Submit your screenplay that’s written by a black writer and/or the main character(s) are black, to the festival.
FULL FEEDBACK on your screenplay from our committee of Professional Screenwriters, Production Heads and Script Consultants. Get your entire script performed at the writing festival.
SUBMIT your FEATURE, TV PILOT or SHORT SCREENPLAY.
Submissions take 3-5 weeks for evaluation. Looking for screenplays from all over the world.
This festival has a guaranteed 4-tier set up for each accepted script. (No matter what, all screenplays submitted receive FULL FEEDBACK on their work.)
1st Tier: FULL FEEDBACK on your screenplay (all submissions)
2nd Tier: Accepted scripts (25% on average of submitted entries) get the best scene of their screenplay performed by professional actors and made into a promotional video.
3rd Tier: We will send you a list of questions to answer for our blog interview that will promote you and your film.
4th Tier: Then we will set up a podcast interview on our popular ITunes show where we will promote the winning writer and script./p>
(BONUS: 5th Tier. A winning screenwriter’s WhatsApp group has just been formed. Over 50 writers to date. Great way to share ideas and contacts with people in the industry.)
In the quirky desert town of Grand River, conspiracy theories, old grudges, and government secrets collide in Un-Cognito, a satirical action-comedy with heart.
Glenn Rancher, a straight-laced FBI forensic accountant facing a terminal diagnosis, returns home to reconnect with his estranged daughter Emma, a competitive college archer. His ex-wife Julia, an Air Force general, urges him to make peace while he still can. But reconnecting with family becomes complicated when Glenn stumbles into a chaotic conspiracy led by a ragtag crew of local misfits operating under the viral alias “Un-Cognito.”
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Hannah Ehman Dale: Shawn Devlin Glenn: Sean Ballatyne
Writer BIO:
Kevin is executive in higher education support, as well as a playwright, actor, and stage director near Atlanta. An Air Force veteran, Kevin worked as a TV & radio producer and on-air talent during tours in Greece and Turkey. He was also on-air talent for the internet radio station, The THING! Kevin has written, produced, and directed several stage productions and is the former Artistic Director of the CenterStage North Theatre in Marietta, Georgia. He is the author of the stage plays FARMING BEAUTY, DESTINATIONS & TABLEAUS, and SEPULCHRE.
In a near-future world ravaged by the memory-wiping virus X9, brilliant young scientist Andrea Santiago discovers a suppressed cure hidden by the powerful Biotech Pharmaceuticals. Having once been recruited into the system she now seeks to dismantle, Andrea grapples with betrayal, moral compromise, and the overwhelming cost of truth.
Wicked: For Good is second half of John M Chu’s vibrant film about Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) being unfairly characterized, the relationship with her friend Glinda (Ariana Grande), and the politics surrounding them. The two friends are being blinded and manipulated by Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).
The last we saw Elphaba, she was defying gravity. Now, she’s living in the dark forest and freeing animals that are being used as slave labor to build the yellow brick road. Meanwhile, Glinda the Good is being used as a political prop to show she’s a good witch and Elphaba is the evil witch. Madame Morrible gifts Glinda a floating bubble that gives the impression Glinda has magical powers. This political theater also involves Glinda’s engagement to Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey).
Glinda and Fiyero’s wedding is the centerpiece the film revolves around. Elphaba believes the wedding will be the perfect platform to tell everyone the truth about Oz and the mistreatment of animals. News of the wedding forces Boq (Ethan Slater) to confront his true feelings and it fractures his relationship with Nessa (Marissa Bode) who is now the Governor of Munchkinland.
All the chaos and emotions put Glinda and Elphaba on a collision course. The two friends realize what they must do to save Oz.
If you’re a fan of Wicked, John Chu’s return to the Emerald City is just as enchanting as the first film. There may not be a moment as emotionally charged and beautiful as Erivo’s performance of Defying Gravity, but there are enough emotional beats to keep audiences engaged. Glinda’s colorful wedding scene full of opulence contrast with Elphaba walking through a dark dungeon of caged animals was perfect and one of the best sequences in the film. Jeff Goldblum’s performance of “Wonderful” is fun and gives some context to why Oz is the way he is.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo continue their amazing performances from the first film. They both exceed in their solo songs – Grande gives and emotional performance of “I’m Not That Girl) and Erivio shines in her rendition of “No Good Deed”. Not to mention they have great chemistry together. If there’s one thing the film is missing, it’s more scenes with the two of them.
The film brilliantly weaves in The Wizard of Oz. It gives an origin story to Dorthy’s travel buddies – Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and The Tin Man. It helps explain while some of them don’t care of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Wicked: For Good is story told beautifully through music and dance. The incredible ensemble cast shines during the musical numbers and every emotional beat the film hits. John Chu does a great job adapting Wicked to make it palatable for a larger viewing audience and also keeping the story as faithful to the original as he can. The visually stunning production will keep your eyes glued to the screen for the entire runtime. The wide shots of Oz and sweeping shots through the city are breathtaking. Even with the CGI, Chu makes Oz feel like a lived in city with real people.
What John Chu and his team did very well was keeping the film fun. It’s an entertainingly good time from start to finish. Through all the emotional highs and lows and the political commentary, the film never stops being fun. There’s never a dull moment or wasted frame in this film.
The true magic of the film is taking a story about dueling witches and using it to critique our current politics. The othering of animals to abuse them, the restricting of Munchkins movement within Oz, the Wizard fooling his followers and blurring the lines of truth, the brainwashing of Ozians with misinformation, and someone fighting for truth being painted as a villain.
At the end of the day, Wicked: For Good is a wonderful story about the power of friendship and love. It’s may be a bit idealistic to think of love and friendship in that way, but the film leaves you feeling like love and friendship is magic we all possess.
A family is torn apart in the Anniversary, the new thriller starring Diane Lane, Kyle Chandler and Madeline Brewer.
It should be said upfront, Anniversary, the new film from Polish Filmmaker Jan Komasa, is not for everyone. Komasa has made a film that slowly turns the noose around the shiny veneer of upper-middle-class existence and freedom until it’s left gasping for its final breaths. The spiritual cousin to the director’s Polish language film, The Hater, finds similar grounds for the weaponization of social tools against society and the fallout.
Many will find this more horror film than a thriller as the screenplay by Lori Rosene-Gambino, with a story by Komasa gives no quarter to the sinking of this family and the world writ large. Told with a sobering, almost clinical style, the film is suffocatingly dark and hopeless as we watch the rise of authoritarianism from the family’s perspective.
It may feel all too real for many who are prone to doomscrolling social media. For others Anniversary will be an astute, sobering thriller.
“I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of not knowing the truth.” — Yoon Ji-woo
My Name is one of those K-dramas that grabs your attention from the start and maintains a relentless pace throughout. It is a gritty, action-packed series set in a dark, unforgiving underworld marked by crime, betrayal, and a driving quest for revenge. The story follows Yoon Ji-woo, a young woman whose life is shattered when her father, a figure tied to the mob, is brutally murdered. What unfolds is her transformation from a grieving daughter into a formidable and determined fighter intent on uncovering the truth behind her father’s death and exacting vengeance.
The series does not shy away from depicting violence in an unflinching manner. For those who appreciate intense and well-choreographed fight scenes, My Name provides a visually and emotionally striking experience. The physicality Han So-hee brings to her role is notable, lending authenticity to every punch, fall, and desperate struggle. However, the violence serves a narrative purpose beyond mere spectacle; it illuminates the bleak world Ji-woo inhabits and the extreme sacrifices demanded of her.
A particularly compelling aspect of My Name lies in its combination of emotional depth and action. Ji-woo is not portrayed as a simple avenger consumed by rage, but rather as a complex individual wrestling with grief, guilt, and profound loneliness. Han So-hee’s nuanced performance effectively balances raw toughness with moments of vulnerability, inviting viewers to engage with Ji-woo on a deeply human level despite her morally ambiguous actions.
The narrative unfolds briskly across eight episodes, avoiding the typical padding seen in many K-dramas. This lean structure maintains a consistently high level of tension as Ji-woo infiltrates the police force undercover on behalf of the criminal organization responsible for her father’s death. The tension arising from this double life—living between two opposing worlds—heightens the drama, creating an ever-present question of trust and betrayal.
This theme of undercover infiltration shares notable similarities with renowned thrillers such as Infernal Affairs and its American remake The Departed. Like those films, My Name explores the psychological strain of agents embedded within enemy organizations, examining shifting loyalties and blurred moral boundaries. Yet, My Name distinguishes itself by focusing intimately on Ji-woo’s personal journey of vengeance and identity. While Infernal Affairs and The Departed emphasize the intricate duality and game of cat and mouse between multiple undercover agents, My Name offers a singular, emotionally charged narrative driven by Ji-woo’s transformation both physically and mentally through relentless trials.https://www.youtube.com/embed/MaJ7ZT70ve4?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent
Supporting characters enrich the story further. Detective Pil-do serves as a humanizing counterpoint to the harshness of Ji-woo’s world. His relationship with Ji-woo adds emotional complexity to the story, gently probing themes of trust and moral conflict. The enigmatic crime boss Mu-jin, who mentors Ji-woo, embodies a pragmatic and often manipulative figure, complicating the traditional distinctions between good and evil with a nuanced portrayal.
Visually, My Name excels in creating a brooding and atmospheric setting, with evocative use of shadow, rain, and urban neon lighting that reinforces the noir tone. The haunting soundtrack complements the tension and emotional undertones, underscoring both frenetic action and quieter character moments with equal effectiveness.
That said, the drama’s heavy focus on violence and its dark tone may not appeal to all viewers. The unrelenting grimness and lack of lighter moments could prove challenging to those who prefer more varied emotional rhythms. Furthermore, some secondary characters are not as fully developed as they might be, which occasionally makes subplots feel less integral. Still, the tight focus on Ji-woo’s narrative keeps the drama paced and impactful without unnecessary distractions.
A central thematic strength of My Name is its exploration of identity. Ji-woo’s undercover infiltration prompts profound questions about the self: how much of her original identity can she retain while adopting false personas dictated by survival and revenge? This internal struggle adds a psychological depth that elevates the series beyond a straightforward revenge thriller, inviting reflection on trauma, loyalty, and selfhood.
The pacing is expertly managed, neither rushed nor weighed down by extraneous elements, culminating in a satisfying and emotionally resonant conclusion. The series even incorporates moments of romance late in the narrative, adding subtle layers of hope and human connection to balance the dominant themes of loss and revenge.
In sum, My Name distinguishes itself through Han So-hee’s powerful performance, its raw and realistic action sequences, and its willingness to grapple with complex emotional and moral questions. It is a compelling option for viewers drawn to intense, character-driven thrillers that refuse easy answers while delivering visceral storytelling.
If you are seeking a drama that explores the cost of revenge with both physical intensity and psychological nuance, My Name offers a gripping experience from beginning to end. It acknowledges its influences—such as Infernal Affairs and The Departed—but forges a unique path grounded in Korean drama sensibilities and the deeply personal story of its lead character. Its unyielding tone and evocative storytelling make it a memorable entry in contemporary Korean thrillers.
I have to really thank the actors for my reading, nothing short of terrific as they were, nothing short of incredibly smart, attractive, and perceptive as they were. They brought the script to life. – F. Maffai
FULL FEEDBACK on your stage play from our committee of Professional Playwriters, Production Heads and Story Consultants. Get a best scene of your stage play performed at the writing festival and made into a video for the winner.
Submit your 10 Page Play, 1 Act Play, or Full Stage Play to the Festival.
SUBMIT your STAGE PLAY Today You will receive feedback on your play in 3-5 weeks
A travel story is a piece of writing that describes a location, its people, culture, and customs. It can also be a narrative of a journey that provides information about the physical, biogeographic, and ethnographic characteristics of an area.
Watch Novel Performance Readings:/strong>
Get FULL FEEDBACK on either the 1st chapter or entire novel book from our committee of professional writers and writing consultants. Get your novel performed by a professional actor at the festival.
NEW OPTION: Or, just submit for an actor performance reading transcript of your novel (any 5 pages of your book). Great way to promote the sales of your book if you’re already published. (see examples on the video playlist below.)
SUBMIT your novel now (both your 1st chapter or full novel accepted) To be eligible for our Writing Festival Events. Submissions take 3-5 weeks for evaluation.
Submit your YOUNG ADULT Short Story to the Festival here and we will automatically have it performed by a professional actor and turned into a promotional video for yourself.
Accept only stories that fit into the YOUNG ADULT genres.
Festival Reviews 