2024 Screenplay Award Finalists

Shiva Ramanathan has been an unemployed dreamer and a software architect. But, what gives him real joy is storytelling. It's because every story he pursues reveals something wonderful about life that he's seen but never noticed. Shiva's projects have been an IFP Emerging Narrative winner and

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

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

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

Stefan is a German national with an academic background in history and political science. He is a long time film critic at the Berlin Film Festival and an advertising professional with 20 years of experience in writing tv commercials. Stefan hates the actual process of writing but believes in the

I was born in Harpenden but raised in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, so hopefully, I would be described as an honorary Yorkshireman. 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 late 2019 when

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

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.

Robbie Robertson is a playwright, screenwriter and graduate of the University of South Carolina and UCLA’s professional screenwriting program. Robertson’s first comedy, MINA TONIGHT! was published by Samuel French and has been produced in regional theatres across the US. His most recent play, a

Punk Rocker since 1982, published author in 2002, screenwriter since 2015. Specializing in historical scripts, he is an Academy Nicholl Quarter-Finalist, 17X Screenplay Finalist and 6X best screenplay winner in contests from France, Japan, Venezuela and the United States.

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

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

Julia Delmedico is a first generation Argentine-American and a graduate of NYU. Her short film, "Stacy", screened at the Oaxaca Film Festival, Princeton Student Film Festival, New Filmmakers NY, the Official Latino Short Film Festival (HBO Partner) and Anthology Film Archives in New York. Her short

Don’t be fooled by the name. Chad was never prom king or the high school quarterback. He was too busy watching Death Becomes Her for the millionth time. Earning an MFA in Screenwriting from Loyola Marymount University, Chad writes out-of-the-box comedic fare that ranges from the lighthearted to the

English, ex-trader; lived in close to a dozen countries, picking up several foreign languages (and some useful nationalities) along the way. Reads a lot of history. Currently has a tv comedy in production. Based in Germany, Spain and France.

Writing for me turned from a hobby to a love affair when I had an idea for a thriller/drama novel, and 4 years after that idea, I published that novel titled Retribution. I kept on writing and expanding my range of genres to include sci/fi, fantasy/adventure and of course a sequel to my novel.

Layla O'Shea is a Los Angeles-based screenwriter/director born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. After years of playing baseball, and running around pretending to be Superman, she grew up, went to college, graduated with an English/Communications Degree, and worked full-time while raising three

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

Vladimir Vassilenko, having grown up in a disciplined upbringing in the defunct USSR, seeks new creative horizons to bring life to a cinematic epic. He is an award-winning Kazakhstani screenwriter, residing in Varna Bulgaria. A keen observer of life, amidst the corridors of influence and the vibrant

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

I am a physician who practices internal medicine in a busy New York City hospital. When I'm not drowning in medical records, I find the time to write screenplays. I primarily write in the horror-comedy and medical genres. My first script, THE ABSCESS, was an Academy Nicholl quarterfinalist, and won

. 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

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

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

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

A thriving film student at UCLA and Content Clearance Analyst for HBO, Katrina is not just learning; she's redefining storytelling, drawing from a life rich with trials, triumphs, adventure, and growth. From being a teen mom and homeless, to snorkeling with manta rays in the Indian Ocean and running

Gilberto A. Rodríguez posee un bachillerato en Drama y Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. Comienza a escribir en 1994 mientras trabajaba como asistente de producción en las telenovelas de la Cadena Telemundo. En 1995 estudia redacción de guiones en UCLA. En adición a Hugo, Paco, Luis

Alan travelled extensively in the international oil and gas industry as a marine geophysicist and it was during his time off that he first began writing novels for adults. Following the selection of his third novel, Woollyback, for a tutored adaptation for the silver screen, Alan went on to complete

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

Jeff Hindenach is an LGBTQ+, San Francisco-based writer and director who is known for the movies LOST INSIDE as well as the short ONE LAST TIME. He was originally born and raised in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. He also runs the production company West Hall Films, which many of his movies have been

Hailing from the woods of North Carolina by way of the byzantine streets of New Orleans, Robert is a multi-award winning screenwriter specializing in mystery and suspense. His work has been optioned twice and has reached the finals of the Austin Film Festival, Slamdance, Bluecat and Page

Georgette Skolnick grew up in a poor dysfunctional family with both parents working. Their sole focus was on earning money instead of providing love and attention for their daughter. As a result Georgette was left alone to fend for herself and became a self-sufficient woman. Her screenwriting themes

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

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

Ronald McGuire is a multi-genre award-winning author whose work has appeared in numerous literary journals including Winning Writers, The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, Flash Fiction Magazine and Cinnabar Moth Literary Collections. He holds degrees in Comparative Literature and Journalism

Ronald McGuire is a multi-genre award-winning author whose work has appeared in numerous literary journals including Winning Writers, The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, Flash Fiction Magazine and Cinnabar Moth Literary Collections. He holds degrees in Comparative Literature and Journalism

After gaining a degree in Anthropology, Sophie went into television production directing her first documentary for Channel 4 when driving from London to Johannesburg. Having produced an INSET series for BBC Education, she set up wildlife films in Botswana and a BLUE PETER exploration of South Africa

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

​Kelly Lamphear-Dash is an award-winning screenwriter and producer. Her documentaries and short films have been featured in over 100 film festivals worldwide. Her short films and indie features have been featured on The Fantasy Network, YouTube, Prime, Tubi, and other streamers. ​Her short

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

Alistair is a writer and director. He has worked on numerous award winning short films. He has a passion for storytelling and believes the best stories are character driven. He is currently working in the theatre industry. Hoping to one day put on his very own play.

My writing is influenced by my law enforcement career and a love of spy novels, sci-fi stories and noir fiction. I have written two novels, dozens of short stories, and a variety of scripts, including features, tv pilots, and shorts.

Anthony A. Labriola is an alumnus of The School of Visual Arts with background in Film & Television writing. He has been a member of The Long Island Film and Television Foundation since 2015, when he began his work with The Nassau County Film commission and has since been the director of the

Anthony A. Labriola is an alumnus of The School of Visual Arts with background in Film & Television writing. He has been a member of The Long Island Film and Television Foundation since 2015, when he began his work with The Nassau County Film commission and has since been the director of the

On the autism spectrum, 14 screenplays on The Red List, Austin Film Festival Semifinalist, 3x Austin Film Festival 2nd Rounder. I’m on the Blood List in Britain. 20-time finalist in Academy Award, BAFTA and Canadian Screen Awards qualifying events. I have 2 screenplays on The Short List. 500+ film

Merridith Allen is a Jewish, performance-trained playwright with an extensive background in martial arts. Other hyphens include actress, writer, theater director and theater producer. After battling societal norms her whole life, Merridith discovered a passion for telling stories about women

Vincent Veloso is an Asian Filipino-American martial artist (Kodokan judo, Tekken-ryu jujutsu, Nihon Goshin Aikido), trained salsa ballroom dancer & actor, model, multi-award winning: writer/producer/director, businessman & 17 instrument performing musician. Originally from New Jersey, he was

Lisa Hickey is a television writer and screenwriter. She writes about issues of social justice that are woven into action-adventure stories featuring young female protagonists. ​ Growing up, Lisa often felt like an outsider among her peers because she would rather talk about political issues than

Retired fire chief. Faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College. Former dolphin trainer and whale scientist. Baja, motocross, and desert racer. Now carving out a new career as a writer.

Chris is a screenwriter and copywriter living in East London, and originally from rural Lincolnshire in the East of England. He has an MA in Screenwriting from London Film School, and is currently working on a number of sci-fi and comedy projects.