2025 Screenplay Award Finalists

Atman is an actor and writer whose journey began far from the film sets of New York, in the entrepreneurial hustle of India, where he first discovered the power of storytelling through the ads and content he created for his startups. (Some of those ads sold products; others just sold Atman on the

Originally from Tennessee, I’ve spent over 20 years in Los Angeles working as a television executive, but screenwriting has always been my true passion. My experience in unscripted TV exposed me to hundreds of "characters" from around the world, unique subcultures, and wild experiences that sparked

I began writing screenplays in May of 2019 after years of ventilating my fantasies through New Age Music. I've always been intrigued with the idea of time hopping, breaking through the time barrier. I've been blessed with a wild and vivid imagination, even as a young boy. I've written a number of

Graduate of the Yale School of Drama. A professional actor for 25 years. Began writing as an extension of a passion to delve deeper into the intimacy of the human condition.

I am a screenwriter from Los Angeles. Isn't everyone?

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.

David is a faculty brat who left home at 16 and dropped out of high school, but after spinning his wheels for four years in a number of strangely gratifying waystations in the restaurant industry while sporadically attending a community college, he was admitted to Michigan State University and

Don Donahue is a Kansas City screenwriter and visual storyteller who grew up in the backwaters of Mississippuh with a head full of monster guides, comic books, and cinematic daydreams. That origin shaped Dear Island, a southern swamp drama set off the Gulf Coast, which placed in the top 5% of

Dave King is a screenwriter and producer whose work explores the friction between legacy, identity, and reinvention. Dave is also the Executive Producer of the feature documentary The Flight of Jackie Cochran, which chronicles the life of a renowned but forgotten WWII female aviator, currently under

Simon is a bold and original screenwriting voice with a creative foundation in music, theatre, and poetry. His multidisciplinary background informs a distinctive storytelling style that is both lyrical and emotionally resonant. His debut feature-length screenplay, Wordsworth, has been optioned by

I'm an eighteen year old, Irish screenwriter who's passionate about the amazing world of film and writing. Many of my works include an Irish setting, are full of Irish slang and are rooted in it's beautiful culture. Everyday I discover more about writing and film-making as both an art and a craft

Satch Watanabe is a seasoned film and television producer who has worked on acclaimed international projects for HBO Max and Apple TV+. He is now pursuing his passion for screenwriting, focusing on stories that explore family, identity, and belonging.

From the courtroom to the craggy hills of New Zealand, I've always been drawn to big stories and bold landscapes. A former civil litigation lawyer turned inner-city Auckland real estate agent, I now channel a decade of writing into screenplays that pulse with place, grit, and humanity. I travel

Steve Brown, a graduate of the UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting, holds dual degrees in Journalism and English from the University of Arizona. In 2023, he transitioned from corporate copywriting (for popular brands such as Nintendo and Kaplan Test Prep) to pursue his passion for film and TV

Kieran Angelini has written two independent films: Drifting and Dirty Business. Three short films he wrote and produced, Laundrette Blues, Olly, and Baby Please, have been selected to numerous festivals. Kieran is also a playwright; his plays have been produced in LA and New York. He is a member of

Writer. Auteur. Teacher of Video Production at High School Level and Soccer Coach. Passionate about storytelling in all forms and film history. My mentor in college at Xavier University (Ohio), Cerasela Ganicenco, helped guide me to begin my journey into storytelling with short scripts. After

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.

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

Tom is a life-long fisherman. His script is inspired by his bucket list dream of catching a grander, a thousand-pound black marlin, in a fishing mecca in Australia. But, for Tom, fishing with friends and family in beautiful places has always been about more than just catching fish.

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.

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

Klaus Brauer has been a student of navigation for more than fifty years. A former Air Force officer and aviation executive, he has stepped away from aviation and back to his roots in navigation. Klaus hold degrees from the Stanford Creative Writing Program and MIT. He has written more than 100

Dan Roberts is a writer, director, and producer with a passion for crafting science-fiction thrillers that blend intelligence with intensity. He holds degrees in Film & Television from Full Sail University and an Avid Editing Certification from Video Symphony, giving him a strong foundation in both

I am a former journalist, publisher, TV producer and media executive, now writing books (crime fiction) and TV scripts (comedy and drama). I am a Brit, now based in Sydney, Australia.

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.

Former musician-turned engineer in aerospace. Lover of history, philosophy, and humanity. Now turning all the hard lessons he learned in life into stories. His life is the best testament to the golden equation: comedy equals tragedy plus time.

Hallie Stephenson began her writing journey at age 7 with a Star Trek script chronicling Kirk and Spock's extraplanetary shenanigans. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Screenwriting from Purchase College, where her love for gritty period dramas and thrilling sci-fi worlds grew exponentially

Born and raised in New York, I'm the author of several spec screenplays, with a particular focus on the fantasy, science-fiction and supernatural genres. My inspiration is drawn from many different sources, but most prominently the works of Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and John Carpenter. I grew

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

Paul graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Production from the University of Buffalo in 1992. After graduating from college, he moved to North Carolina to work in the state's growing film industry. His first introduction to video editing on the Mac lead him to the field of user experience

Midlands Writers Competition (Birmingham Film & TV Market) - Winner, Best Screenplay: Television 2025 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards 2023: Bronze Award - Best TV Drama Pilot

Myles Yaksich is an award winning writer and director based in Los Angeles, CA and originally from Canada. He is dedicated to crafting bold, character-driven narratives that blur the boundaries between memory and moment, inviting audiences to experience the beauty that exists between imagination and

Hi! I'm Luis Sousa, I am 23 years old and I am aspiring Portuguese screenwriter. I have loved movies since I was child and I can't wait to share that love with the rest of the world.

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

I spent 30 years working in publlic and academic libraries as a historian. In the past four years I have written over a dozen screenplays and television pilots and have received recongintion as an award winner or finalist in twenty-five international screenplay contests. "All Quiet on the Italian

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

Lifelong devotee of the storyteller craft, Grassy Knoll is delighted to continue his career in letters. His chosen pen name is not borne of fringe conspiracy theory or any joy from violence, but rather fascination with certain times and events when things prove so painful-- so harmful to the public

I am a writer based in Melbourne, Australia. I have a finance background and writing has certainly been a healthy creative outlet over the years. I write in different genres from comedies and science fiction to thrillers and suspense.

Ross decided to become a prose writer after reading a Ruben Dario short story while studying at La Universidad de la Habana, and it’s been downhill ever since. He has recently tried his hand at screenwriting. This is his first feature.

Levi Ringo is a screenwriter who blends gritty realism and dark comedy to create thoroughly engaging content. His latest screenplay is based on the various different drug gangs in north east England. Based in a poor area of the poor part of the country, Levi uses many of his own life experiences and

Klaus Brauer has been a student of navigation for more than fifty years. A former Air Force officer and aviation executive, he has stepped away from aviation and back to his roots in navigation. Klaus hold degrees from the Stanford Creative Writing Program and MIT. He has written more than 100

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.

An emerging writer blending elevated horror tropes with psychological thrillers and mythic allegory, Aurelia Gold has won numerous awards for her short stories and screenplays. Her original short story, "The Last Mural," was awarded Honorable Mention in the Genre Short Story category of the 94th

NATALIE SCHWAN is an award-winning director, writer and producer, and founder of full-service production companies Velocity Creatives and Velocity Films . She is known for work that celebrates the vastness of the human condition, the journey of the overcomer, and the spirit of adventure. She has

Entrepreneur, Engineer and writer, looking for my big break with first screenplay based loosely on my life with Sci Fi and drama added in.

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

John Doble's first screenplay, THE AMEN SISTERHOOD, the story of five courageous women determined to chase drug dealers out of the courtyard of their housing project, won the Humanitas New Voices Fellowship. His second, THE ROMMEL GAMBIT, about an American spy planting false information to convince

I am a tv & film editor by day and a screenwriter by night. I have edited feature films starring Rosanna Arquette and Steven Berkoff, and factual thrillers and documentaries for C4, BBC, iTV, Paramount and many others. I have written 4 speculative feature screenplays and I am currently developing a

Molly Vogel is an award winning writer who finds humor in the macabre or strange, embracing her obscure interests to craft silly stories aimed to garner a good chuckle.

I’m a writer and veteran with 25 years of military experience, drawn to human stories in epic landscapes. My work explores grief, resilience, and redemption with authenticity and emotional weight. My military experience grounds the survivalist detail; my writing is fueled by exploring what endures

Kent Moran is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter with over 100 festival selections, including Nashville, Cinequest, Dances With Films, and Rhode Island International, often winning Best Picture and Audience Awards. His scripts have won top competitions such as PAGE International

Dan has worked in conflict and post-conflict zones, including – most recently – Ukraine. His screenplay is an exploration of the meaning of ‘home,’ blending personal loss with the resilience of those living through war. Dan spends his time between the UK and the East Coast of the United States.

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

Writer, actor, and comedian based in Los Angeles.

Terry Podnar, a graduate of Kent State, is a prolific screenwriter and producer who currently lives in Akron, Ohio. His passion for films started at an early age when he wrote and filmed numerous independent films. However, Terry was sidetracked by founding and running a successful business. After

Lover of stories and life. Currently residing in Northern Ontario, Canada.

Puerto Rican actor and screenwriter.

VP Boyle is a preeminent Broadway audition coach, author, award-winning filmmaker and creative director. His work explores reinvention, spiritual resilience, and the quiet power of human connection through stylized, character-forward storytelling. STRING LIGHTS is his breakout feature—an emotionally

CURRENT 2024 ACADEMY NICHOLL FELLOWSHIP NOMINEE: In the last 4 years, Austin's screenplays Car Heroin Train, Her Seventh Death, William the II, Taming Holden Caulfield, Diners & Devils, Who Let the Wallflowers Out? (2024 Nicholl Nominated), Maddie and Frannie, and Night With A Glorious Sun have

Hello there, fantastic reader of this bio! My name is Simonton, and I proudly come from the vibrant city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—famously known as the Steel City. I graduated from UC Riverside in 2019 with a degree in International Affairs and a minor in Theatre, and I also hold a Film, TV, and

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

Originally from South Africa, Adir moved to the United States where he earned a BA in English and Creative Writing and an MFA in Screenwriting. When not working on stories, he's probably playing guitar or brewing a fresh batch of mead.

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

Stephen is a native of Brooklyn New York. He has written and directed four short films and two novels, His works often deal with people in everyday situations finding a spiritual answer to their plights.

Ilia Debolskii holds a Master’s degree with honors in Dramaturgy from VGIK. His screenplay Obe Dve (co-written with Lyudmila Kovalyova), the dramedy, which confronts reproductive violence against women, was released on 1,700 screens. Debolskii’s last historical drama screenplay BLOIS 1171 has been

I am a future BAFTA winner, five scripts deep and just getting started—three features (one live-action, two animated) and two live-action shorts. My voice? Sharp, fearless, and running purely on passion and chaos. I didn’t come here to play it safe—I came to turn the industry upside down and remind

On the dusty plains of West Texas, Douglas could always regale a crowd with tales from the far corners of his mind. The twists and turns of the not what you expected novella. Alas, he has set off on his new adventure... spinning yarn destined for the silver screen.

I am a tv & film editor by day and a screenwriter by night. I have edited feature films starring Rosanna Arquette and Steven Berkoff, and factual thrillers and documentaries for C4, BBC, iTV, Paramount and many others. I have written 4 speculative feature screenplays and I am currently developing a

Abhishek turned rejection into fuel for his screenwriting journey. Criticized as “not his cup of tea,” he refused to quit, immersing himself in storytelling. His five shorts, including A Combat of the Most Intriguing Mind, and Skirt That Bleeds, now boast awards and a place on the Coverfly Red List

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

Ashray not-so-secretly took screenwriting and theater classes to earn an English Literature minor, while majoring in Biology at UC Berkeley. The writing bug bit him early and he collected stories during medical school only to have them spill out onto the page years later. He seeks to create engaging

I was very sick a few years ago, and started writing as a form of therapy. As some abilities have been taken away from me, I find writing allows me to escape to impossible places :)

My award-winning screenplay Elven - by award winning, I mean my daughter read it and re-purposed her cheerleading medal for me, having considered it the best script she had ever read. I maintain my perspicuity in knowing it's the only script she's ever read, but find her discernment to be

I am a tv & film editor by day and a screenwriter by night. I have edited feature films starring Rosanna Arquette and Steven Berkoff, and factual thrillers and documentaries for C4, BBC, iTV, Paramount and many others. I have written 4 speculative feature screenplays and I am currently developing a

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

Martina is an award-winning Austrian screenwriter with a diverse background in production, directing, cinematography, and editing. She specializes in thrillers, horror, and drama for both short and feature films. Her filmmaking journey began with certificates from the New York Film Academy in New

A screenwriter and more importantly a dad, the love of stories at an early age and an introduction to the movies sparked a lifelong passion. Graduated Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Film/Video.

I am a neuropsychologist by training, and bring a deep interest in human behavior and emotional tension to my writing. I’m not a professional writer (yet!), but I’ve been crafting stories since childhood. My writing blends suspense, grounded emotion, and psychological complexity. I’m drawn to

I am an accountant at HarbourVest in Boston, MA. I am married to my beautiful wife and we have an adorable daughter. I keep all the movies I watch in an Excel spreadsheet and rate them great, good, ok and bad. This is the accountant in me. My dream is to win an Academy Award for Best Original

Myles Yaksich is an award winning writer and director based in Los Angeles, CA and originally from Canada. He is dedicated to crafting bold, character-driven narratives that blur the boundaries between memory and moment, inviting audiences to experience the beauty that exists between imagination and

Lobbyist by day, screenwriter by night. Neil is a former army officer, naturally drawn to real life stories such as that of Kevin McClory. McClory: The Battle for 007 is the true story of the legal battle between Irish film producer Kevin McClory and Ian Fleming over who really created the James

An award-winning actor on stage and screen for over 25 years. He's had the honor of working with Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award winners/nominees, and has a Regional Emmy Award himself. For the past 15 years, he's taught actors on faculty at CalArts, one of the nation's premiere arts colleges. Now he's

Merlin Love is a screenwriter, novelist, and filmmaker with a flair for blending dark humor with introspective, character-driven narratives. Based in California, Merlin's work has garnered accolades at various film festivals, with his scripts often exploring the surreal and the emotionally complex

Keith is a writer whose work blends heart, heritage, and humanity. A proud Manchester United supporter from a family steeped in football tradition, Keith brings the same passion and loyalty to his storytelling. Married to a Japanese wife and a father of four, his life has been shaped by global

Deb is a New York Born, L.A. based, screenwriter who will tickle your heart and touch your funny bone -- sometimes simultaneously, mostly painlessly.

I spent 30 years working in publlic and academic libraries as a historian. In the past four years I have written over a dozen screenplays and television pilots and have received recongintion as an award winner or finalist in twenty-five international screenplay contests. "All Quiet on the Italian