3rd Annual Family Friendly Screenwriting Contest

The Biggest Family Friendly Screenplay Contest in the World is Back!

Ever dreamt of seeing your feature film script come to life on the big screen or streaming on TVs in living rooms across the country? This is your chance to turn that dream into reality! Our Grand Prize Winner will be flown to LA to meet industry professionals who’ve worked on iconic hits like MINONS, HOCUS POCUS, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG, YES DAY, FAMILY SWITCH, SMURFS, HOLES, CURIOUS GEORGE, GREATEST SHOWMAN and many more!

But that’s not all! Every finalist’s logline will be featured in a Stage 32 Look Book sent to over 500 top entertainment industry executives, giving your work unparalleled exposure.

Open to Feature Film Scripts and TV Pilots!

Family friendly stories bring everyone together for fun, bonding, and entertainment. From the sheer delight of THE GARFIELD MOVIE to the relentless hi-jinx of KUNG FU PANDA and the emotional depth of IF, audiences can’t get enough. This year alone, films like INSIDE OUT 2 and DESPICABLE ME 4 have topped the box office. The appetite for scintillating family-friendly stories is insatiable, and we want your story to be the next smash hit!

We’re on the lookout for all types of family friendly scripts! Classic family dramas? Colorful adventures? Talking pets? The next legendary family-centric franchise? We want to see it all!

Let our 3rd Annual Feature Drama Winner Kelly Nugent tell you why you should enter!

Stage 32 Contest Winners Have Gone on to Work With:

Important Dates to Be Aware Of

Super Early Bird Deadline: October 10, 2024

Early Bird Deadline: October 30th, 2024

Regular Deadline: November 20th, 2024

Final Deadline: December 11th, 2024

Quarterfinalist Announcement: February 7th, 2025

Semifinalist Announcement: February 21st, 2025

Finalist Announcement: March 7th, 2025

Winner Announcement: March 21st, 2025

If you have any questions regarding this contest, check out frequently asked questions here.

Our Feature Screenwriting Contest Winners See Results

Stage 32 has launched the careers of hundreds of writers over the last 12 years. Stage 32 has quickly emerged as the leading source for industry executives to uncover new talent! Is this your year to move the needle on your career?

Our 2nd Annual Family Friendly winner, Susan Lee Hahn gained massive traction on her winning script EG & THE ELEPHANTS, as she took a full slate of meetings in LA with Literary Managers, Development Execs, and Producers from Netflix, WeTV, Holloway Literary, Kersey Management, Osowik Management and more! -- all actively working on and looking for family friendly stories.

Our 1st Annual Family Friendly winner, Kristi Lee Barnett shares about her winning script ELEPHANT'S KISS (we promise you don't have to write about elephants to win this contest -- it's just a fun coincidence!). Kristi flew out to LA and met with industry professionals from Netflix, Management 360, and more!

Our 3rd Annual Feature Drama winner Kelly Nugent signed with a manager at Wonder Street Entertainment after winning with her script THE OTHER MOTHER CRIED!

Our 6th Annual Feature Screenwriting winner, Jeff Galante signed with a manager at Primary Wave, and he is currently working on a slate of feature films with producers. Jeff's gone on to create/produce TV pilots for NBC and A&E and has consulted on projects for Ron Howard, Chris Moore, and Warner Bros animation.

Our 5th Annual Feature Screenwriting winner, Eric Jeske signed with a manager at Heroes & Villans Entertainment.

Still don't believe us? Previous contest winner Diana Wright was signed to The Cartel and Abrams Artists Agency! Check out her video here:

More Contest Winners would love to tell you why you should enter!

Previous winner, Christina Pamies, was signed by "Billion Dollar" Literary Manager, Jake Wagner. After that, he got her a paid gig with StudioCanal adapting the recently released film BAGHEAD, which was co-produced by The Picture Company and released via AMC+ Networks!

VIEW THE BAGHEAD (2024) TRAILER HERE! AVAILABLE NOW ON SHUDDER!

Winner Jonathan Jordan was signed by major literary agency Verve, and worked on a script currently in production through them. He has also signed with a manager and is currently working on a new film.

Winner Greg Mania was signed by Cohn/Torgan Management, and has since published a memoir called Born To Be Public, which was named NPR’s Best Book of 2020.

Previous Contest Winner Layla O'Shea took meetings all over Los Angeles (and online) with Literary Managers, Producers, and Execs and is still going strong!

She shares her advice: "There is no one path or age limit when it comes to breaking in!"

Click the "Success Stories" link here for even more testimonials from our past winners!

Ben Everard (Judge) - Producer, Everard Entertainment

Ben Everard is a producer with more than 15 years experience in the business. He recently produced the films YES DAY (2021), directed by Miguel Arteta, and FAMILY SWITCH (2023), directed by McG, both which starred Jennifer Garner and premiered on Netflix, before becoming the #1 films globally on the platform.

 

Everard also produced the David F. Sandberg cult classic film LIGHTS OUT (2016), which garnered $148M on a $5M budget, and the Steven Soderbergh caper comedy THE LAUNDROMAT (2019). He then produced the David Yates Netflix mini-series PAIN HUSTLERS (2023) and has the forthcoming WAY OF WARRIOR KID, also directed by McG, for Apple Studios.

 

Ben is the Chair of the Board of Directors for FilmLA.

Lisa Crnic (Judge) - Producer, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG, SMURFS 2

Lisa Crnic is a film producer and executive with over 17+ years of entertainment experience ranging from developing and producing $100 million+ studio franchises to independent film productions across all genres and forms. She served as a producer on CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG (2021). She most recently served as the President/COO of Renovo Media Group, where she oversaw the films BLUE MOON, directed by Richard Linklater starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Andrew Scott, Bobby Cannavale; and WILDCAT directed by Ethan Hawke starring Maya Hawke, Laura Linney, Steve Zahn and Liam Neeson.

Lisa got her start as an agent assistant at CAA, before learning the agenting business at Paradigm. She served as a Creative Executive, then Head of Development and Executive Producer at Kerner Entertainment for 8 years, where she worked on the development of the movies SMURFS 2 and SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE. 

Robert Deege (Judge) - Head of Worldwide Sales & Producer, Glass House Distribution

With over 25 years’ experience on both the creative and business sides, Robert Deege is an independent film producer, writer, script consultant, sales agent, distributor and entrepreneur committed to quality and meaningful content, and endeavors that inspire, educate, and entertain.

Robert is currently producing and exec producing a diverse slate of feature films and series. He has helped creatively develop and/or source financing and distribution for movies including the Sony comedy Crash Pad (Domhnall Gleeson, Thomas Haden Church, Christina Applegate, Nina Dobrev), the Emily Dickinson story A Quiet Passion (Cynthia Nixon, director Terence Davies), action thriller Into The Grizzly Maze (James Marsden, Billy Bob Thornton, Thomas Jane), dancing romcom Ask Me to Dance (Briana Evigan, Mario Cantone), teen comedy The Secret Lives of Dorks (Jim Belushi, Jennifer Tilly, Vanessa Marano, Gaelan Connell), biopic thriller The Whistleblower (Rachel Weiz, Vanessa Redgrave, Monica Bellucci, David Strathairn, Benedict Cumberbatch) and Sony’s inspirational family film Soul Surfer (Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Anna Sophia Robb, Carrie Underwood).

As the current Head of Worldwide Sales for Glass House Distribution, Robert participates in major markets including Cannes, AFM, Berlinale, Filmart, Mipcom and Toronto, meeting and conducting business with buyers, distributors, and filmmakers from around the world. In addition to sales, Robert advises Glass House on acquisitions, distribution and strategy policies and methodologies; provides creative consultation on script development and features, series and trailers post/editorial; and helps produce/EP on productions.

As a script consultant & writer, Robert currently consults with multiple writers and filmmakers on features, series, and other content, and occasionally steps into a project as a writer. Deege has worked with Stage 32, International Screenwriters Association (ISA), Script Pipeline, Story Farm, The Film Connection, South East European Film Festival, Montana Screenwriting Competition and Independent Filmmakers Day as a mentor, coach, consultant, panelist, writer and contest judge.

Robert has previously held executive and producer roles at Indomitable Entertainment, Blowtorch Entertainment, Mind & Media Corporation, Discovery Communications and Cerebellum Corporation. At Discovery, Deege wrote, produced, directed, and edited numerous shows on Travel Channel, Discovery, TLC, Science Channel, Discovery HD Theater, Discovery Health, and Animal Planet. At Mind & Media, Robert produced and directed award-winning documentaries and training films for The National Guard and The Pentagon Force Protection Agency. He has also produced and directed multiple PSAs for The World Wildlife Fund.

Judd Cherry (Judge) - Executive Producer, Sacred Pineapple Productions

Judd Cherry is an industry veteran who has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood like Laura Ziskin, Alvin Sargent, Sam Raimi, Shawn Levy, Robert Downey Jr, Ben Stiller, and Sasha Baron Cohen. Notable in this time, Judd wrote a significant portion of the final shooting script for SPIDER-MAN 2 and was responsible for all on-set rewrites, BTS video, and some 2nd unit direction on NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM.

Judd is an award-winning writer, director, and producer and his company, Sacred Pineapple Productions, has developed films at Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and Epicenter, among others.

Additionally Judd has worked as an Executive Producer at Bakery Agency as well as Director of Creative Production at StoryGiants Entertainment, a multi-tiered media company with a first look Television deal at Amazon Studios.

Judd performs comedy and has toured nationwide with an award-winning improv/trivia comedy show he created called Nerdology. He has also mentored with The Young Storytellers Foundation.

Ann Fishman (Judge) - Producer, Night Dove Pictures

Ann Fishman is a producer, screenwriter, and Founder of Night Dove Pictures. Night Dove Pictures has several projects currently in development and has sold projects to Netflix, Gravitas Ventures, Amazon Prime and Premiere Entertainment.

Ann wrote, produced, and directed SWIPED (Netflix/Gravitas Ventures), starring Noah Centineo, George Hamilton, and Kristen Johnston. She also wrote, produced, and co-directed MARRIAGE MATERIAL (Amazon Prime) starring Saturday Night Live alum Victoria Jackson. She co-wrote, produced and directed the upcoming holiday romantic-comedy, CHRISTMAS OVERTIME, which screened at Cannes 2024 where it was picked up by Premiere Entertainment Group, announced by Deadline, and releases this holiday season!

Ann is also an attorney at Fishman Law PLLC. Her law practice focuses on business, entertainment, and intellectual property law. Ann is a member of the Florida, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, and United States Supreme Court Bar.

As a seasoned producer and entertainment attorney, Ann has a deep understanding of all aspects of the entertainment industry.

Mitchell Bendersky (Judge) - Manager, Expectation Management

Mitchell Bendersky is a Manager and Owner of Expectation Management, an entertainment company dedicated to representing and servicing the next generation of undeniable storytellers. His clients have worked on projects such as ACAPULCO (Apple), ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK (Nickelodeon), CALL ME KAT (FOX), THE CHI (Showtime), THE GORDITA CHRONICLES (Hulu/Max), HISTORY OF THE WORLD PT. 2 (Hulu), PHYSICAL (Apple), RIVERDALE (CW), Academy Award-winning film WAR IS OVER!, and many more.

Prior to his role as Manager/Owner, Mitchell served as a Manager at Gramercy Park Entertainment, an entertainment management company specializing in representing writers, directors, producers, and creatives working across all media.

Mitchell began his career as the Television Coordinator at Marvel Entertainment.

As a manager, Mitchell looks for talent from everywhere and sources clients and stories from anywhere he can, and unlike some larger companies, Mitchell has the time and desire to spend time developing scripts and screenwriters.

David Kirschner (Judge) - Producer/President, David Kirschner Productions

David Kirschner is a film and television producer and screenwriter. His producing credits include movies such as TITAN A.E. (2000), THE PAGEMASTER (1994), the live-action film THE FLINTSTONES (1994), SECONDHAND LIONS (2003), CURIOUS GEORGE (2006), and HOCUS POCUS 2 (2022). 

In 1986, Kirschner created and executive produced with Steven Spielberg the smash hit AN AMERICAN TAIL, which became one of the most successful animated films in history and spawned the sequel AN AMERICAN TAIL: FIEVEL GOES WEST, which Kirschner also produced. Kirschner's second feature film was the horror hit CHILD'S PLAY, whose leading character, "Chucky", an animatronic doll which Kirschner created, became a cult star and spawned a successful franchise, five of which David produced.

Kirschner's next production, Disney's hit comedy-thriller, HOCUS POCUS, was based on his short story and starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. He later executive produced the sequel 30 years later. Kirschner also created and produced the NBC's Emmy-nominated THE DREAMER OF OZ. Starring John Ritter, the television event was based on the life of The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz creator L. Frank Baum. Kirschner also produced the Emmy Award-winning THE HALLOWEEN TREE, written and narrated by Ray Bradbury. David Kirschner Productions maintains an eclectic slate of projects, focusing primarily on family and genre films. 

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 over a decade, producing 4-5 live action and animated movies per year. This content consistently broke audience benchmarks and propelled the careers of many young stars.

 

Mike's past credits include HOLES, CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY, and JINXED to name a few.

Maia Glikman (Judge) - Producer (Former ABC, Lucasfilm, Sony Pictures Television)

Maia Glikman is a producer whose body of work spans numerous areas of the entertainment industry. She has held key positions from development to production at networks, studios and some of the world’s leading production companies.

Maia has developed both major television and feature projects, in addition to major properties in the podcast and unscripted space. Highlights as an executive include several years at ABC Network, Lucasfilm (under Kathleen Kennedy) and Sony Pictures Television (development and current).

Most recently, Maia was the Head of Scripted for MSM/Tollin Productions. Previous to that she was the Head of Development at Amore & Vita Productions - which had an overall deal at Warner Bros. TV

There she found the format and developed the Fox show "THE CLEANING LADY". Her work has resulted in the acquisition of several original projects which she created or conceptualized, including sales to Fox, CW, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Bell (Canadian Network)and Spotify to name a few. As a creative producer, Maia's mandate is the production of high-quality content that resonates with today's audience, most especially those that champion female and underrepresented voices.

Maia founded a podcast company focusing on interactive immersive narrative content for kids, GoKidGo, that is now the third largest kid's narrative content in the world and features an exclusive and original podcast series based off of new creative from R.L. Stine. GoKidGo is repped by UTA and now has a deal with HappyNest.

Her slate includes live action film and TV, animation, podcasts (kid and adult) and documentaries with partnerships with companies such as Stampede Ventures, Groundswell Productions, Rainforest Entertainment, Confluential Films, Rooster Teeth Studios, Reel FX Animation Studios, Boat Rocker Media, Untitled Entertainment, Village Roadshow Pictures to name a few.

 

Silvia Mathis (Judge) - Executive Producer, Punkin Studios

Silvia Mathis is an Executive Producer who has worked on nearly a dozen television movies. Recent productions for Hallmark include A NASHVILLE LEGACY, directed by Roger M. Bobb, SPRING BREAKTHROUGH, directed by Mykelti Williamson – – as well as upcoming films BALLETHNIC for Hallmark Mahogany and BEWILDERED in partnership with the award-winning production team at The Wolper Org/WB for Hallmark Hall of Fame. Silvia is preparing to shoot the LGBTQUi+ Feature CHURCH BOi.

Silvia began her career in executive roles including Head of Development at One Street Books, where she helmed projects with notable authors including Oscar-winner Viola Davis; Senior VP of Content Acquisitions for TreImage; Senior VP of Original Programming for XOD, a black-owned streaming platform; and CEO of SILCO Productions, partnering with MGM exec Jeff Coleman.

Her company, Punkin Studios, has been instrumental in developing, selling, and producing a diverse range of films, series, documentaries, and shorts for over 20 years. Recently she signed a first-look deal with TAPAS MEDIA (recently acquired by Korean entertainment giant Kakao). Soon after, the company entered into an overall representation and development agreement with Sandstone Artists.

Jos Villegas (Judge) - Creative Executive, Works with Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and IMAX

Jos Villegas is a Creative Executive who is partnered with an independent film production company looking for paranormal/ghosts over gore/slasher horror and produce independent high concept horror/thrillers with a preference for paranormal over slasher gore. She has two decades of experience on a diverse slate of feature films including HOW TO MAKE LEAVE with John Cleese and at major studios, Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and IMAX and worked on popular blockbuster franchises such as MINIONS and X MEN (including DEADPOOL and LOGAN) as well as critically acclaimed films like THE REVENANT, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, and HOUSE OF GUCCI.

Jos requested 13 scripts from her last session!

During her time as Universal, she developed and secured approvals for all international creative materials for SING 2, MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU, AMBULANCE. For MGM Films, she also helped develop and secured approvals for RESPECT and HOUSE OF GUCCI. Her experience also extends to action (KINGSMAN FILMS), Sci-fi (PLANET OF THE APES FRANCHISE), Comedy (THE HEAT, SPY), Drama (LIFE OF PI, FAULT IN OUR STARS, THE MARTIAN, RESPECT), Horror/Thriller (ALIEN: COVENANT, PROMETHEUS), and Young Adult (MAZE RUNNER AND PERCY JACKSON FRANCHISES). Jos managed the studio relationships and developed marketing strategies and implemented campaigns to drive IMAX ticket sales for Sony (SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, GRAN TURISMO, NAPOLEON, MADAME WEB, GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE) and select Universal, Paramount, MGM Films such as the CREED III.

Jos has a deep understanding of what makes a story both compelling and marketable. A seasoned executive specializing in international, she developed marketing strategies, trailers, posters, campaigns, and filmmaker presentations across all genres. Jos is now expanding her reach and relationships with the active development of projects.

ENTRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Void where prohibited by law.

This Stage 32 Contest is an international contest. Must be 18 years or older to submit.

Entrant agrees to Stage32.com terms and conditions.

This Stage 32 Contest is not a game of chance. All material is read and reviewed by industry professionals.

All quarterfinalists, semi-finalists, finalists and winners are subjectively determined by our judges.

There is no limit to the number of screenplays an Entrant can enter. The same screenplay cannot be submitted multiple times under different names. If so, you will be disqualified.

Entrant must not be an immediate family member or friend of any of the judges or their respective companies.

Entrant acknowledges that because of the judges' and mentors' position in the entertainment industry they receive numerous submissions of ideas, formats, stories, suggestions and the like and that many such submissions heretofore or hereafter received by them are similar to or identical to those developed by them or their employees or, if an agent, are otherwise available to them.

Entrant acknowledges that they will not be entitled to any compensation because of the use by judges or mentors of any such similar material.

Entrant acknowledges that no fiduciary or confidential relationship now exists between Entrant and judges or mentors, and Entrant further acknowledges that no such relationships are established between Entrant and judges or mentors by reason of this contest entry.

Entrants must submit screenplays and payment online.

Entrants must upload their submission within 72 hours of entry purchase.

Entry fees will not be returned or adjusted.

No waivers are available for this contest.

SCREENPLAY TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Screenplays should be written in English and in standard industry format.

The rights to the Entrant’s screenplay should not have been previously optioned or sold.

The Entrant retains the rights to his or her screenplay at all times.

Entrant’s screenplay must not have been produced.

The screenplay can be submitted with or without a title page and/or contact information.

After a screenplay is entered, no new drafts or corrected pages can be made by the Entrant unless it is confirmed in our records that the Entrant has paid for the "Resubmission" option.

Screenplay must be submitted as a PDF document.

Screenplay must be the original work of the Entrant and may not be based whole or in part on any fictional or non-fictional material, published or unpublished, produced or unproduced for which the Entrant does not have rights. Neither Stage 32 nor its judges investigates or attests to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you are acknowledging that you have secured all necessary rights.

Using our new Feedback & Resubmission Option you will get 3-5 pages of coverage/notes back in 5-days with a guaranteed option to resubmit one (1) revised draft of your script up to 10 days after the Final Deadline! See what elements of your script are working and what still needs to be developed. You can position yourself for the best chance of success - all for an additional fee of only $99.

This option is good for a one-time use and is non-refundable/non-transferable if you do not enter an updated draft. Updated drafts will need to be sent to contests@stage32.com to be scored.