The following screenplays are the Top 25% Feature Screenplay Finalists and Official Selections for the 2025 FilmQuest Best Un-produced Screenplay Competition. These screenplays were the top 25% of the submitted feature screenplays as scored by our screenplay judges. If you are a producer or filmmaker, collaborating with these writers may produce your next film, so feel free to explore these great projects waiting to be made. Featured here are some of the best unproduced genre screenplays on the circuit today and one of these screenplays will become our eventual Best Unproduced Feature Screenplay Winner, with several others being recognized via awards. If you would like to find out more about the screenplays or to read them for consideration, please feel free to reach out to the festival director at jmartin@filmquestfest.com and he will put you in contact with the writers.
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A DEAD MAN’S COFFERS
Written By: G.S. Leitgeb
Synopsis: 1857, in the Austrian Marshlands: Caesar, a black priest from America gets buried alive by a sinister countess to retrieve an occult book. Digging through earth tunnels, a treasure hunt begins where the priest will sacrifice his life to save the ghost of his estranged brother.
Genre(s): Horror, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: GS.Leitgeb has been specializing in playful world-building for more than a decade now in combining writing, designing & directing for the international market. With his own Creative Company KTC®Universe, he’s created ‘The Can Society Files’ Universe and is currently running a slate of Adventure, Fantasy, Horror & Sci-Fi Entertainment.
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BEAST WITH TWO BACKS
Written By: Amanda Jane Stern
Synopsis: After the apparent suicide of her aunt (and mother-figure), an emotionally repressed young woman discovers she is now the bearer of an ancient family curse: a murderous demon. Drawn to the mysterious beast, she gives in to her most primal instincts.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Amanda Jane Stern is a Brooklyn-based screenwriter and actor. She made her feature film screenwriting debut with the psychosexual revenge thriller Perfectly Good Moment, in which she also starred. She won Best Drama Actor at the 2023 West Sound Film Festival for her performance in the film. A staple of the podcast world, she has been a guest on Joe Lynch’s The Movie Crypt, Horror Queers, The Horror Squad, and many others. She also co-hosts the podcast Don’t be Crazy, where she often discusses her love of film noir, horror, and Road House (the original).
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BENEATH THE UNDERCURRENT
Written By: Helen Alexis Yonov
Synopsis: Blurring the line between imagination and reality, a famed mystery writer spirals into madness when her fictional character comes to life.
Genre(s): Fantasy, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Helen Alexis Yonov is a Latvian-American writer-director-producer who is U.K.-based and works under RWI FILMS with actress-producer Rachel Warren.
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BIRTH OF A SUPERVILLAIN
Written By: Alec Gibbons
Synopsis: When a series of fiery killings and kidnappings terrorize a storm-battered island, burned-out FBI agent James Braddock is sent to track down a masked arsonist known as “The Reaper.” As Braddock closes in, the case pulls him into the shadow of Yates Dynamics, a powerful defense contractor tied to the murders. Torn between his obsession with the investigation and the chance to protect his estranged wife and unborn child, Braddock uncovers a conspiracy capable of birthing America’s first true supervillain.
Genre(s): Horror, Sci-Fi, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Alec Gibbons is a writer/director with a background in genre films that seek to emotionally levitate, risk heart palpitations and which foregoes all boundaries. His work has been shown, awarded and distributed worldwide (including FilmQuest!). As a screenwriter, he has placed in the Nichols Fellowship and was recently a fellow at Stowe Story Labs.
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BITTER HARVEST
Written By: Jack Warner
Synopsis: A farmer, suffering from PTSD over the tragic loss of his son, succumbs to his illness and brings nationwide attention to himself, and his small town, through a series of horrific events.
Genre(s): Horror, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Jack Warner is proud FQ Alumni and wants to introduce you to worlds both real and unimaginable. He loves to write in many genres with characters that overcome insurmountable odds and never lose sight of one thing – Hope. His work has received over 300 awards and is known for strong female protagonists and deeply-layered villains. His stories grab onto you in the first few pages and never let go. www.jackwarnerwriter.com
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BLOOD OF ISRAEL
Written By: Davey Morrison
Synopsis: A slacker Mormon missionary learns the true value of saving souls when he finds out his companion is a vampire.
Genre(s): Horror, Comedy
Screenwriter’s Bio: Davey Morrison is a screenwriter and filmmaker, with feature credits including I See the Demon, Trolley Problems, and Forty Days in the Desert. His films have screened at festivals, including SXSW, Austin Film Festival, and Brooklyn Film Festival, and his scripts have been recognized by the Austin Film Festival (finalist) and Nicholl Fellowship (semifinalist). Davey received an MFA in screenwriting from The University of Texas at Austin; he currently teaches film at Utah Valley University.
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BRICK FIST
Written By: Rob Neilson & Colin Ochs
Synopsis: A hapless nerd’s internet hookup date takes a wild turn when he’s catfished into being a getaway driver for a fugitive from justice — and ends up in a glitter-fueled standoff between corrupt cops, militant rednecks, and a crew of defiant drag queens who help him find the family he never knew he needed.
Genre(s): Comedy
Screenwriter’s Bio: Rob Neilson fled his homeland of NYC to the swamps of Houston Texas with the goal of rebranding as a sweaty southern lawyer. Finding that he lacked any of the legal credentials to help him do so, he sought solace in the world’s oldest profession: film production. He works in Houston primarily as a DP and produces through his production company Savage Henry Films
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CALIGO INN
Written By: Shaun Delliskave
Synopsis: A rising political star retreats to a secluded Virginia inn to draft a campaign platform that will secure him a spot on a presidential ticket—but as nightmarish visions blur with reality, he’s forced to confront the ghosts of those he sacrificed to climb the political ladder. Caligo Inn is a psychological thriller with gothic horror overtones, laced with political intrigue and moral reckoning, in which ambition, guilt, and supernatural justice collide under the genteel veneer of Southern hospitality.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: As a professional writer, I have optioned two previous projects. I received over 35 screenplay laurels including top screenplay at the Trinidad Film Festival, Big Mini Media Festival, Northwest Ohio Screenwriters Competition, Los Angeles Cinema Film Festival, and Williamsburg International Film Festival. I was a finalist in the Creative World Awards, Action on Film, Page International Screenwriting Awards, New Hampshire Film Festival, and an official selection in the Catalina Film Festival. Aside from writing, I have been a radio announcer and a voice-over actor. I have a Masters degree in public arts management.
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CARNAL
Written By: Taylor Olson
Synopsis: N/A
Genre(s): N/A
Screenwriter’s Bio: N/A
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CHARADES
Written By: Avishai Weinberger & Ari Marmell
Synopsis: When her dysfunctional family’s annual Thanksgiving game of Charades is commandeered by a body-hijacking demon, rebellious daughter Deirdre must play like hell to survive.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Avishai Weinberger is an award-winning screenwriter from Brooklyn, New York. He loves writing science fiction and horror features.
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DEATHSLED
Written By: Wesley Steven Drent
Synopsis: A hapless man unwittingly acquires a car with a portal to Hell in the trunk that thirsts for evil souls in exchange for fortune and devil’s gold. Cursed and bound as the car’s driver, he embraces demonic guidance to slake the infernal engine’s thirst via acts of vigilantism, working his way up the criminal underworld’s ladder. But when the car’s rewards get him the girl of his dreams, he must protect her from the wrath of vengeful crime lords before they kidnap her, or worse, take the car.
Genre(s): Horror, Comedy, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: I was born in Ann Arbor, MI, and raised by wolves. When I’m not watching movies, I’m an avid Warhammer and comic book nerd. I spent most of my middle school years living in Hanoi, Vietnam, and have been to 17+ countries and all 50 states. I served as an 0311 Rifleman with the United States Marine Corps, deploying to Anbar Province, Iraq, in 2009, and Helmand Province, Afghanistan, from 2010 to 2011. I graduated from Columbia University in NYC with a degree in film and then spent the next decade selling my soul to largescale warehouse/factory/transportation logistics and operations management. My first illustrated children’s book, “The Creepy Children’s Book for Creepy Children,” is being published at the end of September.
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DON’T LET THEM IN
Written By: David Lawrence & Heather Foster
Synopsis: N/A
Genre(s): N/A
Screenwriter’s Bio: N/A
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DRAIN
Written By: Kazimiera Szyperski & Matthew Kollar
Synopsis: In a desperate bid to lose weight, a high school javelin thrower tries the tapeworm diet—but instead ingests a mummified parasite that ravages her body from the inside out, twisting her into a monstrous predator with a hunger for flesh.
Genre(s): Horror, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Kazimiera Szyperski, a Pittsburgh-born Writer of Polish heritage, blends her culture and upbringing into dynamic, female-driven stories marked by insight, gore, and sharp, conversational dialogue. Her award-winning scripts—including Rites/Rights (chosen by James Ivory) and Dear Boss (featured at Sundance)—have been recognized by Academy and BAFTA qualifying festivals, establishing her as a new and distinctive voice in contemporary cinema.
Matthew Kollar, a Writer/Director with roots in practical effects and monster building, blends horror and fantasy into bold, socially relevant, and gloriously gory storytelling. From composing the score for Director Bobcat Goldthwait’s God Bless America and Willow Creek to earning BAFTA recognition for his contributions to international film, his acclaimed work continues to push genre boundaries with originality, insight, and plenty of blood.
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ECCLESIA: COLD SUN
Written By: J. Patrick Nunn
Synopsis: ECCLESIA: COLD SUN follows Zora, a young Romani woman fleeing with her brothers after the Nazis destroy their camp, and Sister Clarice, a nun trapped in a haunted mountain church where an ancient evil stirs beneath the foundations. As SS officer Major Stahl and the ageless Frau Griselda attempt to break the church’s seal and unleash the Morningstar, Zora and Clarice must fight side by side to survive a night of blood, betrayal, and holy war.
Genre(s): Horror, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: For the past fifteen years J. Patrick Nunn has worked as an On-Set dresser or On-Set Prop Master on ninety plus films & television shows, most notably THE CLIMB, THE HALF OF IT, MARE OF EAST TOWN, SHE SAID, SERVANT, KNOCK AT THE CABIN, ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, THE OTHER TWO and the up coming Y2K and IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU for A24. He has also directed music videos for Windhand “Two Urns,” Inter Arma “The Summer Drones,” Iron Regan “Bleed the Fifth,” and Time Lost “Better than Bedbugs”. In 2018, J. Patrick Directed the short film YOUS GOT SOMETHIN’, RIGHT THERE starring Shane Gillis (BUPKIS, GILLY & KEEVES) and Deric Ganes (THE LAST O.G., BUPKIS). The film premiered at The Rhode Island International Film Festival.
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EXUVIUM
Written By: Jordan Blaiklee Miller
Synopsis: As boys, Simon and Alistair Primrose unearthed a creature buried in the woods, a Sin Eater, neither good nor evil, but something far older. Now estranged men, they’re forced back together when Simon’s wife falls mysteriously ill, and the monster Alistair keeps in chains may hold the key to saving her… or destroying them both.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Jordan Miller is an award-winning filmmaker, musician and podcaster from Maryland. His work, both as writer/director and cinematographer, includes feature films (The Only Ones, Was Once A Hero), short films (Three, Shutter Sound, Jericho Bridge), and a PRX released audio drama/thriller “”Black Velvet Fairies”” produced with the creators of The Blair Witch Project.
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FALSE MOON
Written By: John Hintz
Synopsis: After the small research ship Everett gets stranded in unexplored space during a cost-cutting research expedition, the dysfunctional crew of four must learn to work together to restore power to their ship. If they can’t, they risk falling victim to a strange, moon-sized organism that has its sights set on them.
Genre(s): Sci-Fi, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: John Hintz is a writer and director from Utah who has experience as a work-for-hire writer and is looking to direct his first feature-length film. He brings a stylized approach to his work and has experience across multiple genres, but tends to lean towards scripts with a focus on the supernatural or fantastic.
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GAINS
Written By: James Tison
Synopsis: An unsuccessful, anxious comedian with psychopathic tendencies finds himself fitter, happier, and more successful once he finally starts killing people.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: James is queer, gender non-binary, and HIV Positive (subjects they openly explore in their stand-up comedy). Raised in a family of truck drivers and ranchers in Bakersfield, CA, they studied theater at NYU thanks to a buttload of predatory private student loans.
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HOGWASH
Written By: Ryan Love
Synopsis: Hogwash is a dark comedy about three podcasters whose pursuit of fame collides with a masked killer, forcing them into a chaotic spiral of toxic masculinity, media frenzy, and absurd violence.
Genre(s): Horror, Comedy
Screenwriter’s Bio: I’m Ryan. Filmmaker and new to golf, but I’m getting better.
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HUMAN SKINSUIT
Written By: Stephen Vanderpool
Synopsis: When a grief-stricken woman turns to a New Age influencer for spiritual guidance, she learns to summon UFOs through guided meditation— plummeting down a rabbit hole of conspiracy, manipulation and murder.
Genre(s): Horror, Sci-Fi
Screenwriter’s Bio: Stephen Vanderpool & Danielle McRae Spisso are the husband-and-wife duo who run Picture 304, a film & video production company that creates both family-friendly commercial content and some seriously messed up horror films. They also founded the Bad Student Film Festival that has become an underground hit.
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I DON’T WANT TO FIGHT ANYMORE
Written By: James Tison
Synopsis: A dysfunctional Liberal couple on a cross-country move are too busy breaking up to realize they’re being stalked by a Neo-conservative cult.
Genre(s): Horror, Comedy
Screenwriter’s Bio: James is queer, gender non-binary, and HIV Positive (subjects they openly explore in their stand-up comedy). Raised in a family of truck drivers and ranchers in Bakersfield, CA, they studied theater at NYU thanks to a buttload of predatory private student loans.
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I FOUND A GUN
Written By: Will Lee & Ian Hedman
Synopsis: A struggling punk rocker finds power in a parasitic handgun she discovers on the street. But after she loses out on the biggest show of her life, she and her one night stand find themselves on the run from the law and something much worse.
Genre(s): Horror, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Ian Hedman and Will Lee are a screenwriting duo based in Los Angeles. They met while studying at Elon University in North Carolina and bonded over a shared love of absurd horror and scrappy filmmaking. Check out their shorts “”Ringworms”” and “”Her House”” streaming now on Alter!
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LOVE TO WATCH YOU BLEED
Written By: Virginia Powers
Synopsis: A teenage girl must confront her own violent past as she struggles to survive a mysterious killer terrorizing her and a group of fellow juvenile offenders on an outward bound survival program in the red hills of Utah.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Born in Memphis, TN, but raised in Florida, Virginia “”Gina”” Powers Hendry is a graduate of the University of Central Florida Film & Digital Media Program. She moved to California almost immediately after graduation to pursue her dream of filmmaking. She has worked as an assistant to a talent manager, a PA on a David Lynch commercial, managed feature film credits in the business & legal affairs dept at two major studios, before devoting her time to writing and having a family. She spends most days writing female-driven stories while raising two kick-ass future final girls; and directing award-winning horror shorts with her friends. Bio: Amanda Ellis is a graduate of Chapman University and previously produced award-winning short films like “”Heather: A Fairy Tale”” and “”The Vaudevillian,”” which screened at over 75 festivals. Outside of writing, Amanda enjoys film, TV, reading, managing her dogs’ Instagram, and attending horror mixers—though she prefers to keep her eyes closed during the scary parts.
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MICHAEL SAINT
Written By: Samer Saifan
Synopsis: N/A
Genre(s): N/A
Screenwriter’s Bio: N/A
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MIDNIGHT SUN
Written By: Joseph Day
Synopsis: While filming a nature documentary in a remote Alaskan grizzly bear sanctuary, a film crew fights for survival when a nearby volcano erupts.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Joe Day is an award-winning filmmaker, published writer, and U.S. Army veteran. Currently, Joe lives in Los Angeles where he works as a finishing supervisor on feature film trailers.
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MON$TER PARTIES
Written By: Omar Attia
Synopsis: An idealistic high school chemistry teacher and her misanthropic teenage daughter must save their town when a witch turns the competing politicians into ferocious werewolves and manipulative vampires intent on feeding on the townspeople.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Omar Attia was born in Hackensack, NJ in 1972. He has written VAMPZ!, a micro-budget horror comedy and a number of short films, two of which were featured on CryptTV. His last short, The Widower, currently has over 35 million views on CryptTV’s Facebook Page. Omar was diagnosed with CMT, a neuromuscular disorder.
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NASTY TRICK
Written By: Brad Bergeron
Synopsis: A grieving man battles dark forces when he tries to bury his ex-girlfriend at their beloved summer cabin.
Genre(s): Horror, Comedy
Screenwriter’s Bio: Brad Bergeron is a Canadian actor, writer, producer, director and comedian. He’s worked in Vancouver, BC for over 13 years and owns the production company, Ranch Boy Productions.
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NECROTICA
Written By: Wesley Steven Drent
Synopsis: Six years after the Zombie Apocalypse, a suicidal widow reluctantly takes in an orphaned child as the corrupted world descends into literal Hell on Earth. Rejoice, all who rise!
Genre(s): Horror, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Born in Ann Arbor, MI, and raised by wolves. I spent middle school living in Hanoi, Vietnam. I’ve visited over 17 countries and all 50 states. Huge Warhammer and comic book nerd when I’m not watching movies. I was a 0311 Rifleman in the United States Marine Corps, deploying to Anbar Province, Iraq, in 2009, and Helmand Province, Afghanistan, from 2010 to 2011. I graduated from Columbia University in NYC with a degree in film. Over the last decade, I’ve sold my soul in large-scale warehouse/factory/transport logistics and operations management. My first illustrated children’s book, “”The Creepy Children’s Book for Creepy Children,”” will be published at the end of September.
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NIGHTLINGS
Written By: Mike Disa
Synopsis: After an attack on a greyhound bus traveling through New England woods strands nine strangers at a remote inn, they’re besieged by savage, relentless night-creatures—forcing a brutal counterattack that ends with a gut-punch revelation.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Mike Disa is a writer/director with over twenty years experience in Hollywood with dozens of writing and directing credits at major studios such as Disney, Warners, Dreamworks, TWC, Film Roman, Epic Pictures, and Icon. He presently works on The Simpsons.
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NO MORE GOOD GIRLS
Written By: Shahine Ezell
Synopsis: After witnessing her parents’ murder as a child, Rae grows into a lethal vigilante who hunts sexual predators. Her crusade draws the attention of Tasha, a young detective whose own trauma drives her to piece the killings back to Rae. Their collision forces each woman to confront where justice ends and vengeance begins.
Genre(s): The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Shahine Ezell is a screenwriter and director whose work explores trauma, identity, and moral gray zones through genre.
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OAR RIVER
Written By: Jody McNicholas
Synopsis: After thirty years guiding souls in the afterlife, Paige seizes a chance to help Sam, a grieving Brooklyn baker shattered by her son’s sudden death. What begins as a mission of comfort reveals a hidden Soul Agreement binding their lives across lifetimes, and the fragile balance of Earth’s evolution. With only seven days to act, Paige must risk her own path home to help Sam heal before a cosmic force tears them both apart.
Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Fantasy, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Jody McNicholas, a Robert Redford Emerging Artist Recipient and former director of Meow Wolf’s Community Voices Outreach series, received the George R.R. Martin Sci-Fi/Fantasy Screenwriting Grant for her project Oar River and lives in Brooklyn, NY.
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ONE MORE TIME WITH FEELING
Written By: Isabella Rebecca Vergun
Synopsis: Ashley Kincaid has never felt at home in their body. But today, they doesn’t even feel at home in their home. Because Ashley just woke up with a man sitting on the end of their bed, pointing a gun at them. The man says his name is Ashley Kincaid. The man says that it’s his turn with the body.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Isabella “”Z”” Vergun is a writer, storyteller, and all-around tiny hurricane. They have been described by friends (and enemies) as “”scrappy,”” “”punchy,”” and “”good at convincing other people to help them move.”” A graduate from the John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television MFA program at USC, Z has received many accolades for their work, including Quarterfinalist in the Academy Nicholl Fellowships, Winner of the DIVERSITY Feedback Film Festival, and two-time Finalist in the Vancouver International Women in Film Festival Screenplay Competition. When not hunting for ghosts or hyper-fixating on TTRPGs, Isabella likes picking fights with men over six feet tall, dinosaurs, and the moon.
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OSTRICH BOY
Written By: Ricardo Bonisoli, Holly Pavilk & Rodmon Sevilla
Synopsis: Oskar is a teenager who suffers from Ostrich Syndrome, a rare condition that makes his face and limbs resemble those of an ostrich. After growing up in hiding with his single mother, Teresa, he moves to the small town of Gillingham to attend public school for the first time. Teresa hopes the kindness of small-town life will protect him, but the residents struggle to accept his abnormality, and Oskar’s troubles only deepen. One day, after being pelted with eggs by his peers, he receives a cryptic invitation to a place called Stardust. There he discovers an abandoned warehouse turned racewalking facility, where he meets eccentric athletes including Ninja Cat, a mute devoted to the “art of walk,” and Jim, a washed-up racewalking legend working as the school janitor. Jim takes Oskar under his wing and pushes him to train for an upcoming race, convinced that winning is his only chance to earn respect and become a local hero.
Genre(s): Fantasy, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Holly Pavlik is a Canadian Editor and Filmmaker. She co-produced, co-wrote, and co-directed the award-winning animated web series Under the HUD (six festival awards, Merging Media 5 Viewer’s Pick, 2014 showcase) and co-produced The Seahorse Trainer (13 awards, 11 nominations, including a SIFF Jury Award and Academy Award qualifier). As an Editor, her credits span both live-action and animation, from Marvel Knights’ Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk to The Seahorse Trainer. Her work has screened worldwide, earning her a Leo Award and two Canadian Cinema Editor award nominations. With extensive VFX experience on both the facility and studio side, her VFX Editor credits include Men in Black: International, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Love, Death & Robots, and most recently Loki Season 2 at Marvel Studios.
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PRAY WITH A BULLET
Written By: Julius Galacki
Synopsis: In the midst of a bloody New York gang war, a love triangle develops between two cops and a mysterious, art loving assassin; “”PRAY WITH A BULLET”” is an opera sung to bullets instead of music; imagine the style (and violence) of John Woo’s “”The Killer”” or Luc Besson’s “Leon: the Professional.”
Genre(s): The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Julius Galacki is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Playwriting Dept. He is also a graduate of NYU holding both a M.A. from the interdisciplinary Gallatin School and a B.F.A. from the Tisch School of Arts. His short “”FIRST NIGHT”” which was shown at a number of film festivals, and was broadcast on Palm Springs PBS-KVCR. His film “”ALL THINGS CHICKEN”” won Best Score at the Williamsburg International Film Festival and Best Screenplay at the Fire Reel Film Festival in northern California. The film was also nominated at the Tenerife (Spain) IFF for Best Film, Screenplay, Producer, Actor and Supporting Actor amongst other awards and nominations. His full length screenplays have either won or placed in dozens of competitions. His stage work has been produced or read Off Off Broadway in NYC as well as Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Connecticut, South Carolina and Hawaii. His monologues appear in all four volumes of the series “Audition Arsenal” published by Smith & Kraus. At Yale, Julius is particula
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REMINGTON
Written By: Stephonika W. Kaye
Synopsis: Visions of the Man in the Hat return to Remington just as her client, Rosemary, struggles with the passing of her step-father. Their demons seem linked as their realities begin to unfold and perhaps weave together.
Genre(s): Horror, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Stephonika has come up through the industry mainly in the art departments, making her writing very design-minded. She consistently works as a Production Designer, Set Decorator, and Set Dresser, like on projects such as “”WRONG TURN 2021″” & “”THE BIKERIDERS.”
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RESIDUE
Written By: Matilda Szydagis
Synopsis: When an experimental drug trial turns fatal, two NYC detectives uncover sinister secrets and a dangerous connection close to home.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Matilda Szydagis is a SAG Award winner known for playing Zelda on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” She penned, directed, and produced three award-winning short horror films (The Hoosac, The Ruins, The Dam), which have been screened in over 40 film festivals around the world. Her feature horror screenplay RESIDUE was written by Gen X for Gen X. Born and raised by her immigrant family on the South Side of Chicago, she’s fluent in Polish. B.A., Anthropology, The University of Chicago. She lives in New York City. www.matildaszydagis.com
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RESPIRAR
Written By: August Joaquim Soto
Synopsis: Fresh out of the hospital, Paxton seeks rest at a remote Colorado cabin owned by Callum’s late great-grandmother. Their post-surgical recovery, however, is interrupted by something far more sinister. The discovery of an ancient book awakens a demon born from Taíno and Portuguese spiritual conflict. As the walls close in tensions between friends deepen, mirroring their deepest fears about identity legacy and belonging.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: August J. Soto (they) is a Puerto Rican and Portuguese queer, trans actor and writer based in Charleston, South Carolina. storyteller across mediums, August has acted since 2017 and recently starred in the indie horror feature Population Purge. Their writing blends the deeply personal with the unsettling nature’s of growing up, often centering queer identities, grief, and transformation through the lens of entertainment. August studies, English and creative writing at SNHU.
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ROACH BIT
Written By: A.K. Espada
Synopsis: When an army of mutant cockroaches overruns their home, a stubborn mother dismisses her daughter’s pleas to evacuate as teenage rebellion.
Genre(s): Horror, Sci-Fi
Screenwriter’s Bio: A.K. Espada is a Writer/Director, visual artist, and IATSE 479 Scenic Painter whose work on shows like STRANGER THINGS and HAUNTED MANSION illustrate her penchant for worldbuilding. Feature script THIS IS OUR HOME was a finalist at FilmQuest last year, and previously was chosen for a Sundance Horror Fellowship. Past FilmQuest short films include I COULD JUST DIE, AND THAT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT (Minerva Award Winner, FilmQuest), THIS IS OUR HOME (Short of the Week), LAUNDRY NIGHT, Jury Award Winner, Brooklyn Horror), THE PROMOTION, and BACK TO THE WOODS.
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SA’BE: THE LEGEND OF BIGFOOT
Written By: Benjamin Sarno
Synopsis: A tribal leader battles duplicitous governmental agencies in his quest to safeguard the sacred remains of Sa’Be (Bigfoot) from exploitation.
Genre(s): The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Wears the Blue in Oakland, CA, film school alumni.
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SLUMBER
Written By: Jared Michael Delaney
Synopsis: When an insomniac cop investigates a string of suicides linked to a powerful pharmaceutical company’s new sleep drug, he becomes trapped in a nightmarish conspiracy, learning the pills warp reality—and his own mind.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Jared Michael Delaney is a Philly-based screenwriter, playwright and actor, born to an family where good storytelling was a requirement. He received his MA in Theatre from Villanova University and MFA in Screenwriting from Queens University of Charlotte; further training with Lee Jessup, Jen Grisanti, Script Anatomy and the Sundance Co/Lab. He’s been seen on HBO, AMC, Apple TV, “B” features and stages across the nation. He’s a multi-time quarterfinalist in various screenplay competitions, which must add up to one finalist somewhere. His plays have been produced all over, including Voyager One, named a Top Ten Production by the Newark Star Ledger. He’s been published by Smith & Krauss and by Cult Pulp Press. Jared’s work as a journalist taught him to find the correct frequency of a story. He writes emotionally complex characters struggling with difficult circumstances…like the time he died for ten minutes.
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SUNNYSIDE 666
Written By: Benjamin G. Sarno
Synopsis: A first responder, plagued by savagery under the spell of demonic possession, resorts to a desperate “”cure”” when efforts at religious exorcism fail.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: I am a supervisor in the Special Victims Unit for Oakland Police. I attended film school in 2005, and have been authoring scripts ever since.
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TEAR ME TO PIECES
Written By: VJ Mancuso
Synopsis: As a documentary team digs into her darkest secrets, a real-life final girl finds herself caught between the film crew’s flirty camerawoman and the knife-wielding “ex” who just won’t let her go. WHEN HARRY MET SALLY meets HALLOWEEN
Genre(s): Horror, Comedy
Screenwriter’s Bio: VJ is a two-time Black List Recommended screenwriter whose work has won or placed at Nightmares Film Festival, HorrorHound, and other genre fests around the globe. He is also senior editor at Backstage and the host of “In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast,” where he’s conducted candid interviews with guests like Emma Stone, Tom Hiddleston, and Angelina Jolie.
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THE CRUDE
Written By: Zach Green
Synopsis: A deep-sea drilling accident unleashes The Crude—a sentient, hive-minded oil that gushes toward the vacation island of Panorama Point. As it warps sea life, tourists, and locals alike, a fractured Mormon family, eccentric retirees, and a band of misfit youths must confront both their own dysfunction and a rising tide of cosmic horror. With the satirical bite of Gremlins and the monstrous spectacle of The Host, The Crude is a genre-bending creature feature that turns ecological terror into pulpy, unpredictable fun.
Genre(s): Horror, Comedy, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Zach Green is an award winning filmmaker, actor, and writer from Los Angeles by way of Austin, Texas. His work has appeared at Sundance, SXSW, Dances With Films, and many more worldwide. A Chapman University Film Production graduate with an extensive background in theater and comedy, Zach’s love for characters and dialogue is at the forefront of his projects. His stories are comedic, personal, and pay homage to the oft bizarre yet sincere blockbuster films of the 1980-90s he grew up idolizing. Stories that balance heartfelt characters in absurd scenarios are what keep him craving the opportunity to contribute more.
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THE EXPERIENCE
Written By: Anna Kathryn Long & Olivia Haller
Synopsis: Kira, a culture critic and failed actor, is invited to New York’s newest, hottest immersive theater production. But as the experience blurs the lines between dreams and reality, possible dark forces behind the production are revealed. As the tantalizing dreams are dangled in front of her eyes, how far will she go to part of the theater once again?
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Anna K. Long is an LA-based filmmaker, choreographer, and actor. Anna started her dance career in earnest at three years old, when, after watching a beat up VHS of Mikhail Baryshnikov’s nutcracker, she took a solemn vow to never sit still again. Twenty years, one liberal arts degree, and many dance classes later, Anna became certified as a Gaga teacher in Tel Aviv. Anna began work as a writer and director in 2021. Her first narrative short, Death in the Desert, was awarded best short drama at Breck Film Fest 2024. She is also a 2024 winner of the Fujifilm Aspiring Filmmakers Award through Decentralized Pictures. Anna is a Programmer for the Salute Your Shorts Film Festival and produces dance workshops in Southern California. Olivia Haller is a writer, performer, and producer who specializes in earnest, heartfelt stories with a surreal or supernatural angle. Most recently, she served as a developing producer on the pilot of Chasers which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Her short film [subtext
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THE FARM
Written By: Craig Urquhart
Synopsis: A Korean woman tries to escape her internal demons in remote Canada, but is forced to fight for her life when they incarnate in the real world.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Craig Urquhart is a Toronto-based filmmaker who likes stories that refuse to pull punches. Go the distance.
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THE HUNTED
Written By: Anissa Matlok & Leonardo J. Leonie
Synopsis: A man returns to his North Georgia mountain hometown after the brutal murder of his brother. As he investigates, he uncovers the town’s dark secret, and finds himself the next target of a violent vigilante duo… one of whom may not be fully human.
Genre(s): Horror, Sci-Fi, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Anissa Matlock is a multi-faceted Storyteller. Known across several fandoms for her on-camera work, Anissa is equally dedicated to writing and directing. Leonardo James Leonie is a writer, director, artist. Born in South Africa and raised in Santa Cruz, Lenny holds a BA in Film with an emphasis in Writing & Directing, and has sold multiple feature length screenplays.
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THE LAST SCHOOLHOUSE
Written By: Adam William Galassi
Synopsis: In the spring of 1978, a group of Lakota teens prepare for the final day at South Dakota’s last one-room schoolhouse. As a violent escapee draws near and a strange magician arrives uninvited, the teens are thrust into a day of terror fueled by ancestral magic, heavy metal, and the rising presence of a demonic force. To survive, they must confront hidden truths and reckon with what’s been passed down — and what’s coming for them.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Adam Galassi is a writer and director working across both stage and independent film. His credits include co-writing and co-directing three independent feature films, as well as multiple music videos. His most recent feature, The Know, found a global audience at festivals in over ten countries, earning the Cult Classic Award from Cult Classic Magazine in 2017, and taking home Best Feature at the Chicago Independent Film and Television Festival.
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THE MAN IN THE FLYING LAWNCHAIR
Written By: Ryan Mekenian
Synopsis: In the 1980s, in Long Beach, CA, a Vietnam vet looking for meaning in his life after the war builds a flying machine out of weather balloons and a lawn chair. But as the dogged pursuit consumes him, it strains his relationship with his fiancée, Carol, testing the line between ambition and love. Inspired by the inventive genius of Larry Walters and Carol Van Deusen.
Genre(s): Comedy, The Beyond
Screenwriter’s Bio: Ryan’s script “”The Man in the Flying Lawn Chair”” was a quarterfinalist for the Academy Nicholl Fellowship and won the Screenplay Discovery Award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival. He is an alumnus of both the USC School of Cinematic Arts and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
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THE NIGHT MOTHER
Written By: David Todd Ocvirk
Synopsis: A grieving Filipina-American returns to her childhood village in the Philippine mountains, only to discover she’s heir to a cursed bloodline, and that her estranged mother, a creature from local folklore, needs her unborn child for an ancient blood-soaked ritual.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Todd Ocvirk is an award-winning writer, director and producer. His brand is Epic Nightmares. After graduating from the USC Film School, he co-wrote and co-directed his first feature, the award-winning cult horror film KOLOBOS. He followed that up by producing the zombie opus GANGS OF THE DEAD, earning story credit and serving as 2nd unit director. Todd also spent time in Shanghai, China writing episodes of the children’s puppet show ZIP-A-GANG for Dream Tube Entertainment. He made his first foray into comic book writing with IDW Publishing’s SONG OF SAYA, based on the Japanese light novel SAYA NO UTA. Next, Todd raised R&D grants for a documentary he intends to write, direct and produce about Native Hawaiians who fought in the American Civil War titled HAWAII SONS OF THE CIVIL WAR. Todd most recently co-produced and wrote the screenplay for the award-winning fantasy/horror feature BASHIRA. He is a three-time FilmQuest alumni.
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THE NIGHTCHASER
Written By: Edward Balli
Synopsis: Cursed with a monstrous affliction, a drifter prowls New Orleans and the deep South, desperate for a cure before the next full moon. Along the way he collides with a mysterious runaway, and together they forge a bond steeped in blood and vengeance. Through bayous and backstreets, their path is marked by bodies and shadow, as the night closes in.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Edward Balli is a Canadian screenwriter whose work explores the darker edges of human nature through horror, psychological drama, and lyrical realism. His stories are rooted in character-driven tension and atmospheric dread—raw, haunting, and unflinching.
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THE RE-EDUCATION OF JANE BROWN
Written By: MK McGehee
Synopsis: Imprisoned in a nightmarish re-education facility for women who have had or aided in abortions, a guarded and grief-hardened young doctor must find a way to escape before she’s stripped of her identity and forcibly impregnated.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: MK McGehee is a Los Angeles based, award-winning filmmaker and photographer who began her creative journey in site-specific and experiential theatre around the world. She holds a BFA from NYU Tisch and an MFA from UCSD/La Jolla Playhouse. Formerly the Creative Director of a respected LA indie magazine, she produced print and video shoots with artists like Helen Mirren, Jared Leto, Patricia Clarkson and more. A queer child of the Deep South, MK grew up torn between the gothic beauty of her home and the quiet anger of being condemned for who she was. That tension—between love and repression—inspired her feature-in-progress, HYSTERIA, and continues to shape her voice as an artist. A survivor of violence and profound trauma, she channels her lived experience into bold feminist psychological horror. Her debut short film, THE RE-EDUCATION OF JANE BROWN, screened at over two dozen international festivals, winning awards for “Best Narrative Short,” “Best Director,” and “Best Horror Short.” Most recently, MK’s feature script, THE RE-EDUCATION OF JANE BROWN (based on her proof-of-concept short), was selected as one of only twelve screenplays to take part in Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman’s ‘The Writers Lab.’ She is honored to take part in such a prestigious program and polish her script alongside some of the world’s best artists.
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THE SACRAMENT
Written By: Brianna da Silva
Synopsis: N/A
Genre(s): N/A
Screenwriter’s Bio: N/A
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THE SEER
Written By: Brady Jacquin & Shelby Flaherty
Synopsis: When the throne of Nineveh falls to a young and impressionable king, a reluctant prophet is forced to choose between saving the nation that enslaves his people…or saving himself.
Genre(s): Fantasy, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Brady Jacquin is an independent filmmaker, living in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has years of experience writing/directing feature films, short films and music videos. His passion and specialty is making films that focus on the darkest and most fractured parts of humanity, and finding empathy for them. He believes the most interesting characters are the ones who are the most broken.
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THE WATCHMAKER
Written By: Adam Getz
Synopsis: Renata, a widow with a dark past, discovers a young girl, Bella, huddled inside the windmill of a minigolf course, hiding from something. She wears the uniform of The Frontier, a mysterious organization that recently invaded their small Idaho town, preaching that the end of the world is coming soon. The girl disappears before Renata can help her, but leaves behind a clue that leads Renata down a dark and dangerous path that cuts straight through the heart of The Frontier and its cryptic plans to save humanity.
Genre(s): Horror, Sci-Fi
Screenwriter’s Bio: Adam’s filmmaking journey began with a spark of curiosity and an old tape camcorder, a moment that ignited a lifelong passion for storytelling. His body of work, which includes short films and screenplays, has been recognized by the Austin Film Festival, Final Draft Big Break, Cucalorus and Louisville International. His feature-length screenplay “”The Watchmaker,”” – a retro-scifi cult thriller – brings him to FilmQuest as a finalist.
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THIS WOUND I CALL MY SOUL
Written By: George Rhodes Wessel
Synopsis: N/A
Genre(s): N/A
Screenwriter’s Bio: N/A
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THRASH
Written By: Kieran Shea & David Osorio
Synopsis: In 2071, an information thief living on the fringes of a broken society is blackmailed into creating the ultimate spying device but accidentally creates the ultimate weapon which only he has any chance of defeating.
Genre(s): Sci-Fi, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Kieran Shea is a California native who’s lived on both coasts, in addition to having spent six years in the South American nation of Paraguay. After three years of science and a prestigious internship at the Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in Washington, D.C., Kieran made a U-turn toward a career in the filmmaking industry. He moved to Los Angeles and immediately dove into production, where he worked as a professional assistant director on a number of independent features and then began writing full-time with his writing partner, David Osorio.
David Osorio was born in Boston, MA, but grew up in many different countries from Costa Rica to the Philippines due to his mother’s career with Dole Fresh Fruit. David studied Creative Writing with a Film minor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. He then went on to get his Master’s degree in Film at Florida State University, where he first met Kieran Shea, his current writing partner. Their first script together, a dark comedy called THE OUTCAST was the
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TREASURE TRAP
Written By: Jack Warner
Synopsis: A trip to a castle for a Live D&D weekend seems like just what a high school girl wants but also leads her to discover what life, death, and true love are really about.
Genre(s): Fantasy, Comedy
Screenwriter’s Bio: Jack Warner is a proud FQ Alumni and wants to introduce you to worlds both real and unimaginable. He loves to write in many genres with characters that overcome insurmountable odds and never lose sight of one thing – Hope. His work has received over 300 awards and is known for strong female protagonists and deeply-layered villains. His stories grab onto you in the first few pages and never let go. www.jackwarnerwriter.com
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ULTIMATE WEREWOLF
Written By: Brian Ulrich
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling game by Ted Alspach, eight guests are invited to a private island retreat—but only seven arrive. As a storm rolls in, they’re cut off from the outside world. By morning, a body is found, savagely murdered, leaving the group stranded and suspicious of one another. When a mysterious stranger appears, claiming a Werewolf walks among them, the guests are thrust into a deadly hunt—forced to play both investigator and suspect in a race against time, before the true nature of the killer is revealed when the pale moon rises.
Genre(s): Horror, Fantasy, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Brian’s directorial debut, Last Three Days, sold internationally at Cannes and streamed on Paramount+, MGM+, Epix, Tubi, and Amazon Prime. The award winning writer and director has extensive experience directing commercials, television specials, and feature films. His work has garnered over 33 million views on YouTube and includes collaborations with notable brands such as LEGO, Fortnite, Amazon, Microsoft, Disney, and Lucasfilm. Brian has spent five years developing the script for Ultimate Werewolf alongside the creator of the game, gaining his trust for how he has crafted the gameplay into a compelling story.
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VIOLENT DELIGHTS
Written By: Jack Warren
Synopsis: Sam Van Belle’s family won’t accept that he’s trans; Charlie DeWitt was raised by cannibals. What begins as a passionate love affair turns into a bloody battle for survival that will transform them both, with Sam fighting to free Charlie from her homicidal parents and Charlie using her sharp teeth to free Sam from his dysphoric flesh.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Jack Warren is a writer and filmmaker hailing from Phoenicia, NY. Their award-winning short films have screened all over the world, including Fantasia, Final Girls Berlin, and the Woodstock Film Festival. Their feature screenplays have been workshopped at Stowe Story Labs and Ireland’s National Talent Academy, and their script Eggs Over Easy is currently being developed by The Dazey Phase for an anthology on small moments of trans joy. Between projects, Jack returns home to LARP at The Wayfinder Experience, where they teach young people how to fight monsters.
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WHAT LURKS ABOVE
Written By: Jeffrey Howe
Synopsis: In 1900, “”civilization”” threatens to encroach upon a secret hanging valley high in the Bitterroot Range, where for 2300 years, invisible hive-mind creatures have protected the peaceful human residents from sickness, injury and aging. The daughter of the valley’s leader, who wants them to reveal themselves before their inevitable discovery, leads a survey team sent by a dying copper baron to the valley, which brings the century-long debate with her isolationist father to a head. But even as the valley’s factions wrangle over the fate of the survey team, the copper baron’s hired guns bring Maxim guns and modern artillery to their doorstep—and the presence of the surveyors begins to corrupt the valley’s unseen protectors into hideous, misshapen monsters. Think “”Cowboys vs. Shoggoths.””
Genre(s): Horror, Sci-Fi, The Beyond/Fantastic/Other
Screenwriter’s Bio: Jeffrey Howe lives (and when necessary, works) near the historic Old Town area of Florissant, Missouri. Since he started screenwriting in 2015, his screenplays have won 50 competitions and been finalists in 90+ more. His short films have won awards at the Toronto Independent and Austin Revolution Film Festivals. Favorite themes: second chances and unforeseen consequences.
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WHAT’S WRONG, WENDY?
Written By: Spooky Madison
Synopsis: Wendy Day, a seemingly ordinary pizza delivery girl, takes a terrifying turn. On her first Friday‑night delivery, she’s invited to a house party: but when she vanishes only to reappear blood‑soaked on the doorstep of her crush, Victoria Sinclair, one thing is clear: something is very, very wrong with Wendy.
Genre(s): Horror
Screenwriter’s Bio: Spooky Madison is an award-winning filmmaker and writer based in Columbus, Ohio. Known for blending eerie atmosphere with biting humor, their work explores horror through a queer and deeply personal lens.
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WOO GIRLS
Written By: Julie Sharbutt
Synopsis: When a killer is targeting bachelorette parties in Nashville, a struggling musician and her sister-in-law must survive the night and keep their fellow bridesmaids safe amongst the chaos.
Genre(s): Horror, Comedy
Screenwriter’s Bio: Julie Sharbutt is a writer, director and actor who uses pop highbrow Genre and Comedy to tell female-forward character-driven stories about contemporary issues. Her feature comedy screenplays EXCELLENT FANCY and GHOSTIES are both in development. Her Award Winning horror short films SCAM (Omeleto Drama) and 3 DAYS (Alter), screened at festivals across the world and are now streaming with millions of views. Julie also co-wrote the Award Winning short film BOTTLECAP, and short film CUPIDS which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and was nominated for a 2022 NAACP Image Award. Her debut comedy feature film MOVED (The Orchard) is on Vimeo. Other screenplays and pilots have placed and won screenplay competitions and festivals across the country. Julie is a Warner Bros Discovery OneFifty New Storytellers alumni, where she was mentored by Tamir Muhammad and Alexa Fogel, and developed her feature comedy screenplay COOL NEW TOWN as an episodic series. Prior to directing, Julie was a TV, film and theater actor and comed
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YERMOMENEM OF THE DEAD
Written By: Scott Simpson
Synopsis: A squad of East Texas gamers recovers from a 36 hour bout of World of Warcraft, only to wake up to find that Fox News has turned its entire audience into flesh craving mindless redneck zombies.
Genre(s): Horror, Comedy
Screenwriter’s Bio: I have a BA in English from Columbia and an MFA from Columbia Film School’s screenwriting program. I have had screenplays from across all genres compete and place in prestigious competitions and film festivals, such as WGAe Foundation Dramatic Fellowship, the Austin Film Festival, the Oaxaca Film Festival for the past five years and the Nicholl’s Fellowship.
