2026 Screenplay Award Finalists

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.

Kymberly's interested in stories that personally deal with how we are formed by our families and by society, and how that effects our ability to connect to each other. Regardless of the scope or genre of the world of the story, her work is going to examine this thread of human relationship and

I spent 30 years working in publlic and academic libraries as a historian. In the past six years I have written over a dozen screenplays and television pilots and have received recongintion as an award winner or finalist in thirty-five international screenplay contests. In 2025 my screenplay "All

I’m a Texas-based history teacher and emerging screenwriter with a growing portfolio of character-driven feature scripts. My writing focuses on identity, memory, transformation, and the emotional tension between routine and truly living. I’m drawn to visually cinematic storytelling rooted in human

Megan's successes (various screenplays): 2025 Austin Film Festival Semi Finalist - Comedy Feature category. 2025 Austin Film Festival Second Rounder - Comedy Feature category. 2025 PAGE International Quarter-Finalist - Comedy Feature category. 2025 Final Draft Big Break Quarter-Finalist - Comedy

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

I write character-first screenplays and genre stories where survival, pressure, dark humor, and emotional consequence collide. My work blends high-stakes suspense with grounded human stakes, often following underestimated people who keep moving when the world turns hostile. Across thrillers, crime

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.

“At age thirty, I decided to pursue a career in law. I left my job in the corporate world to retrain as a solicitor. Three years later, I was diagnosed with several conditions, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyscalculia. I was thirty-three, and it was a Wednesday. Shortly after being diagnosed

I am a screenwriter currently seeking representation for my screenplay Trade Offs. I wrote Trade Offs during a difficult period in my life. That experience led me to reflect on grief, entitlement, and the expectations we carry about how life should treat us. My hope is that readers find something

My first feature romantic comedy won the 2023 Film Fund Luxembourg writing grant, and the screenplay was long-listed for both the Courage to Write Grant (US, 2024) and the Funny Women Writing Award (UK, 2025). Cutting my teeth at an advertising agency, I developed a strong sense of visual

Aris Lindler & John Allen Bernier

Stu Strumwasser studied in the creative writing program at Cornell University and then pursued dual careers as a writer and investment professional. His first novel, The Organ Broker, was published by Skyhorse (distributed by Simon & Schuster) in May of 2015 and short-listed as one of five finalists

I'm Douglas Wilkinson. I am a Texas based screenwriter who builds stories from my own lived experience, deep emotional authenticity, and relational research. I gravitate toward grounded thrillers and supernatural dramas that explore family, community, and the unseen forces that shape ordinary lives

I write character-first screenplays and genre stories where survival, pressure, dark humor, and emotional consequence collide. My work blends high-stakes suspense with grounded human stakes, often following underestimated people who keep moving when the world turns hostile. Across thrillers, crime

Carl Huebner is an award-winning, optioned screenwriter with over a decade of experience. He has had a feature and a TV concept optioned by major studios/networks and honored at festivals. He recently won awards in The LA Screenplay Competition, The New York Screenplay Contest, The Tribeca Film

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

Malia took up screenwriting in 2012 as a single-mom raising 4 kids in Los Angeles. Her writing, very much like her life story, amplifies female voices with a focus on overcoming challenges that lead to personal transformation. Inspired by her great-grandfather, Stanner E.V. Taylor, one of the most

I write character-first screenplays and genre stories where survival, pressure, dark humor, and emotional consequence collide. My work blends high-stakes suspense with grounded human stakes, often following underestimated people who keep moving when the world turns hostile. Across thrillers, crime

I'm a graduate of USC's Peter Stark Producing Program (MA, Producing) and an award-winning independent animation writer, director, and producer. My animated short script Dave's Lucky Day has won and placed at numerous festivals over the past two years, including: Best Animation Short Script — Winner

My name is Willchel Kish and I'm an emerging screenwriter. I'm 18 years old and am one of 3 siblings. I come from an African background, Liberia to be specific. Both of my parents were born in Africa and I was born in the US. My parents being immigrants in the US has influenced me to strive for

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. Her screenwriting

Having taught in the LA public schools for thirty years, Morgan now writes about the people and places he has come to know in the course of his career. His first novel, Gone To Ground, was awarded Best First Novel by IndieReader in 2025 and was an IPPY Suspense Finalist in 2026. Morgan lives in Los

Hi ! I'm a young and new writer from Switzerland. I mostly write when inspiration strikes. For a school project I wrote a full screenplay and made it into a short 16 -minute movie with my friend. I'm open to learning more about this world of opportunities.

Ross studied Spanish and Latin American literature at Wake Forest University and La Universidad de la Habana before moving to NYC to work for a horror magazine. He has published a novel and multiple short stories and articles. This is his second screenplay.

My academic journey includes preclinical medical studies, an MSc. in pharmacology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Film & TV studies at the University of Tel-Aviv. I made several documentaries as a screenwriter and director, including LEAH (awarded the "Best Documentary Film" prize at the

We all have a vested interest in survival, whatever age or stage in life. I suspect my family tend to see me as a friendly fossil, beached on the shoreline by the tide of time. Right now, it seems timely to focus on how we might deal with some present dangers to Britain - be it military or more

I climbed Mount Everest to base camp, bungy jumped from the bridge in New Zealand where it all started, dived the Great Barrier Reef, fished for Piranha in the Amazon, fell in love with the Taj Mahal, been overwhelmed by Angkor Wat and Borobudur, found the people of Iran to be the most hospitable in

I write completed, serialized works, focused on immersive worlds and emotionally grounded stories meant to be shared on the silver screen. An aspiring director in the wrong career path.

Rory has nearly 20 years experience in the industry working as a script supervisor, working on some of the biggest TV shows & films. He is now co-founder of Red Cedar Films and an award winning documentary maker. Land Lost is his first feature script. Not only does this film serve as a warning, it

Anna is a neurodivergent single parent with Autism and Tourette's, born in Birmingham, now lives by the sea, full time writer, celebrates neurodiversity representation in film and television. Anna is Royal Court Theatre Young Writers' alum, has been listed for The Bruntwood Prize, the BBC Writers'

I began writing at the age of fourteen, when I wrote, directed and performed a school play. Even then, I was fascinated by creating characters who felt real, flawed, funny and true to life. Although my career took me into the automotive industry for many years, the stories never really went away

I write character-first screenplays and genre stories where survival, pressure, dark humor, and emotional consequence collide. My work blends high-stakes suspense with grounded human stakes, often following underestimated people who keep moving when the world turns hostile. Across thrillers, crime

Ladiangti is a writer from Shillong, Meghalaya, with academic backgrounds in English, Psychology, and Journalism. She worked as a journalist for several years and has long enjoyed writing poetry. Her writing is inspired by personal experiences, human emotions, and the small moments of everyday life

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

Born in 1992 in northern France, Emilie Mayeur developed a love of reading at a very young age, especially in thriller and fantasy. Coming from a family with many teachers and schoolmasters, she let her godmother enter her into a writing contest when she was in middle school. She then realised that

Edward Pontacoloni is an New York Attorney Emeritus Pro Bono Publico and an outdoorsman residing in New York's Adirondack Park with his wife of 43 years, Janice. His bragabout children, Edward, Nicholas, Denise and Michael are grown. He is the author of the fairy tale, The Adventures of Firstyr the

I spent 30 years working in publlic and academic libraries as a historian. In the past six years I have written over a dozen screenplays and television pilots and have received recongintion as an award winner or finalist in thirty-five international screenplay contests. In 2025 my screenplay "All

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

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.

We all have a vested interest in survival, whatever age or stage in life. I suspect my family tend to see me as a friendly fossil, beached on the shoreline by the tide of time. Right now, it seems timely to focus on how we might deal with some present dangers to Britain - be it military or more

Jayne Doxtater was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and now resides in the beautiful West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. After a fulfilling 40-year career as a business owner and esthetician, she is now semi-retired and embraces a life close to nature. "I wrote this book as a

Charlie Anderson teaches cinema production at Denison University. His work has screened at festivals throughout the United States, and he has various credits as an actor, photographer, makeup effects artist, and sound mixer. Charlie also enjoys volunteering at Hoosier Burn Camp, an organization

An SMU ballet and journalism graduate, Julie first wrote for area newspapers and News of East Texas. She staged theater productions like her award-winning comedy “Garage Sale” in Arkansas. Her “House Call,” a Writer’s Digest 1999 Grand Prize winner, was optioned by William J. Grabowski, reviewer for

I'm Douglas Wilkinson. I am a Texas based screenwriter who builds stories from my own lived experience, deep emotional authenticity, and relational research. I gravitate toward grounded thrillers and supernatural dramas that explore family, community, and the unseen forces that shape ordinary lives

I’m a retired Pagan Elder who has written articles and letters published in Pagan and Fortean periodicals and I still speak at spiritual conferences on my area of expertise; Germanic runes and Norse myth. I am 63, originally trained in graphic arts, and have had a creative career, starting after

Kaitlin Harvey is an existential contradiction who dabbles in light and dark techno-magic. On the one hand, she's a cyber thriller novelist. On the other, she's a comedy writer trained at Second City. During the day, she's a senior growth marketing manager at Oscilar. With 10 years experience in

Malia took up screenwriting in 2012 as a single-mom raising 4 kids in Los Angeles. Her writing, very much like her life story, amplifies female voices with a focus on overcoming challenges that lead to personal transformation. Inspired by her great-grandfather, Stanner E.V. Taylor, one of the most

An SMU ballet and journalism graduate, Julie first wrote for area newspapers and News of East Texas. She staged theater productions like her award-winning comedy “Garage Sale” in Arkansas. Her “House Call,” a Writer’s Digest 1999 Grand Prize winner, was optioned by William J. Grabowski, reviewer for

I’m an award-winning, traditionally published author with a 55-year career spanning children’s and adult markets. I'm currently enrolled in the 2025-26 UCLA Professional Screenwriting Program where we write two complete screenplays from concept to completion in 30 weeks. This is my first screenplay

Headline: Screenwriter & Fine Artist | Expert in Historical Antiques | Author of the Epic "RACHEL 1942" "About" Section: "I live in a world where the fragrance of history blends with the beauty of the brush and the power of the word. As an antique dealer, I learned how to read history in silent

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

Dean Temple is a Ukrainian-American writer, actor, and director based in Millbrook, NY, and NYC. He has written and directed animated shorts and documentary film for the FDR Presidential Library since 2018, including “Everyone Has the Right“ and “We Dare Not Fail”. His play “Apocollapse!” received a

Susannah Kulikauskas & Sue Gauthier-Pin | Suex2 Productions Susannah Kulikauskas is a writer, artist, and storyteller living in Southern California — informed by a lifetime spent across subcultures, cities, and countries, always experimenting, always finding community. Sue Gauthier-Pin is a

Matt Zullo is a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief who has more than 40 years’ experience in radio intelligence, now more commonly known as communications intelligence. He was first introduced to the On-the-Roof Gang in 2001, when he was selected for the prestigious “On-the-Roof Gang” award for career

I am a writer from Galway, Ireland with a background in trading, recruitment and the hospitality sector. After gaining vast life experience of living in Russia, UK, Switzerland, USA and Ireland, I completed a TV Drama Series Pilot “Lady Clifford” based on my romance fiction novel “A Thread of

Twins JC Martin and Jhada' Martin have been writing together since they were eleven years old, which means for as long as either of them can remember, storytelling has been a shared language between them. Under the name The Lyons, they've spent over a decade honing a voice that is unmistakably their

2024 ACADEMY NICHOLL FELLOWSHIP SEMI-FINALIST: In the last 5 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 Autumn and Everything After have

Greg Blair is a writer from Southern California, who began his journey as a country kid from Pennsylvania, migratng west to become a beach boy on the shores of the golden state. A baseball scholarship and B.A. in Marketing @ C.S.U.Fullerton propelled him forward into entrepreneurial business where

I am an accountant at Manulife/John Hancock 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

Hi, I'm Rachel. I'm a GP and amateur creative writer. I love writing about the grittiness of the seemingly mundane, the ordinary, and what, on the surface appears to be non-descript. Ordinary people fascinate me. I find them so interesting, especially when you find out that they are not ordinary at

Tiffany M. Armstrong is a screenwriter with a passion for crafting bold, cinematic stories that blend visceral genre thrills with layered, character-driven narratives. LOLA is her latest original feature, already registered with the U.S. Copyright Office and WGA.

Having taught in the LA public schools for thirty years, Morgan now writes about the people and places he has come to know in the course of his career. His first novel, Gone To Ground, was awarded Best First Novel by IndieReader in 2025 and was an IPPY Suspense Finalist in 2026. Morgan lives in Los

Malia took up screenwriting in 2012 as a single-mom raising 4 kids in Los Angeles. Her writing, very much like her life story, amplifies female voices with a focus on overcoming challenges that lead to personal transformation. Inspired by her great-grandfather, Stanner E.V. Taylor, one of the most

I’m a writer specialising in science fiction and horror. Having recently completed a Professional Program in Writing for TV at UCLA, and with a degree in psychology, I’ve written hundreds of scripts for online content over the past decade that have collectively attracted more than 1.5 billion views

Kendall Veasey is a screenwriter and editor, whose work blends comedy, romance, and emotionally grounded storytelling. Originally from the Midwest and now based in Los Angeles, she is drawn to character-driven stories exploring nostalgia, identity, and early adulthood in the 2020s.

Jonas Kulikauskas is an artist and educator based in Los Angeles and Lithuania. The American-born son of Lithuanian refugees, he returned to his studies after thirty years, earning an MFA at Cal State LA followed by a Fulbright award. His work examines communities, traditions, and institutions —