Announcing the 1st Annual Female Driven Screenwriting Contest

There is nothing more important in the entertainment industry today than lifting up unique and diverse voices. For our first contest of 2022, we chose to focus on stories centered around female characters. While Hollywood may have made some strides forward over the last few years, the industry is still dominated by men. Help us achieve our goal of promoting female driven content by submitting your screenplay today!

Female driven content has been on the rise, proving that audiences love complex female characters. Films like BRIDESMAIDS and WONDER WOMAN changed the game, proving that female lead films can be box office smashes, and series like BIG LITTLE LIES and MARE OF EASTON continue to showcase how popular female driven shows can be. Recent releases like SPENCER, THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS, THE UNFORGIVABLE and BEING THE RICARDOS have taken the lead on featuring all different kinds of women. We know you have fresh, unique takes on the female driven film or series, and our judges can’t wait to read them!

Nowhere else do you find top judges and mentors like you do on Stage 32. The Grand Prize Winner will meet with an incredible panel of judges from companies that have worked on some of the great Female Driven series and films in recent memory including ARRIVAL, BIRD BOX, RUSSIAN DOLL and more!

Stage 32 is excited to present our 1st Annual Female Driven Screenwriting Contest!

Open to both Features Scripts and Television Pilots!

Click here to learn more

The Grand Prize Winner will be personally mentored by leading Writer/Producer Kate Sergeant,

whose credits include critically acclaimed shows CASTLE, CSI, BLINDSPOT and more!

Other Judges' Credits and Company Credits Include:

If you write Female Lead stories, this could launch your career! Whether you write comedy, drama or thrillers, we want to hear your voice! This contest is open to television pilots and features, and we want you to give us everything you’ve got. Our judges are looking for new content, and we know you’ve got it.

Now - exclusively through Stage 32 - you have the opportunity to meet industry professionals from these prolific companies who will have read your script!

The Grand Prize Winner will be flown to Hollywood to meet:

Kate Sergeant Curtis, Television Writer (CASTLE, NCIS: NEW ORLEANS)

Colleen Labella, Producer & Director (RUSSIAN DOLL, SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE)

Carli Haney, Executive Producer (FATHERHOOD, BETCHES)

Dallaslyn Lamb, Literary Agent (BIRD BOX, ARRIVAL)

Kristen Lucas, Producer & Manager (SNOWFLAKE)

ALL FINALISTS will be in a Stage 32 Look Book which includes their script title, logline & bio mailed to over 500 industry executives including, managers, agents, producers, development executives, and financiers! Stage 32 Look Books are respected throughout the industry and have helped secure dozens meetings and which have led to writer success with companies like Verve, Good Fear, 3 Arts, APA, Echo Lake, Amazon, UTA, CAA, WME, First Friday, Pathfinder, The Cartel, Black Bear Pictures, Lit Entertainment and many, many more.

Over the last 8 years, Stage 32’s screenwriting contests have gained a reputation as one of the “most worthwhile screenwriting contests to change your career.” No other contest provides their winners and finalists with the same level of direct access to industry leading professionals who can take your career to the next level! Over the last 8 years, Stage 32 has become an incubator for finding talent and material across the globe.

Recent success stories to come out of Stage 32 include:

• Gwenn Joyaux won the grand prize in the 5th Annual Stage 32 Short Film Contest for her film Tomorrow Island and was signed by Le'Ander Nicholson from Believeland Management.
• Ghana born, Montreal-based filmmaker Will Niava was one of the 5th Annual Stage 32 Short Film Contest winners for his film Zoo. Producer Jason Resnick (Serenity, After, Destination Wedding) saw Will's film in the Stage 32 Short Film program and hired Will to work on co-directing a feature film.
• Billion Dollar Production Company Mandalay Pictures optioned the script 99 Dreams Neon by Donnie Hobbie after Donnie connected with Creative Executive Will Raynor through Stage 32.
• Writer Robert Levering's feature script, Discredited Citizen is now in development with John Goldwyn Productions ("Dexter", "Dopesick") after connecting through consultation at Stage 32.
• Search for New Blood Winner Grand Prize Winner - Christina Pamies - was signed by Jake Wagner off of her winning script, A Good Deed! She was hired to write the Horror Thriller BAGHEAD for StudioCanal!
• The Eye of Owou, written by Martin Reese, received a $5,000 option and with a consideration for $100,000 in production financing!
• Eric Jeske - was signed by literary managers Krista Sipp and Devon Byers of First Friday Entertainment after winning the 5th Annual Feature Writing Contest and taking meetings set by Stage 32!
• 10-31, a horror film that will be produced by renowned director Eli Roth, Roger Birnbaum and Orion Pictures,written by Stage 32 member Laurie Ashbourne is greenlit and starts shooting later this year.
• Chick Fight starring Malin Ackerman, Alec Baldwin and Bella Thorne written by Stage 32 member Joe Downey is in post-production and awaiting release!
• What Lies Ahead, written by Stage 32 member William Viglione, directed by Stage 32 member Rob Gardner, and packaged by Stage 32 script services executive Tiffany Boyle of Ramo Law was released in theaters in 2019.
• Vagic, a romantic comedy written by Stage 32 member Julie Ann Cross, received a $7,500 option and is being produced by legendary producer Amy Baer of Gidden Media Group.
• My Clone’s an A-Hole, a comedy written by Julie Ann Wight was offered a $5,000 option by National Lampoon.
• I'm Not Jack, a script written by Stage 32 member Jack Cusick, received a $7,500 option and is being developed by legendary producer Amy Baer of Gidden Media Group.
• Stage 32 member Diana Wright signed with The Cartel after being set up on a meeting by Stage 32!
• Stage 32 member Jonathan Jordan signed with Verve Talent and Literary Agency after being set up on a meeting by Stage 32!
• Stage 32 member Aaron Benjamin signed with Housefire Management.
• Stage 32 member Aaron Bierman signed with Verve Talent and Literary Agency after being set up on a meeting by Stage 32!
• Stage 32 member Chris Torres signed with manager Brooklyn Weaver of Energy Entertainment after being set up on a meeting by Stage 32!
• Stage 32 member Greg Mania was signed by manager Laina Cohn of Cohn/Torgan Management after being set up on a meeting by Stage 32!

This contest has produced some of the most sought after material from our finalists and winners. Requests for our finalists scripts have increased year over year and our winners have met face to face with a who’s who of working industry executives and gatekeepers!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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