1st Annual Family-Friendly Screenwriting Contest

THE WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE WINNER!

Stage 32 is excited to launch the 1st Annual Family-Friendly Screenwriting Contest!

THE WINNER WILL BE PERSONALLY MENTORED BY DGA-AWARD NOMINATED

NETFLIX DIRECTOR VINCE MARCELLO OF "THE KISSING BOOTH" FRANCHISE WITH JOEY KING!

Now more than ever we could all use some wholesome, feel-good, entertainment that brings the whole family together. And that is just what audiences are looking for! Inspiring, fun, engaging feature films that are for the whole family - not just for kids!

Thanks to classic films that leave a lasting impression such as BIG, HOME ALONE, PRETTY WOMAN, BACK TO THE FUTURE, THE GOONIES, and new hits such as THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES, A DOG’S JOURNEY, SPY KIDS, and more Family Friendly films offer something for everyone.

And as Miguel says in the Pixar smash hit COCO, “We may have our differences, but nothing's more important than family.”

At Stage 32 we want to make sure you are able to meet the market where it is! We recognize that producers, studios, actors, streamers and audiences are clamoring for Family-Friendly films, so we’re going to bring your best scripts right to 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 produced some of the great Family-Friendly films in recent memory including recent hits including FINDING ‘OHANA, FATHERHOOD, THE WITCHES, PINOCCHIO, DUMPLIN’, PADDINGTON, and classics including BACK TO THE FUTURE, FORREST GUMP, ALMOST FAMOUS, CAST AWAY, and more!

Judges' Credits & Company Credits Include:

If you write feature films for the whole family this contest could launch your career! We are looking for family Comedy, Action/Adventure, Drama, Romance, Holiday, Animation, Mystery, Teen, Tween, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and anything else that is accessible for the whole family!

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 with executives from:

ImageMovers (BACK TO THE FUTURE, THE WITCHES, FORREST GUMP)

Ian Bryce Productions (FINDING ‘OHANA, ALMOST FAMOUS)

Afterglow Pictures (Executive credits include SURVIVE, HOLES)

Management 360 (Client credits include DADS, THE DUFF)

Producer Carli Haney (#1 Hit Film, FATHERHOOD)

Netflix, Independent Originals Division

Anton(DUMPLIN’, PADDINGTON)

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:

• 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!

Unprecedented access. Greater opportunities.

Better exposure. More reads.

Real success!

Congratulations to our Winner!

Congratulations to our Finalists!

Congratulations to our Semifinalists!

Congratulations to our Quarterfinalists!

What Types Of Scripts Can I Enter?

We're looking for Family-Friendly films of all genres!

Feature Length Screenplays:

All genres of feature film screenplays are welcome. Please no series or shorts.

Feedback Option

For an additional fee of only $49 you can receive full coverage from our industry readers on your screenplay or teleplay. Just check "coverage" upon checkout. Coverage will be sent out after the winners are announced.

"I found Stage 32’s contest coverage far better than some other services I have used in the past, where I felt almost assaulted. Please thank him or her for a well-done job. It was my first try with Stage 32 but it will not be my last." - Bob C.

"Stage 32 contest coverage is even better than some of the industry coverage I received. Thank you for these invaluable notes!" - E. Robinson

"The insight from my coverage from the Stage 32 contest helped me improve my script's dimension exponentially. I had looked at the script so much that I can't believe I missed a major plot point. Thank you!!" - S. Persons

Resubmission Option

Do you think you will want to send an updated draft later in the competition? For an additional fee of only $39 you will be able to resubmit one (1) revised draft up to 24-hours after the Final Deadline of the Contest. This option is good for a one-time use and is non-refundable/non-transferable if you do not enter an updated draft. See full terms in the Rules Section.

The Grand Prize winner will be flown to Hollywood to meet with:

Casey Malone, Creative Executive, ImageMovers (BACK TO THE FUTURE, THE WITCHES, FORREST GUMP)

Holly Hubsher, Creative Executive, Anton (DUMPLIN’, PADDINGTON)

Will McCance, VP of Production, Ian Bryce Productions (FINDING ‘OHANA, ALMOST FAMOUS)

Mike Sammaciccia, Producer, Afterglow Pictures (Executive credits include SURVIVE, HOLES)

Literary Manager, Management 360 (Client credits include DADS, THE DUFF)

Carli Haney, Executive Producer (#1 Hit films FATHERHOOD)

Michael Schulman, Netflix, Independent Originals Division

Stage 32’s contests have gained a reputation as one of the “most worthwhile 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! Stage 32 has become an incubator for finding talent and material across the globe.

Casey Malone (Judge) - Independent Producer, Snap, Inc.

Casey Malone is an Associate Producer at Snap Inc. which owns the Snap Originals.

 

She was previously the Creative Executive at ImageMovers the production company of feature film Writer/Director/Producer Robert Zemeckis. She now takes projects directly to ImageMovers as a Producer.

 

Most recently she's worked on FINCH with Tom Hanks for Amblin Partners, Warner Bros.'s THE WITCHES, NBC 's "MANIFEST", and Disney's live-action PINOCCHIO.

 

She also has several original series and feature ideas in development. Casey meets with writers, directors, actors, producers, and is always searching for new and incredible stories to tell. And with a penchant for horror, she'll never say no to a good ghost story!

 

Prior to working at ImageMovers, Casey worked in production and at CBS Television. She worked at "THE PRICE IS RIGHT" and then made the jump to scripted TV and film at ImageMovers.

Holly Hubsher (Judge) - Creative Executive, Anton

Holly Hubsher is the Director of Development & Production at the film/TV financier Anton. She helped oversee the PVOD hit GREENLAND, the Sundance darling THE NIGHT HOUSE and the recent Netflix acquisition CURS>R. 

Anton has financed Family-friendly features including the PADDINGTON Franchise and DUMPLIN' for Netflix. 

Before Anton, Holly was at Universal Pictures where she was heavily involved with development on projects like DEAR EVAN HANSEN and WICKED and involved with production and post-production for MAMMA MIA 2 and NIGHT SCHOOL. Holly started her career at WME in the Motion Picture Literary department after graduating from USC.

Michael Schulman (Judge) - Story Analyst (Independent Original Film), Netflix

Michael Schulman currently works at Netflix in the Independent Original Film (IOF) division. There he does story analysis for submission made to Feature Film Acquisitions Department in a variety of media, ranging from screenplays, novels, non-fiction manuscripts, and and others in both English and French.

Prior to his role at Netflix, Michael spent nearly a decade in the story department at CAA where he found projects for CAA clients.

Michael began his career in the notorious mailroom of the William Morris Agency and subsequently became the trainee to the Worldwide Head of Talent, before moving to ICM where he were promoted to Agent in the Motion Picture Literary department representing writers, directors, and producers. There he found the script GROUNDHOG DAY, which he pitched to Harold Raimis, and became a family classic. 

Michael has also held numerous studio creative executive positions at Orion, TriStar, and Disney where he worked to develop film and television projects with some of the top talent in the industry.

Will McCance (Judge) - Vice President of Production, Ian Bryce Productions

Will McCance is currently Vice President of Production for Ian Bryce, producer of blockbusters like SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, ALMOST FAMOUS, the TRANSFORMERS franchise, and most recently Michael Bay's SIX UNDERGROUND for Netflix. At Ian Bryce Productions, Will oversees the company's entire development slate.

Will entered the entertainment industry as an Agent Trainee at United Talent Agency, supporting UTA in the Motion Picture Lit group, as well as in the Motion Picture Talent department.

After UTA, he moved into development at Original Film's TV department, working on hit shows such as THE BOYS (Amazon) and PREACHER (AMC), as well as on SWAT (CBS) and HAPPY! (Syfy).

Carli Haney (Judge) - Executive Producer, FATHERHOOD with Kevin Hart, Executive Producer, FATHERHOOD

Carli Haney is the Executive Producer of the Kevin Hart film FATHERHOOD which hit #1 in over 80 countries through Netflix.

 

Carli has worked in Film and TV development for the last eight years as a Creative Executive and Director of Development. Most recently, Carli ran feature and television development for Kevin Hart at Hartbeat Productions. There, she worked to develop feature projects including NIGHT SCHOOL with Kevin Hart, WHAT NOW?, and LET ME EXPLAIN, as well as the television comedy "DAVE" with Dave Burd.

 

Her next Kevin Hart feature is MONOPOLY, which was just announced, as well as the TV-movie, "ALL FANCY" for NBC.

 

In addition Carli has worked with A-list companies and industry-leading talent including Jennifer Lopez at Jennifer Lopez Enterprises and an A-list production and finance company with a deal at Warner Bros. She got her start in the industry at Tea Time Films.

Literary Manager (Judge) - Literary Manager, A-List Management Company

This Literary Manager is based in one of the most well-respected, A-List management companies in the industry. The company represents exceptional talent and literary clients across film and television.

As a Literary Manager, he capitalizes on his relationships with producers and studio executives to cultivate writer and director careers. He represents clients across features and television. He started his career at UTA where he worked with some of the most well-known names in the comedy space

Mike Sammaciccia (Judge) - Producer, Afterglow Pictures

Mike Sammaciccia is the founder and producer at Afterglow Pictures. Most recently, Mike produced the Action Thriller “SURVIVE” for Jeffrey Katzenberg, which starred Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins.

 

Afterglow Pictures specializes in content guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on the audience long after the glow of the screen fades. Afterglow has over 15 projects in development including a documentary and tv series with Will Smith's Westbrook Studios.

 

Mike began his career with Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Productions and Miramax Films. From there, he became Walden Media’s first creative executive, bringing in the book HOLES and serving as the executive in charge of production. He was SVP of live-action movies and series for Nickelodeon for many years, producing 4-5 live action and animated movies per year. This content consistently broke audience benchmarks and propelled the careers of many young stars.