2024 Screenplay Award Finalists

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.

Kelsey studied writing and literature at Loyola Marymount University and has since dabbled in various editorial-related positions. She currently works in localization.

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

Matt Nicholson is a queer screenwriter based in LA. His portfolio of short scripts and hour-long pilots brings new twists to old myths and champions stories about family legacy. Matt has worked as a stage manager, researcher for "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," and Editor-In-Chief of GeorgeTakei.com

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

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

AB cum laude Harvard. Long career in advertising. Wrote a thriller published by a division of what is now HarperCollins. Wrote a dark humor non-fiction book, "The Top 10 As We ht Bottom," published in 2020 by Skyhorse. Co-wrote a novel, "The Academy of Smoke and Mirrors," published last year by The

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

Larry graduated from NYU film school and since then has written several features and short films. His 10-minute thesis, FLASH, was an Official Selection of the Seattle International Film Festival and won an award for Special Artistic Value at the Festival du Cinema de Paris. Larry's greatest source

A Wisconsin based writer, I hold a B.A. in English Communications and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing (Screen & Stage) from Queens University-Charlotte. An award-winning screenwriter and playwright, I thoroughly enjoy the creative journey that unfolds between "FADE IN" and "FADE OUT." It is my hope to

Screenwriter, documentary filmmaker and author, Susan Marks sold her screenplay Dollhouse of Death (Nichol Top 50 Script) to HBO and Guillermo del Toro. She directed the documentary film, Of Dolls & Murder, starring legendary filmmaker and provocateur John Waters. Susan also wrote the book and made

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

I was born in Missouri and attended Northwest Missouri State University obtaining a B.S. degree in Broadcasting. Soon after graduation, I landed a job as a television anchorman in Kirksville, Missouri. Within two months I was let go and I returned back to my hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri. Within

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

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

Barry Kienzle is a born and raised Kentuckian. He is an award-winning author, having written three novels, "The Crossings," "The Indian," and "A Whisper in the Wind." He has also co-written a memoir of Willie Burton, a high school wrestler with cerebral palsy, "Heart of a Lion," and an autobiography

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

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

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

Lindsay is a practicing internal medicine physician, recent recipient of an MFA in non-fiction creative writing, and developing storyteller. Her fiction work incorporates medical and bodily themes, with a strong dose of dark humor. And yes, it's all fictional (or she at least maintains plausible

Radley is a screenwriter from San Dimas, California. He specializes in kinetic thrillers with strong heroes and exciting stakes. Radley fell in love with screenwriting after re-watching Shawshank Redemption and Con Air on a loop in his hometown video store. Although his scripts owe much to the genre

Jamie Campbell thrives by finding ways to laugh in the midst of darkness. It’s a survival mechanism for a guy who is lucky to still be alive. When he was eleven years-old, he was kidnapped by one of his parents who took him on the run for six months before police caught up to them. As a teenager, he

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

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

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

UK based writer. My script's have placed in competitions and festivals. Fell in love with movies from an early age, with a strong appreciation, for all story telling.

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

Writer, Cinephile and Dreamer from the Midwest.

I am an architect who has loved films since young. I was interested in screenwriting for years, but never thought to actually write. In 2023, a chance encounter inspired me to finally put imagination onto "paper". One of my first short scripts, "Hope On An Envelope" was a finalist at the 2023 Austin

AB cum laude Harvard. Long career in advertising. Wrote a thriller published by a division of what is now HarperCollins. Wrote a dark humor non-fiction book, "The Top 10 As We ht Bottom," published in 2020 by Skyhorse. Co-wrote a novel, "The Academy of Smoke and Mirrors," published last year by The

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

Mr. Clark is director of creative development for Futoura -- a new, advanced theme park concept based on the STEAM fields: Space, Science, Technology, Engineering, The Arts, and Mathematics. He has written three screenplays: Future's Past, Starfire and Crossover. STARFIRE is a compelling, heartfelt

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

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

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

Line Rainville and Franco Pirrone are creative partners with a shared commitment to storytelling that champions diversity, inclusivity, and social awareness. Their backgrounds blend international experiences, distinct cultural identities, and a passion for science fiction, bringing unique

​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

Genet is a Black List Recommended Screenwriter. She has a passion to create smart dialogue and complex characters in edgy, original and compelling stories. Her screenplay, I Think Therefore You Are, was a finalist in the UK Film Festival Feature Script Competition 2023 and the Golden Script

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

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

Kyung-Ja Lee obtained her master’s degree in psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, and a Master’s degree in directing at AFI with award winning short film. Lee continued her independent filmmaking career and received numerous awards and fellowships, including Rockefeller

I love creating original genre-bending stories featuring female leaders - particularly adventure thrillers. My goal is to continue to write thought-provoking adventure stories for film and television. Ideally, I'd land at a female-driven genre dramedy like Agatha All Along.