2nd Annual Family Friendly Screenwriting Contest

THE WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED!

SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW THE WINNER

Our Grand Prize winner will:

• Be flown to LA for meetings (travel permitting) to meet with 8 top professionals working in the industry including literary managers and producers who have worked on HOCUS POCUS, ATLANTIS, THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES and more!
• Work with Stage 32 to develop your script’s pitch deck for the market.
• Get a free membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room and free access to some of Stage 32’s educational resources
• Continued support from the Stage 32 team to help move your career forward and get you in front of decision makers!

ALL 10 Finalists will:

• Have your loglines presented to over 500 industry executives including literary managers, agents and producers in a Stage 32 lookbook. Past lookbook writers have been set up on meetings with 3 Arts Entertainment, UTA, APA, Art/Work Entertainment, Zero Gravity and more!
• Get a free three month membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room

Stage 32 will be a champion for your script - once you’re part of our community, we make sure you rise to the top!

Our Stage 32 Family Friendly Screenwriting Contest Winners See Results

So many of our previous contest winners and finalists have been signed. Click the "Success Stories" link here for testimonials from our past winners! 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?

• Last year’s winner, Kristi Barnett, met with industry professionals from Netflix, Management 360, Ian Bryce Productions and more!
• Finalists have had their work requested by managers and producers at Campfire Studios, Energy Entertainment and many more!

Plus! In our 11 year history of screenwriting contests we have helped hundreds of screenwriters get signed, sold and staffed! See our success stories here. 

Congratulations to our Winner!

Congratulations to our Finalists!

Congratulations to our Semifinalists!

Congratulations to our Quarterfinalists!

About the Stage 32 Family Friendly Screenwriting Contest

It's the classics that truly endure time and hold a special place in our hearts. We all love to watch our favorite movies from childhood over and over again for that wholesome, comforting feeling. Family Friendly films and television make audiences feel warm and fuzzy, and are the most fun to watch with loved ones. Stage 32 wants to help you create one of these projects, and give you the resources to bring your Family Friendly show or film to families and friends around the world.

Stage 32 offers access to some of the biggest names in the industry as judges, including executives from David Kirschner Productions, Soapbox Films, Holloway Literary and more with credits and client credits like ZOOTOPIA, PINOCCHIO, CURIOUS GEORGE and TREASURE ISLAND to name a few. We are looking for family friendly scripts of all subjects and tones. Whether your script is a sweet fairytale or brings a rag tag team together, our judges want to read it!

About the Exposure For Your Script

The Grand Prize Winner Will be Flown to Los Angeles to meet with:

• Monica Lagos-Kaytis, Producer (WRECK-IT RALPH, ZOOTOPIA)
• David Kirschner, Producer (HOCUS POCUS, CURIOUS GEORGE)
• Chelsea DeVincent, Senior Producer, Soapbox Films (MUPPETS NOW!, SURFERS)
• Mike Disa, Producer & Director (ATLANTIS, TREASURE ISLAND)
• Nikki Terpilowski, Literary Manager, Holloway Literary (client credits include THE TRIDENT, THE MARRIAGE LIE)
• Maia Glickman, Producer (ONE DAY AT A TIME, NASHVILLE)
• Sierra McDonald, Manager of Development and Original Programming, WeTV
• Casey Malone, Independent Producer, Snap Inc (PINOCCHIO, THE WITCHES)

In addition to these meetings, the winner will also receive unlimited access to Stage 32’s Educational resources, be promoted on Stage 32’s social media, and have their professional biography sent to an exclusive roster of over 30 agents and managers hand picked by Stage 32 who are actively looking for new clients and material. Stage 32 will facilitate introductory meetings to any of the representatives who respond to your material and bio. This is the type of exposure that will change your career forever!

If you reach the Finals, you still get massive exposure to decision makers!

ALL FINALISTS will receive a FREE THREE MONTHS OF THE MEMBER'S ONLY STAGE 32 WRITERS' ROOM and 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 some of the most sought after talent resources for the industry and have helped secure meetings with companies like Verve, Good Fear, 3 Arts, APA, Echo Lake, Amazon, UTA, CAA, WME, First Friday, Pathfinder, The Cartel, Art/Work and many, many more.

Important Dates to Be Aware Of

Super Early Bird Deadline: December 15th, 2022

Early Bird Deadline: December 28th, 2022

Regular Deadline: January 25th, 2023

Final Deadline: February 22nd, 2023

Quarterfinalist Announcement: May 5th, 2023

Semifinalist Announcement: May 19th, 2023

Finalist Announcement: June 2nd, 2023

Winner Announcement: June 16th, 2023

Submission Options

Feedback & Resubmission Option

Would you like immediate feedback on your submission and the option to make changes and resubmit? 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. Please submit revised drafts to contests@stage32.com.

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 last day to submit new drafts is March 4th, 2023.

Feedback Option

We offer discounted coverage for $49.00. With this option, you will receive 1-2 pages of coverage/notes after the Quarterfinalist Announcement on May 5th, 2023. See full terms in the Rules Section.

Resubmission Option

We offer the option to resubmit a new draft of your script later in the contest for $39.00. You only have until the Final Deadline on February 22nd, 2023 to submit a new draft. You cannot submit a new draft after the reading process has commenced or after any announcements have been made.

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

Mike Disa (Judge & Mentor) - Animation Director, Netlfix

Mike Disa is currently the director of the Netflix series "PARADISE PD" and has been in the animation industry for over twenty-five years.

 

Mike has found success at studios such as Dreamworks Animation, Disney Feature, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and many others. Over a fascinating career, Mike has worked with some of the greatest and most infamous people in Hollywood including Steven Spielberg, Eric Goldberg, Ralph Bakshi, Glenn Close, Steve Oedekerk, David Tennant, Amy Poehler, Adam Sandler, Jeffery Katzenberg, and Roy Disney.

 

Mike has worked on over 16 feature films, developed/written two television series, and directed 5 animated feature films. Some of Mike's credits include "WACKY RACES" forWarner Bros. Animation, "THE SIMPSONS", POSTMAN PAT for Dreamworks, POCAHONTAS, TARZAN, FANTASIA 2000 and MULAN for Disney, and HOODWINKED TOO. 

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

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. 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.

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. 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. Currently in production is the film adaptation of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning short story, Martian Child, written by sci-fi luminary, David Gerrold (Star Trek's "The Troubles with Tribbles"). John Cusack (High Fidelity, Identity) stars in the film, which will be directed by Menno Meyjes, writer/director of 2004's acclaimed Max for Lions Gate, and Oscar-nominated screenwriter of The Color Purple, as well as the Denzel Washington-starrer, The Siege. The comedy-drama follows the neurotic travails of a science-fiction writer (Cusack) who adopts a boy claiming to be a Martian. Seth Bass & Jon Tolins (Broadway's "Twilight of the Golds") wrote the script.

Monica Lago-Kaytis (Judge & Mentor) - Associate Producer, WRECK-IT RALPH and ZOOTOPIA

Monica Lago-Kaytis is a Latin-American producer. Born in Hollywood, Monica Lago-Kaytis joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1994 for the film POCAHONTAS and continued to work in a wide variety of production roles on traditional, CG and stereoscopic animated films including HERCULES, MEET THE ROBINSONS and THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG.

She served as Associate Producer on WRECK-IT RALPH and ZOOTOPIA then made her live-action debut with Netflix’s THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES. Her talent for casting put Kurt Russell at the top of the list for his now iconic performance as Santa Claus.

Monica is a co-founder of the non-profit organization Rise Up Animation, which was created as a response to social injustice and inequity. Rise Up Animation provides feedback and guidance for BIPOC individuals around the world who are interested in working in all areas of the animation industry.

Nikki Terpilowski (Judge) - Literary Agent, Holloway Literary

Nikki Terpilowski is a Literary Agent who established Holloway Literary in 2011. 

 

Her roster of writers have made Amazon, iTunes, Globe & Mail and USA Today bestsellers lists, have been nominated for Goodreads Choice, and RITA Awards and received starred Publishers Weekly reviews.

 

Nikki also negotiates book-to-film deals for her clients, most recently to Argent Pictures and ABC Studios.

 

She has been invited to speak at, teach classes and take pitches at ThrillerFest, Sisters In Crime, Romance Writers of America (RWA), Virginia's Festival Of The Book and many more literary events. She also judges contests for RWA chapters.

 

Nikki is currently expanding her talent roster to include screenwriters, and is developing projects for TV and Film.

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.

 

Sierra McDonald (Judge) - Manager, Development & Original Programming, WeTV

Sierra London McDonald is the Manager of Development and Original Programming at WEtv. In this role, she helps create and develop fresh new programming for the network.

Owned by AMC Networks since its September 1997 launch, it is oriented mainly tManager, Development & Original Programmingowards lifestyle and entertainment programming and diversity-driven programming. The

Prior to joining WEtv, Sierra worked across development, programming and production for Discovery, NBCUniversal and VH1. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in TV/Film Production from Howard University and proudly serves as a mentor and volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters Of America in Newark NJ.

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.

Chelsea DeVincent (Judge) - Senior Producer, Soapbox Films

Chelsea DeVincent is an award winning Senior Producer at Soapbox Films, working on over 500+ projects in her 11 years with the company.

With a sharp knack for production from her rich experiences working in sports media at Florida State University, DeVincent landed an internship at Soapbox Films shortly after moving to LA. Climbing her way up the ladder with exceptional communication and passion, Chelsea rose through the ranks as assistant to three executives, including the CEO, and then became the company's Project Coordinator. Eventually she transitioned into the Production Coordinator position where she learned the ropes of physical production, a lifelong dream. Thereafter, Chelsea became a Producer and has recently been promoted to Senior Producer.

DeVincent created, maintained, and expanded upon relationships with notable companies like The Muppets Studio, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Netflix and a multitude of departments at The Walt Disney Company. Notable works include The Old Ways, Muppets Haunted Mansion, Disney Channel’s Movie Surfers, Muppets Now! and Muppets Take the Bowl.