Screenwriting Competitions

Celebrating tomorrow's top scribes

Congratulations to the Winners of 2019 UCLA Extension Feature Film and Television Writing Competitions!

The UCLA Extension Feature Film and Television Writing Competition recognizes outstanding Writers’ Program students. This exclusive opportunity provides winners with one-on-one mentoring and invaluable Hollywood-industry exposure.

If you are an industry professional—agent, manager, producer, or executive—and are interested in connecting with our competition winners, please contact the Writers’ Program at writers@uclaextension.edu

Feature Film Writing

1st Place: Frank del Aguila—Quetzal (Drama)

2nd Place: Kerry Kolbe—Swallow (Dramedy)

3rd Place: Kelly Campbell—Pyramid Scheme (Action/Adventure Comedy)

Television Pilot Writing

1st Place: Sandra Hamada—Lucha Lopez: Illegal Alien (One-Hour)

2nd Place: David Crane—The Mashings (Half-Hour)

3rd Place: Jenny Raftery—Mom’s Club (Half-Hour)

Television Spec Writing

1st Place: Leon Golterman—Mindhunter: Sons of Sam (One-Hour)

2nd Place: Marion Kotzenberg—Madam Secretary: Old Friends (One-Hour)

3rd Place: Angus McNair—The Good Place: Janet’s Id (Half-Hour)

Thanks to our Writers’ Program Instructors and Mentors: Cynthia Hsiung, Zac Hug, Nancy Nigrosh, Koji Sakai, Barry Vigon, and Michael Weiss.

Special thanks to our industry judges: (Feature Film) Rick Berg, Code Entertainment; Elisa Oliveras, New Cadence Productions; Chris Sablan, Avenue 2020; (Television) Chelsea Benson, Echo Lake Entertainment; Isabella Mastrodicasa, Heroes and Villains Entertainment; Mette Norkjaer, BOOM! Studios

See yourself here.

The UCLA Extension Feature Film and Television Writing Competitions are designed to showcase the best, most recent and relevant work created within our program. We also take great pride and go to great lengths to promote our winners each year.

The top three winners in each category receive:

A guaranteed read by an agent, producer, and/or creative executive
A one-on-one script mentorship (~$2,150 value) with a professional screenwriter prior to the final judging
Announcements with names, script titles and placing in an industry trade magazine such as Deadline, Variety or The Hollywood Reporter
Names, loglines, and contact information sent to more than 1,000 entertainment industry executives
An exclusive career development seminar with a studio executive, agent, or manager to be determined by the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program

Eligibility requirements:

Feature Film Submissions

Contest applicants must have completed two feature film courses or one advanced course in the Writers’ Program in the 36 months prior to the competition deadline.

Television Submissions

Contest applicants must have completed two television writing courses or one advanced course in the Writers’ Program in the 36 months (pilots) or 24 months (specs) prior to the competition deadline.

Browse Courses

Annual competition deadline is typically in May/April, and winners are typically announced in October/November.

View past winners

Jonathan Redding
3rd place 2018 Television Spec Writing Competition Winner with the script Designated Survivor: “Trauma” (One-Hour). He is now currently a staff writer on Homeland.

Christina Strain
1st Place 2015 Television Pilot Writing Competition Winner with the script The Fox Sister (One-Hour). She is now currently a staff writer on Magicians.

Moisés Zamora
2nd Place 2015 Television Pilot Writing Competition Winner with the script Second Coming (One-Hour). He is now currently a showrunner on Netflix’s Selena. His other credits include American Crime and Star.

Barbara Stepansky
1st Place 2013 Feature Film Writing Competition Winner with the script Sugar in My Veins (Drama). She was nominated for the Emmy and won the WGA Award for her feature Flint. Currently she is writing for Outlander.

Greta Heinemann
1st Place and 2nd Place 2013 Television Pilot and Spec Writing Competition Winner with the scripts Sons of Anarchy: Deliverance (One-Hour) and The King of Valleywood (One-Hour). She is writer and producer on NCIS: New Orleans.

Julie Wong
3rd Place 2013 Television Pilot Writing Winner with the script Ana In Between (One-Hour). She is currently a staff writer on Grey’s Anatomy.

Denise Harkavy
1st Place 2012 Television Spec Writing Winner with the script Awkward: Motherhood (Half-Hour). She is a writer and producer on Batwoman and Manhunt. Her other credits include The Expanse, The Brave, Queen Sugar, and Franklin & Bash.

Elissa Matsueda
1st Place 2010 Feature Film Writing Competition Winner with the script Happy for You (Comedy). She’s had all four of her screenplays produced including Spare Parts, Reversion, The Miracle Season and Dog Days.

Annabel Oakes
1st Place 2008 Feature Film Writing Competition Winner with the script Lovest(r)uck (Comedy). She is currently a writer for mini-series The Edge of Seventeen. Her other credits include Atypical, Downward Dog, Angel from Hell, and Sirens.

The Writers' Program

After more than 50 years, the Writers’ Program remains one of the most prestigious creative writing and screenwriting continuing education programs in the nation, offering more than 400 courses annually. Our courses, programs of study, and services can help every writer go from concept to completion.

Learn More