorite. He is a renowned private Chef to A-list clients including Celtic and Red Sox

Since attaining my MA in Play and Screenwriting – graduating from City, University of London, in 2014 – I have had three plays successfully produced in London, commissioned and directed by Martin Parr, known for producing work in unconventional spaces. Consequently, with a produced two-hander, one

Chef, artist, grandson of a race car designer. He weaves an alternative history narrative in this maritime western pilot. Through captivating characters, he explores the interplay between tech, environment, and human connection, delving into gritty post-industrial realities. As their flora-powered

Chris Haigh is a comedian, writer and director from Manchester, England who, since moving to LA five years ago, has been mentored by writers of shows such as Everybody Loves Raymond, King Of Queens, and The Goldbergs and worked in production on a plethora of projects for TV and Film. His directorial

In my roles as a government coordinator and screenplay writer, I am passionately committed to creating real change for those suffering with substance abuse and mental health disorders. Through a blend of action, advocacy, and storytelling my work aims to educate on the nuances of treatment and

Drawing from a rich foundation in technical writing, Nick embarked on his literary odyssey by penning a comprehensive book on PHP software development. His creative journey unfolded further as he wrote/directed a video series on the intricacies of WordPress website configuration, but he discovered

Meshal's background in engineering and science heavily influences his true passion—writing. He enjoys exploring stories that take the human experience beyond the ordinary, blending emotionally resonant character journeys with unique, thought-provoking concepts. His screenplays offer a fresh

From scoring 30 episodes of "America Now" to collaborating with platinum artists, from crafting intricate film scores to penning the expansive XOVA7 universe, Quanah's creative journey is as varied as it is impressive. Hailing from Orange County, New York, Quanah Jay Hicks is a true renaissance

Paul Vinsonhaler is an award winning film composer, producer, and director living in Memphis TN. Paul has spent the majority of his work for the past 13 years composing music for 15 independent short films along with features, documentaries, commercials, & animations. He has also directed 13 music

After meeting Robert, you realize he was raised right- right inside a movie theater. His childhood happy-place was escaping to the cinema and the magic that came alive on screen. After trying his hand on an independent film, he realized his greater passion was writing. He’s inspired by visual

Alex is a writer & director. His stories often place characters in morally ambiguous situations that threaten their identity and force them to confront their humanity. Before being a writer and director, Alex had a career as a medical doctor. He worked in some of the world's most challenging

My love for writing began early, crafting plays for elementary school and suspenseful short stories. I graduated in Journalism, which honed my ability to write concisely and tell stories that resonate. In my screenplays, I strive to create engaging narratives with complex characters. I enjoy writing

My career has been a mix of technical work, military service, and media strategy. I started out installing surgical media equipment, but my path shifted when I spent 13 years in the Army, serving as both an infantryman and a public affairs officer. During that time, I developed a wide range of

Sharon’s accounting degree didn’t stop her creative side from emerging with her passion for writing and also venturing to opening a surf shop. Later, off-grid living in Baja, Mexico helped open her eyes even further to a colorful and diverse world. She’s an EP of BELLE filmed in Iceland and is

Ross Schneiderman is a screenwriter and journalist who has worked on staff at The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek.

Darryl Wimberley is a native Floridian, credited screenwriter and author of: Kaleidoscope, screenplay, Fade In Magazine’s Grand Prize Winner, 1988 A Tinker’s Damn, Foreword Review Award, Best Literary Novel, 2001 The King of Colored Town, The Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction, 2007 Paul

Bri is a talented screenwriter currently working as an Assistant to a Producer at Life Out Loud Films. Aspiring to write for a comedy, Bri has gained significant recognition for their work. Her comedy pilot "Golden Oaks Nursing Home" ranked in the top 15% on Coverfly and was a quarterfinalist in the

Georgette Skolnick's father lost everything during The Depression. So, she grew up in a poor dysfunctional family with both parents working to make ends meet. She was a latchkey child, left alone to fend for herself, and as a result, became a self-sufficient, empowered woman. She is the only one in

I am originally from Brooklyn, New York. I have lived in England for nearly two decades and have dual US/UK citizenship. I have a B.A. in Russian from Columbia University and was an Intelligence Officer in the US Navy. I also have a Master’s degree in Opera and worked as a singer, director and stage

Breakfield is a 25+ year technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. He’s also a fan of wine tastings, winemaking, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking. Burkey is a 25+ year

Born in Greenock, Scotland, I went to Glasgow University to study Chemistry and Physics; graduated with a B.Sc. and went on to teaching both subjects in Glasgow. Immigrated to Brazil to teach chemistry and did the same in Peru. I’m married and have two daughters, one in Paris and the younger here in

A proud Marine Corps Veteran, Reynaldo Leal deployed to Iraq with the 3rd Battalion 5th Marines to the Al Anbar Province in 2004 and 2006. There, he took part in some of the heaviest fighting during Operation Phantom Fury and was awarded the Bronze Star with "V" device for actions in Fallujah. After

As a former English teacher in Istanbul and author of three published novels, including one optioned by Paramount Pictures, Steve’s fascination with “otherness” brought him to Delphi, Greece. From there, the phenomenon of the Oracles—young peasant women who delivered prophecies that steered the

Brad Cooper is a distinguished screenwriter recognized as a Coverfly Red List Top 1%, with the #1 screenplay of all time in his genre/format. His acclaimed screenplay, "Killswitch Engineer," is ranked on The Red List in the Top 20 Shorts of all time, across all genres. Brad is known for crafting

An Iowa dairy farm boy who luckily scored a masters degree from Stanford and has taken numerous classes at the University of Iowa Summer Writers Festival. Works and plays well with others. (Please note the website listed here is being updated and is currently unavailable.)

In storytelling, I blend diverse experiences with a passion for compelling narratives. I'm Bruno Timoteo, a screenwriter who infuses humor, action, and style into my scripts to entertain and captivate

Richard Selvi graduated with a BFA in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy and quickly made his mark by having his first short film premiered at Cannes in 2014. His success continued with a comedy short that won at the FirstGlance Film Festival in 2018, featuring known actors like Vincent

Sabina Petra originally hails from the Netherlands, but has since called many other countries her home while traveling and acting all around the globe. Thank goodness you can always carry a pen and paper with you! Or a laptop. The Wondering Year is her first feature film after penning down several

My passion for writing has always been with me, stemming from writing and directing a school play at the tender age of 14. This enthusiasm resurfaced in 2020 when I finally found the time to be the creative I'd always wanted to be. My debut novel, Certified, was published in August 2021. It became

Born in Greenock, Scotland, I went to Glasgow University to study Chemistry and Physics; graduated with a B.Sc. and went on to teaching both subjects in Glasgow. Immigrated to Brazil to teach chemistry and did the same in Peru. I’m married and have two daughters, one in Paris and the younger here in

Michael is an author of words. An eater of chips. And a father of two from Brooklyn, NY. He's been working in commercial film for over 15 years as a Creative Director. He's looking to take his passion for screenwriting to the world of film & TV with incisive stories about the absurdity of our modern

Hans Galesloot is an award-winning screenwriter from The Netherlands, known for creating and writing some of the most successful TV series in Dutch and German television history. His groundbreaking series Medical Centre West became a Dutch classic, setting record-breaking ratings that have yet to be

Ernestina Juarez was born in a rural Texas town just north of the Rio Grande. She was the first Hispanic principal of Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, Texas. Her screenplay on the Mexican American War, Labyrinth of Destiny, was a 2018 Academy Nicholl Finalist. Her script on the birth of the

Digital Dinosaur. Mature, energetic, open minded, curious, thick skinned, and very easy to work with. Husband, father, grandfather, dog’s best friend, history geek. Creative writing since 2005 and finally have the time to do something I love. My passion is connecting generations through historically

Mike Ross is an award winning satirical comedy writer for television and film. His writing style focuses on quick and witty dialogue, puns, and pop culture references. Mike Ross also enjoys writing country music, having published 350+ songs. Read Mike's Work: www.mikeross305.com

Clark is a produced and optioned screenwriter with a focus on Sci-Fi, Dark Dramedy, and True Stories. Clark has successfully collaborated with Producers and other screenwriters on several projects. Most of his projects are grounded in themes of "the haves and the have-nots", classicism, and coming

Jenn Fonteyn was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the hills west of Denver. She holds a BS in Biology and an MS in Applied Natural Science. She is a Science Writer, Screenwriter, and horse enthusiast.

I have written and directed numerous shorts and have edited twelve feature films. Following a course in Film & TV at Bristol University, I started working in film cutting rooms, where I assisted on fifteen movies. I was selected for the London Film Festival’s talent campus, Think-Shoot-Distribute

When Ben Johnson met the union strategy of “Change through Conflict” it was love at first fight. Ben eloped with the union and became Treasurer and then President of AFT Vermont from 2007 - 2016. In an act of flagrant bigamy, he was also the youngest person ever elected to be President of a State