For emerging screenwriters, writing the script is only half the battle. The real challenge is getting the right people to notice it. That’s one reason the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest is expanding its 2026 Short Film Prize Package with a new mentorship initiative led by producers John Trefry and Ramfis Myrthil, filmmakers who have successfully used short films to launch larger careers and feature projects.
The six-week Short Film Deep Dive mentorship program is designed to help writers transform short screenplays into production-ready film projects while learning the real-world mechanics of financing, packaging, festival strategy, and distribution. The mentorship will guide the ten finalists through the process of building a short film with a roadmap toward larger opportunities, including the increasingly common pathway from short film to feature film.
For Myrthil, that route is something he’s experienced firsthand. In 2023, a short film he produced called Ricky (written and directed by Rashad Frett), premiered at Sundance before evolving into a feature project that went through the Sundance Writers Lab, Producers Lab, and Directors Lab. Getting into all three labs is practically unheard of. Frett later signed with a top talent agency, while the feature version of Ricky received a theatrical release.
“That short-to-feature thing, it’s something that we’ve done a few times,” says Myrthil. “We’re experts at it.”
That expertise is why this program sits at the center of the new Big Break initiative. Trefry and Myrthil see short films as powerful career accelerators that can help writers bypass traditional gatekeepers.
“I think the opportunities that shorts provide for filmmakers are second to none,” Trefry says.
Trefry’s perspective comes from years of producing short films that have competed at more than 100 festivals around the world, including SXSW, Tribeca, and HollyShorts. That work directly helped create pathways into larger opportunities, including producing original series for NBCUniversal and Paramount+. A trusted speaker and educator, Trefry has presented at SXSW, NYU, and Kickstarter on how filmmakers can finance, package, release, and distribute shorts as strategic career-building projects. His films have secured releases with outlets and platforms including The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, IndieWire, Short of the Week, and Vimeo Staff Pick. Through Short Film Deep Dive, he has built a platform combining education, community, and mentorship to help writers and filmmakers move from short scripts to production-ready films that can open real career opportunities.
According to Trefry, today’s industry landscape, marked by streamer consolidation with big tech, shrinking buyer pools, and uncertainty surrounding AI, has made it harder than ever for emerging writers to break through traditional development channels. But short films offer something different: The ability for writers to “greenlight themselves.”
Instead of waiting for an agent, studio, or financier to say yes, filmmakers can use crowdfunding, fiscal sponsorships, and lean production models to independently bring their stories to life.
“We're looking for very executable ideas that are very contained, that we can do on a budget. Bold choices, style, really innovative storytelling, but then you also pair that with a real pragmatic viewpoint of, hey, I'm writing this to get made, and guess who's going to make it? Me,” Trefry says.
In general, shorter scripts (less than 20 pages), with limited locations, manageable casts, and stories grounded in realistic production values, can all help emerging filmmakers move from script to screen more quickly. But practical does not mean limiting creativity. Trefry emphasized that bold storytelling and strong points of view still matter enormously.
“I think we're always looking for exciting projects and emerging voices. As a team and as producers who have worked across multiple projects, what we really gravitate toward are filmmakers with a really bold vision and something unique to say,” says Trefry.
That mindset represents a broader evolution in how modern screenwriters approach their careers. Rather than thinking solely as writers trying to sell scripts, Trefry believes writers need to think of themselves as DIY filmmakers.
“The new model for writers is they have to act more like producers,” he says.
Over the course of six weeks, 10 participants will take part in Trefry and Myrthil’s mentorship program, which includes downloadable pitch deck templates, fundraising tools, outreach resources for festival programmers, and hands-on coaching tailored to each project.
But the larger goal of Short Film Deep Dive isn’t simply helping filmmakers complete one project. It’s about fostering collaboration among the finalists themselves.
“Filmmaking is a team sport. If the finalists can collaborate and work on each other's projects, we view that as a real win,” Trefry says.
Alongside the mentorship, one Big Break Short Film winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize, casting services through Backstage, credits for FilmFreeway and ShareGrid, a copy of Final Draft 13, and additional benefits designed to help filmmakers continue building momentum.
For Trefry and Myrthil, though, the most valuable aspect may be giving writers a blueprint for turning scripts into real-world opportunities. Because in today’s movie industry, a short film done well can become proof of concept, a festival calling card, a networking tool, a feature pitch, and a career launchpad all at once.