Big Break Screenwriting Contest
The contest is now OFFICIALLY CLOSED for 2020. Enter your email to subscribe to our newsletter and get first access to deadline updates, screenwriting tips, and more!
2019 Winners
The Big Break Screenwriting Contest
2019 Feature Grand Prize Winner
Steven Anthopoulos
2019 TV Grand Prize Winner
Todd Goodlett
Judges
Jeff Portnoy
Bellevue Productions
Jewerl Ross
Silent R Management
John Zaozirny
Bellevue Productions
Sonia Gambaro
3PAS STUDIOS
Natalie Covault
Brillstein Entertainment Partners
Roberto Larios
Verve
Krista Sipp
First Friday Entertainment
Michael Chung
Verve
Audrey Knox
The Cartel
Matt Dy
LIT Management
Chris Coggins
Heroes and Villains Entertainment
Zack Zucker
Bellevue Productions
Neil Titus Thomas
MEDIA RIGHTS CAPITAL
Leyla Kader Dahm
CITIZEN SKULL PRODUCTIONS MANAGEMENT
Zach Book
All Trades Content
Chelsea Benson
Echo Lake
Jonathan Hersh
Housefire Management
Jason Lubin
FIRST STORY ENTERTAINMENT
Matt Koss
ZERO GRAVITY MANAGEMENT
Scott Stoops
Good Fear
Brian Spink
Realm
Rachel Kiner
Worldwide Acquisitions, Paramount Studios
Jeff Portnoy
Bellevue Productions
Jewerl Ross
Silent R Management
John Zaozirny
Bellevue Productions
Sonia Gambaro
3PAS STUDIOS
Natalie Covault
Brillstein Entertainment Partners
Roberto Larios
Verve
Krista Sipp
First Friday Entertainment
Michael Chung
Verve
Audrey Knox
The Cartel
Matt Dy
LIT Management
Chris Coggins
Heroes and Villains Entertainment
Zack Zucker
Bellevue Productions
Neil Titus Thomas
MEDIA RIGHTS CAPITAL
Leyla Kader Dahm
CITIZEN SKULL PRODUCTIONS MANAGEMENT
Zach Book
All Trades Content
Chelsea Benson
Echo Lake
Jonathan Hersh
Housefire Management
Jason Lubin
FIRST STORY ENTERTAINMENT
Matt Koss
ZERO GRAVITY MANAGEMENT
Scott Stoops
Good Fear
Brian Spink
Realm
Rachel Kiner
Worldwide Acquisitions, Paramount StudiosSuccess Stories
Ben Johnson
2019 Big Break Category WinnerSigned with Mark Finley of Plain Text Literary Manager
Jonathan Barger
2018 Big Break Quarter-FinalistJonathan Barger’s script ‘Station Zero’ has been optioned by Zorg Studios (Paris, London), with Erwan Marinopoulos set to direct
Natasha LePetit
2018 Big Break Quarter-FinalistNatasha LePetit’s script ‘The Undertakers Children’ has been optioned by Chayah Masters/ Rumination Road, with Alex Gayner set to direct
Nadia Abass-Madden
2018 Big Break Category WinnerSold her spec episode in the room to Fox’s 911 and is now a staff writer for the show.
Kevin Bachar
2017 Big Break Category WinnerSigned with Matt Koss of Zero Gravity Management
Nancy Duff
2017 Big Break Top-3 FinalistNancy Duff has signed with Jennifer Au of Untitled
She is a participant in the 2018 Universal Writers Program
Nancy’s scripts have placed in the Top 10% of the Nicholl Fellowship and in the Screencraft TV Pilot Launch Contest
Julia Mogerman
2017 Big Break Feature Drama Category WinnerJulia Mogerman has signed with Jeff Portnoy of Bellevue Productions
Greg Wayne
2017 Big Break Half-Hour TV Pilot Category WinnerGreg Wayne has signed with Brian Spink of REALM
‘Suicide 21’ placed in the 2018 Tracking Board Hit List
Director Scott Speer is set to helm ‘S21’, with Catapult and Needle’s Eye producing
Nicolas Pinzón
2017 Big Break Feature Diversity Category WinnerNicolas Pinzón has signed with Markus Goerg of Heroes and Villains Entertainment
His screenplays have also placed him as a Semi-Finalist for both the Nicholl Fellowship and Humanitas Carol Mendelsohn Drama Fellowship, and placing him as a Finalist for the Alfred P. Sloan Grant
JJ Bailey
2017 Big Break Hour-Long TV Pilot Category WinnerJJ Bailey has signed with Markus Goerg of Heroes and Villains Entertainment
His one-hour long drama ‘Vanishing Point’ was the winner of the WeScreenplay Drama TV Pilot contest
Alexis Perkins
2016 Big Break Feature Grand Prize WinnerAlexis Perkins signed with Stagecoach Entertainment and agent David Rubin at Gersh
Matt Katzenberger
2016 Big Break Family Category WinnerMatt Katzenberger signed with Entertainment Lab
Julia Cooperman
2016 Big Break Hour-Long TV Pilot WinnerJulia Cooperman has been staffed on USA Network’s TV series ‘Colony’
‘Phantasmagoria’ won the Bronze Award for TV Drama Pilot in the PAGE International Screenwriting Contest and placed her as a semi-finalist in the 2016 Tracking Board Launch Pad Pilot Competition
She has also placed as a semi-finalist in the 2016 ABC / Disney Writing Program
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 Big Break Television Grand Prize WinnerEric Buchman signed with Mitch Solomon at Magnet Management and continues to write for NBC’s ‘Blindspot’ and has since been promoted to co-producer
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
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.