Announcing the 3rd Annual Feature Drama Screenwriting Contest

Dramas have the power to capture the imagination, ignite passion, and change perspectives. It’s the genre that has always moved filmmaking forward, and made our industry so exciting.

New drama features like THE GREEN KNIGHT and NO TIME TO DIE are already making splashes at the box office, and audiences are excited for upcoming films like THE FRENCH DISPATCH, DUNE and NIGHTMARE ALLEY. This year, we’re looking for screenwriters with the potential to bring something new to the industry, and excite our judges.

We can't wait to see what you have in store for our judges. Don't miss this chance to have them read your script!

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 produced some of the great Drama films in recent memory including recent hits including THE CIRCLE, TEST PATTERN, MERCHANT OF VENICE, and Academy Award winners including GIRL, INTERRUPTED, WALK THE LINE, THE REVENANT, BIRDMAN and more!

Stage 32 is thrilled to present the 3rd Annual Feature Drama Contest!

Click Here to Learn More About the Contest

Mentors' Credits & Company Include:

If you write Drama this contest could launch your career! With theaters back open, and streaming just as popular as ever, there is plenty of room for new writers of all genres. Whether you write classic dramas, indies or epics, our judges want to see them all!

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:

Jon Grossman, Creative Executive (WALK THE LINE, GIRL, INTERRUPTED)

Karina Wilson, Development Executive (THE CIRCLE)

Agustine Calderon, Producer (THE REVENANT, BIRDMAN)

Jason Piette, Producer (MERCHANT OF VENICE)

Liska Ostojic, Development Executive (TEST PATTERN)

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 Donald Gordon Hobbie & Samantha Grace Miller 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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