Big Break Screenwriting Contest
The contest is now OFFICIALLY CLOSED for 2021.
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2020 Winners
2020 Feature Grand Prize Winner
Stacie Gancayco-Adlao
2020 TV Grand Prize Winner
Mira Z. Barnum
Judges
Michael Chung
Verve
Rachel Kiner
Worldwide Acquisitions, Paramount Studios
Matt Dy
LIT Management
Sonia Gambaro
3PAS STUDIOS
Jeff Portnoy
Bellevue Productions
Chris Coggins
Heroes and Villains Entertainment
Leyla Kader Dahm
CITIZEN SKULL PRODUCTIONS MANAGEMENT
John Zaozirny
Bellevue Productions
Roberto Larios
Verve
Zack Zucker
Bellevue Productions
Jonathan Hersh
Housefire Management
Jason Lubin
FIRST STORY ENTERTAINMENT
Neil Titus Thomas
MEDIA RIGHTS CAPITAL
Scott Stoops
Good Fear
Brian Spink
Realm
Juan He
HOUSEFIRE MANAGEMENT
Will Deasey
ZERO GRAVITY MANAGEMENT
Ava Jamshidi
INDUSTRY ENTERTAINMENT
Peter Katz
STORY DRIVEN
Ery De Jong
PRODUCER
Karina Wilson
INDEPENDENT STORY AND DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT
Gary King
Paramount Television Studios
Michael Chung
Verve
Rachel Kiner
Worldwide Acquisitions, Paramount Studios
Matt Dy
LIT Management
Sonia Gambaro
3PAS STUDIOS
Jeff Portnoy
Bellevue Productions
Chris Coggins
Heroes and Villains Entertainment
Leyla Kader Dahm
CITIZEN SKULL PRODUCTIONS MANAGEMENT
John Zaozirny
Bellevue Productions
Roberto Larios
Verve
Zack Zucker
Bellevue Productions
Jonathan Hersh
Housefire Management
Jason Lubin
FIRST STORY ENTERTAINMENT
Neil Titus Thomas
MEDIA RIGHTS CAPITAL
Scott Stoops
Good Fear
Brian Spink
Realm
Juan He
HOUSEFIRE MANAGEMENT
Will Deasey
ZERO GRAVITY MANAGEMENT
Ava Jamshidi
INDUSTRY ENTERTAINMENT
Peter Katz
STORY DRIVEN
Ery De Jong
PRODUCER
Karina Wilson
INDEPENDENT STORY AND DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT
Gary King
Paramount Television StudiosSuccess Stories
Manfred Lopez Grem
2020 Top-5 in TV Half-hour for TeleportBig Break
Signed by Zero Gravity
Chris Hill
2020 Top-3 in Period/Historical/War for One Day LongerBig Break
Signed with LIT Management
Break Out
Chris and his writing partner are adapting Tether for the big screen.
Bill Poore
2020 Feature Horror category winner for SlaycayBig Break
Signed with REALM
Asabi Lee & Paul Hart-Wilden
2020 Feature Diversity Quarter-Finalists for Haunting at 1600Big Break
Signed with StoryDriven
Ben Johnson
2019 Feature Diversity category winner for CanaanBig Break
Signed by Plain Text Management who is developing Ben’s feature and pilot which they hope to take out this year in the US.
Break Out
Ben is head writer on his second South African show since Big Break, a 13-part drama, and is writing a feature for one of the directors of BBC’s Doctor Who.
Jonathan Barger
2018 Quarter-Finalist for Station ZeroBig Break
Optioned by Zorg Studios with with Erwan Marinopoulos set to direct.
Natasha LePetit
2018 Quarter-Finalist for The Undertaker’s ChildrenBig Break
Optioned by Chayah Masters/Rumination Road, with Alex Gayner set to direct.
Nadia Abass-Madden
2018 Feature Diversity category winner for Tongs of China TownBig Break
Sold her spec episode in the room to Fox’s 9-1-1 and is now a staff writer for the show.
Kevin Bachar
2017 Top-3 finalist for My Boyfriend the AppBig Break
Signed by Zero Gravity Management
Break Out
His script The Inhabitant was made into a movie by Steelyard Pictures starring Dermot Mulroney. Featured in the ISA’s Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2021 list.
Nancy Duff
2017 Top-3 finalist for Dead DropBig Break
Signed by Jennifer Au of Untitled
Julia Mogerman
2017 Feature Drama category winner for StrayBig Break
Signed by Bellevue
Greg Wayne
2017 TV Half-hour category winner for StarseedBig Break
Signed by REALM
Nicolas Pinzón
2017 Feature Diversity category winner for El CaminoBig Break
Signed by Heroes and Villains Entertainment
JJ Bailey
2017 Hour-long TV category winner for ShelterBig Break
Signed by Heroes and Villains Entertainment
Break Out
JJ has since sold two pilots in the room to NBC.
Alexis Perkins
2016 Feature grand prize winner for Derby CityBig Break
Signed by Stagecoach Lit Management and Gersh
Matt Katzenberger
2016 Feature Family/Adventure category winner for The Snow FightBig Break
Signed by Entertainment Lab
Julia Cooperman
2016 Hour-long TV category winner for PhantasmagoriaBig Break
Julia was staffed on Colony
Break Out
Julia continued on as a staff writer throughout the Colony series run and is now a story-editor for Jupiter’s Legacy.
Paul Jarnagin
2016 Big Break Top-5 FinalistPaul Jarnagin signed with Universal Writers Management
‘The Other Star Wars’ earned 4th place in the 7th Annual StoryPors International Screenplay Competition
His writing projects have placed him as a Quarter-Finalist in the Nicholl Fellowship and as a Top 50 Semi-Finalist in Cinequest
Nick Watson
2015 Big Break Half-Hour TV Pilot Quarter-FinalistNick Watson has signed with Abrams Artists Agency
He is now a full-time staff writer on the animated sitcom ‘Final Space’ for TBS
G.W. Freund & Daniel Bonjour
2015 Big Break Feature Grand Prize WinnersG.W. Freund & Daniel Bonjour signed with Brillstein Entertainment Partners
Eric Buchman
2015 TV grand prize winner for 45 WallBig Break
Signed by Magnet Lit Management
Break Out
Eric is a staff writer and co-producer for NBC’sBlindspot.
Paula Sabbaga
2015 Big Break Hour-Long TV Pilot FinalistPaula Sabbaga signed with Brian Spink of REALM
Paula worked on ABC’s ‘Nashville’, The CW’s ‘The Messengers’, Freeform’s ‘Guilt’, and was the writer’s assistant on CW’s ‘The 100’
Joseph Greenberg
2014 Big Break Sci-Fi/Fantasy Category WinnerJoseph Greenberg sold his script ‘Man Alive’ to 20th Century Fox for Noah Hawley of Fargo to direct
‘Man Alive’ also made the 2016 Black List
James Barclay
2014 Big Break Top-5 Sci-Fi/Fantasy FinalistJames Barclay signed with Magnet Management
Derek Asaff
2014 Big Break Hour-Long TV Pilot WinnerDerek Asaff signed with Derrick Eppich of Lee Stobby Entertainment
Peter Wulff
2014 Big Break Drama Category WinnerPeter Wulff signed with Jeff Portnoy of Bellevue Productions
Joe McClean
2014 Quarterfinalist in Thriller/Horror for ViralBig Break
Joe is currently producing his script Viral for York Films with Blair Underwood attached to direct and Sarah Silverman attached to star.
Nicholas Anthony
2013 Big Break Half-Hour TV Pilot WinnerNicholas Anthony was hired as a writer for CBS’ ‘The Inspectors’
Submission Rules
FAQs
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Since I shouldn't include my personal information in the body of my script or on the title page, how do I remove or clear the title page?
For instructions on removing your title page, click here. -
What is the Diversity category? Is it for scripts about Diversity issues?
This category is specifically for underrepresented writers and diverse voices. The story itself does not have to be about Diversity issues. When submitting, you can select the Diversity category and the actual genre of your script. -
Do I retain the rights to my screenplays after submitting to the Big Break Contest, whether or not I win?
Yes, you retain all rights until you choose to sell or option your screenplay and/or teleplay. -
Would you accept a screenplay that is an adaptation of a published book, where the writer has contractually optioned the movie rights to the book?
No, the source material for an adaptation must be written by the screenwriter entering the contest. -
Can I submit multiple screenplays and/or teleplays during one contest year?
Yes, you may enter as many different scripts as you wish. Each script must be submitted as a separate entry. -
Is coverage provided?
The Big Break is a rewards-based contest and offers cash, prizes and Hollywood meetings for the winner — no feedback or coverage. -
Do I retain the rights to my screenplays after submitting to the Big Break Contest, whether or not I win?
Yes, you retain all rights until you choose to sell or option your screenplay and/or teleplay. -
Who will be reading and judging my screenplay?
Our readers are professional script analysts who carefully evaluate each entry and sign confidentiality agreements to ensure that your work is protected. After screenplays are narrowed to finalists, a panel of notable industry professionals conducts the final judging to determine the winners. These jury members represent award-winning writers, producers, and A-list executives. A current list of our judges can be found here.