The ONLY Romantic Comedy Screenwriting Contest is BACK! This year, we've partnered with one of the top management, production, and financiers in Hollywood: Evoke Entertainment!

Ever dreamt of seeing your Romantic Comedy script come to life on the big screen or streaming on flat-screens in living rooms across the country? This is your chance to turn that dream into reality!

We're proud to announce the Stage 32 + Evoke Entertainment Romantic Comedy Screenwriting Contest to help discover the next great Rom Com writer. Evoke are partnering with Stage 32 to find the next undiscovered Romantic Comedy writing talents to represent and package the winning project!

Evoke Entertainment will be personally reviewing semi-finalist loglines and all top 10 finalist scripts, with winners selected based on both creative merit and commercial viability. The selected writers will receive script development, industry mentorship, possible representation and packaging with potential production pathways designed to fast-track emerging writers. Both Stage 32 and Evoke Entertainment will jointly package developed projects for production.

“We’ve been producing rom-coms for over a decade, and in that time, demand for feel-good content has only grown,” said Stan Spry, CEO and Founding Partner at Evoke. “Viewers throughout the world love what this genre has to offer, and we are excited to partner with Stage 32 to find fresh voices and elevate screenwriters who are as passionate about this space as we are.”

"This contest celebrates our commitment to the beloved romantic comedy genre," said Stage 32 CEO Richard "RB" Botto. "Rom-coms connect with viewers worldwide. By spotlighting romantic comedy writers and championing stories about love, connection, and laughter, we're creating pathways for a genre that deserves serious recognition."

"This partnership with Evoke creates a real on-ramp for writers to go from undiscovered to produced and is directly aligned with our mission to make the entertainment industry more accessible and meritocratic,” added Geoffroy Faugerolas, Head of Development at Stage 32.

Captivating romantic comedy movies and shows are a staple of modern entertainment. From the passion and fantastical adventure of A BIG, BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, to the wild messiness of SPLITSVILLE, to the fun & games of ANYONE BUT YOU, audiences can’t get enough romantic comedy storytelling. Last year alone, romantic comedy films like MATERIALISTS and BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY both grossed over $100 million worldwide, proving romantic comedy movies can still make a splash the box office. The appetite for amazing romantic comedy movies and show is insatiable, and we want your story to be the next smash hit!

What Type of Scripts Are We Looking For?

We’re on the lookout for all types of romantic comedy scripts! Charming, flirty comedies? Goofy meet cutes? Tearjerking romances that make you laugh before you cry? The next legendary mismatched affair? We want to see it all!

We’re looking for feature film scripts like:

ANYONE BUT YOU, MATERIALISTS, SPLITSVILLE, OH HI!, KINDA PREGNANT, YOU'RE CORDIALLY INVITED, ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE, HOT FROSTY, CRAZY RICH ASIANS, MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING, LOVE SIMON, YOU'VE GOT MAIL, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, YOUR PLACE OR MINE, RYE LANE, BROS, BRIDGET JONES DIARY, ETERNITY, THE THREESOME, THE IDEA OF YOU and more!

We’re looking for TV pilots scripts like:

NOBODY WANTS THIS, CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, JANE THE VIRGIN, THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS, LOVESICK, HIGH FIDELITY, THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY, SEX EDUCATION, THE MINDY PROJECT, PLATONIC, LOVE, LIFE & BETH, MODERN LOVE, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, and more!

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We’re hungry for fresh, unique, and vibrant original Rom Com ideas that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats!

For the last 13 years, Stage 32 Contests have led to dozens of success stories including writers getting representation, sold, optioned, staffed, given writing assignments and getting produced. No other contest opens more doors and we want to do the same for you.

If you have a Romantic Comedy story that needs to be told, now is the time to show us what you've got, because our goal is to amplify your voice, give you the access Stage 32 is known for, and take your writing career to the next level!

Who Is Evoke Entertainment?

Evoke Entertainment, formerly known as Cartel Entertainment (or The Cartel) and founded in 2011, is a full-service management, production, and finance company with offices in Los Angeles, Canada, New York, and Las Vegas. The company represents top-tier showrunners, show creators, writers, directors, producers, animators, and production companies in film, TV, and new media.

Evoke Entertainment has produced and financed several series since its inception, including the hit series CREEPSHOW for Shudder/AMC, the animated family series TWELVE FOREVER for Netflix and the Universal/Syfy series DAY OF THE DEAD, the upcoming Adult Animated series for Tubi, BREAKING BEAR (starring Academy Award Winner Brendan Fraser, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Josh Gad, Elizabeth Hurley, and Annie Murphy) and the upcoming unscripted series for NBC and Peacock FOREVER YOUNG WITH DR. PABLO PRICHARD for NBC. Evoke previously also produced the series TIES THAT BIND for Up TV, and A PLACE IN THE SUN for Discovery and has dozens of projects in development across broadcast, cable and streamers. Evoke also produces over 20 movies a year including TV and Streaming movies for platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, Hallmark, Lifetime, Great American, and Tubi to name a few.

Evoke is led by CEO and Co-Founder Stan Spry who oversees the production slate, client management, and financing of films for Evoke, who have produced over 200 films, TV series, and movies, including CHRISTMAS WITH THE CAMPBELLS (RLJE), alongside Vince Vaughn, LOOKING THROUGH WATER, starring Academy Award Winner Michael Douglas and MONSTERS OF CALIFORNIA, directed by blink-182’s Tom DeLonge.

● Evoke Entertainment will judge the Top 10 finalist scripts in the contest.
● The winner will be selected based on both creative merit and commercial viability assessment.
● Immediate transition from contest recognition to professional development.

Learn more at https://evokeentertainment.com

What Are You Waiting For? Submit Now!

Stage 32 has launched the careers of countless writers, helping them secure representation, land paid gigs, and see their scripts come to life. Could this be the year your career takes off? Our previous winners have gone on to work with major studios, sign with top managers, and see their films produced.

Romantic comedy films are bigger and better than ever, and we’re here to make sure your script rises to the top. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be discovered—enter now and let us champion your story!

Awards & Prizes

The Grand Prize Winning screenwriter will receive:

-- Evoke Entertainment placement for representation, script development and packaging.
-- Career Accelerator Prize Package ($4,000 value) including script development, career consulting, writer branding, and comprehensive education resources
-- Personal Mentorship Track with dedicated 1:1 career development sessions from our success team
-- Industry Marketing Campaign promoting winner to our exclusive roster of 2,500+ managers, agents, producers, and executives
--- Strategic Partnership where Stage 32 and Evoke Entertainment executives collaborate to prepare your project to take directly to market

Our Finalists will receive:

Our Finalists will receive a Career Momentum prize package valued at $1,500, including Career Development, a Writer Branding Workshop and an Education package, and will have your logline featured in a Stage 32 Look Book sent to over 2,500+ top entertainment industry executives, giving your work unparalleled exposure!

But that’s not all! Everyone who makes the Semi-Finals will receive a Career Breakthrough prize package valued at $1,000, our Quarterfinalists will receive a Career Elevation prize package valued at $500, and all Entrants will get a prize package valued at $100!

Additional Judges

These execs will read and judge the Top 10 finalist scripts and meet with any finalists whose writing they enjoy!

-- Michelle Knudsen, Literary Manager, 42 Management & Production (A FAMILY AFFAIR)
-- Marilyn Atlas, Literary Manager, Marilyn Atlas Management (MINX)
-- Silvia Mathis, Producer, Punkin Studios (A NASHVILLE LEGACY,)
-- Alexia Melocchi, Producer, Little Studio Films (STEALING ROSES)
-- Samantha Olsson Shear, Development Executive & Producer, Zoic Pictures (SHADES OF RAY)

Stage 32 Contests Launch Careers

Recent Winners Making Waves:

Travis J. Opgenorth - Winning script optioned by Broken Time Entertainment and signed with Persistent Entertainment after Stage 32 introduced him to nearly a dozen industry pros.

Tanya Klein & Jim Cirile - Script set up for production with $1.5M budget, Lucas Heyne attached to direct.

Christina Pamies - Signed by "Billion Dollar" Literary Manager Jake Wagner, then hired by StudioCanal to adapt BAGHEAD (now streaming on Shudder/AMC+).

Kevin Bachar - Winning script became THE INHABITANT (2022), produced by Lionsgate and released on Hulu.

Jeffrey Wright - Staffed in the Writer's Room of THE GOLDBERGS

Career-Changing Representation:

Josh Miller - Signed with literary manager Tamer Ashan of Zero Gravity Management
Henry Sawyer-Foner - Signed with literary manager Nicholas Bogner through our 2025 Romantic Comedy contest!
Jimmy Miller - Signed with literary manager Marc Manus
Richard Doyle (Australia) - Signed with literary manager Will Rosenfield
Glenn Forbes - Secured representation with Infinity Management International
Alyssa & Griffin Devine - Signed with HG5 Entertainment, writing 2 scripts with 1 going into production
Frank Ponce - Signed with 3 Arts Entertainment, script picked up by Atlas Entertainment, sold Evel Knievel series to USA Network
Diana Wright - Signed to The Cartel and Abrams Artists Agency
Jonathan Jordan - Signed by major agency Verve, script currently in production
Greg Mania - Signed with Cohn/Torgan Management, published NPR Best Book of 2020
The Stage 32 Difference: Winners receive meetings with managers, agents, and producers - not just a trophy. Real careers launched, real movies made, real representation secured.

"Stage 32 isn't about a quick win and a pat on the back. They're serious about opening doors." - Travis J. Opgenorth

Last year's contest winner, Barbie Ross gained massive traction on her winning TV Pilot script MATCHED!, as she took a full slate of meetings with Literary Managers, Development Execs, and Producers from 42 Management & Production, Marilyn Atlas Management, Affirmative Entertainment, Almanor Films, and more! -- all actively working on and looking for romantic comedy stories.

Our 4th Annual contest winner, Arun Narayanan took his winning Feature script REWINDER to meetings with Literary Managers, Development Execs, and Producers from NEON KITE, AUGUST POINT PRODUCTIONS, MARSHALL ARTS, SANDSTONE ARTISTS, and more! Later that year, Arun rode his wave of momentum into signing with a manager from Citizen Skull Management & Production!

Our 1st Annual Romantic Comedy Contest winners, Callie & Richard Zelniker, signed with the Sovereign Talent Group. In 2024, Richard teamed up with Executive Producer Brodrick Haygood - who he met in a meeting Stage 32 set him up on for winning the 1st Annual RomCom contest - and 3 years after their initial meeting, together they made the indie drama film THE VORTEX (2025), directed by Richard Zelniker, and starring Billy Gardell, Jaina Lee Ortiz, and Jamie McShane - which was distributed by Tubi! Watch the Trailer:

2nd Annual Romantic Comedy Contest winner, Jenna D'Angelo gained massive traction on her winning script LADY PLAYER and took a full slate of meetings in LA with managers and producers from Neon Kite, Artists First, Alliance Cinema, Mischief Entertainment and more!

Previous Contest Winner Layla O'Shea took meetings all over Los Angeles (and online) with Literary Managers, Producers, and Execs and is still going strong!

She shares her advice: "There is no one path or age limit when it comes to breaking in!"

Rules & Terms

ENTRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Void where prohibited by law.

This Stage 32 Contest is an international contest. Must be 18 years or older to submit.

Entrant agrees to Stage32.com terms and conditions.

This Stage 32 Contest is not a game of chance. All material is read and reviewed by industry professionals.

All quarterfinalists, semi-finalists, finalists and winners are subjectively determined by our judges.

There is no limit to the number of screenplays an Entrant can enter. The same screenplay cannot be submitted multiple times under different names. If so, you will be disqualified.

Entrant must not be an immediate family member or friend of any of the judges or their respective companies.

Entrant acknowledges that because of the judges' and mentors' position in the entertainment industry they receive numerous submissions of ideas, formats, stories, suggestions and the like and that many such submissions heretofore or hereafter received by them are similar to or identical to those developed by them or their employees or, if an agent, are otherwise available to them.

Entrant acknowledges that they will not be entitled to any compensation because of the use by judges or mentors of any such similar material.

Entrant acknowledges that no fiduciary or confidential relationship now exists between Entrant and judges or mentors, and Entrant further acknowledges that no such relationships are established between Entrant and judges or mentors by reason of this contest entry.

Entrants must submit screenplays and payment online.

Entrants must upload their submission within 72 hours of entry purchase.

Entry fees will not be returned or adjusted.

No waivers are available for this contest.

SCREENPLAY TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Screenplays should be written in English and in standard industry format.

The rights to the Entrant’s screenplay should not have been previously optioned or sold.

The Entrant retains the rights to his or her screenplay at all times.

Entrant’s screenplay must not have been produced.

The screenplay can be submitted with or without a title page and/or contact information.

After a screenplay is entered, no new drafts or corrected pages can be made by the Entrant unless it is confirmed in our records that the Entrant has paid for the "Resubmission" option.

Screenplay must be submitted as a PDF document.

Screenplay must be the original work of the Entrant and may not be based whole or in part on any fictional or non-fictional material, published or unpublished, produced or unproduced for which the Entrant does not have rights. Neither Stage 32 nor its judges investigates or attests to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you are acknowledging that you have secured all necessary rights.