First Act, First Look Screenplay Contest - Think your first act has what it takes to captivate an audience? Submit the first 30 pages of your feature script for the chance to win $500 from the Virginia Screenwriters Forum (VSF)!
Scripts entered into the fourth annual First Act, First Look Screenplay Contest will be read by members of the VSF. This storied organization includes produced screenwriters, published authors, and award-winning filmmakers.
The 2025 guest Judge is Tamika Lamison, a Virginia native who has produced, written, and directed several award-winning shorts and features that have found distribution. She was a staff writer and producer on MONOGAMY. In an effort to give back, Tamika created the non-profit, Make A Film Foundation (MAFF), which grants film wishes to children with serious or life-threatening medical conditions by teaming them with noted film industry creatives who help them create short film legacies. She has produced four award-winning narrative shorts and over 100 short docs via MAFF. Tamika is part of the Rideback Rise Fellowship circle and was a Finalist in Shondaland’s Director Mentoring Program & the ABC Directing Program. She recently won the Bravemaker pitch contest for her next short film, "Faith By Fire." Her current Oscar-qualifying short, “Superman Doesn’t Steal” has screened in over 50 festivals, winning numerous awards and a nomination for an NAACP Image Award. Her first screenplay, JAR BY THE DOOR, was a Sundance Finalist, winning several awards including Gordon Parks Indie Film Award. Other honors include: ABC/Walt Disney Fellowship in Screenwriting, the CBS Director’s Initiative and AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women Fellowship.
Joy Kecken was the 2024 judge. A show runner, producer and librettist, as well as a playwright, Kecken has worked in television productions, films and documentaries, for over 20 years. She has written and directed for the critically acclaimed HBO series, "The Wire," and served as an Executive Producer on Apple+'s "Swagger." Her feature, "All In," is in development with Maven Pictures.
For our fourth annual screenwriting contest, the First Place Winner will receive $500 and a script analysis from a panel of award-winning writers! Your feedback will total up to three pages of notes.