We're proud to announce the Stage 32 + Citizen Skull Productions & Management International Screenwriting Contest to help discover the next great International story. One of the top production companies + management firms in Hollywood, Citizen Skull are partnering in a brand new contest designed to fast-track the winning script from contest discovery to professional development and production!
The Grand Prize Winning writer will sign a shopping agreement to go into script development and packaging with Stage 32 & Citizen Skull Productions, the producers behind films like EXPERIMENTER, GLORIOUS, COLLISION, and more!
Open to Feature Film & TV Pilot Scripts from writers all over the world!
All Languages Accepted!
Citizen Skull are leading the charge. They champion bold storytelling, built on the belief that great films and great writers come from anywhere and everywhere. Citizen Skull has developed a reputation for producing prestigious and commercially viable projects that thrill audiences while resonating long after.
"Stories from around the world resonate deeper than ever before," said Mark Myers, CEO of Citizen Skull Productions & Management. "At Citizen Skull, we're committed to developing projects that bring diverse perspectives and authentic international voices to global audiences. This partnership with Stage 32 allows us to discover screenwriters who not only craft compelling narratives but truly understand the cultural landscapes they're exploring."
Citizen Skull 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, and sign a shopping agreement for packaging with potential production pathways designed to fast-track emerging writers. Both Stage 32 and Citizen Skull Productions will jointly package developed projects for production.
"This partnership with Citizen Skull opens doors for international storytellers who might otherwise never reach the gatekeepers," said Richard "RB" Botto, CEO of Stage 32. "By connecting writers from around the world with producers who actively champion diverse narratives, we're building a more inclusive pathway to production, where talent and vision matter more than geography or industry connections."
International storytelling continues to captivate global audiences. From the intimate character study of SENTIMENTAL VALUE to the visceral storytelling of SQUID GAME, to the cultural explosion of RRR, audiences worldwide are hungry for narratives rooted in diverse perspectives and experiences. Recent international releases like K-POP DEMON HUNTERS and NE ZHA 2 prove that international stories resonate powerfully with both critics and audiences. The demand for authentic, globally-sourced narratives has never been stronger, and we're looking for your story to be the next breakthrough that bridges cultures and captivates international audiences!
What Type of Scripts Are We Looking For?
We’re on the lookout for all genres of scripts! Intense, frightening horror? Gritty, high stakes action? Heart-wrenching, soulful drama? Mind-bending pscyhological thriiller? The next legendary sci-fi story? We want to see it all!
We’re looking for feature film scripts like:
PARASITE, RRR, K-POP DEMON HUNTERS, SENTIMENTAL VALUE, THE SECRET AGENT, SHOPLIFTERS, ANATOMY OF A FALL, I'M STILL HERE, ROMA, THE ZONE OF INTEREST, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, GODZILLA MINUS ONE, ANOTHER ROUND, SIRAT, EXIT 8, THE HUNT, A SEPARATION, DRIVE MY CAR, PAST LIVES, CLIMAX, BURNING, SOCIETY OF THE SNOW, SPEAK NO EVIL, PERFECT DAYS, AMELIE, LUCIFER, ENTER THE VOID, THE LIVES OF OTHERS, IN THE GREY, THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE, CHAPPIE, AUSTRALIA, DISTRICT 9, and more!
We’re looking for TV Pilot scripts like:
SQUID GAME, MONEY HEIST, ADOLESCENCE, FLEABAG, DARK, LUPIN, JACK RYAN, THE DAY OF THE JACKAL, RAGNAROK, THE SPY, THE NIGHT MANAGER, UNDERCOVER, DOGS OF BERLIN, PATRIOT, TEHRAN, CHIEF OF WAR, GOMORRAH, THE NEW POPE, ZERO ZERO ZERO, BRIDGERTON, TOO OLD TO DIE YOUNG, BABYLON BERLIN, TOKYO VAMPIRE HOTEL, BEFOREIGNERS, HARROW, RAKE, PEAKY BLINDERS, BROADCHURCH, DOWNTON ABBEY, SHERLOCK, POLDARK, BLACK SAILS, SKINS, DOCTOR WHO, KILLING EVE, BABY REINDEER
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We’re hungry for fresh, unique, and vibrant original international story ideas that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats!
For the last 15 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're an international writer anywhere across the globe or have an international 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 Citizen Skull Productions & Management?
Founded in 2010 by CEO, Producer, & Manager Mark Myers, Citizen Skull Productions develops and produces distinctive feature films, documentaries, television, and animation. The company is dedicated to creator-driven storytelling, partnering with filmmakers and talent to bring compelling, commercially viable projects to audiences worldwide.
Citizen Skull's productions include the Emmy Award-winning documentary Street Gang for HBO, the Shudder original Glorious starring J.K. Simmons, Netflix's action thriller Collision,
and Experimenter, starring Winona Ryder, Peter Sarsgaard, and John Leguizamo. Most recently, the company produced I Hate Myself and Want to Die, directed by J. Davis, which premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The company's projects have appeared at leading festivals including Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Slamdance, Fantasia, and Sitges, and have been distributed by partners including Netflix, HBO, AMC+, Max, Apple TV, and Amazon.
Citizen Skull also operates two complementary divisions: Citizen Kids, led by partner Heather Kenyon and focused on children's entertainment and animation, and Citizen Skull Management, a boutique management company dedicated to discovering and nurturing diverse creative talent.
Citizen Skull is open to seeing stories across all genres. Their primary focus is looking for polished feature screenplays at a $2.5M and up budget range within the action, horror, and thriller genres principally. "That's our sweet spot, but we love any scripts with a great hook where the logline says it all and sets us up for a good ride. We welcome contained stories and elevated genre, along with prestige concepts.
Whether developing projects from the ground up, to coming onboard to help with bringing key talent or financing, we use our decades of relationships, common sense and indy spirit to help make things happen!"
Citizen Skull Productions credits include: EXPERIMENTER (Magnolia Pictures), GLORIOUS (Shudder), COLLISION (Netflix), 12 FEET DEEP (Mar Vista Entertainment), VICIOUS FUN (Shudder), STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET (HBO/SCREEN MEDIA FILMS), and many more!
● Citizen Skull 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.
Winner signs a shopping agreement with Citizen Skull Productions!
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.
International movies and TV shows 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!
The Grand Prize Winning screenwriter will receive:
-- Citizen Skull Productions & Management shopping agreement, 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 Citizen Skull executives collaborate to prepare your project to take directly to market
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 are all interested in finding international scripts, too! They will read and judge the Top 10 finalist scripts and meet with any finalists whose writing they enjoy!
-- Luke Scrase, Literary Manager, Golden Gate Studios
-- Jason Hafford, Literary Manager, Prototype Content
-- Catalina Ramirez, VP of Sales and Global Partnerships (Americas), ITV Studios (MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN)
-- Katharina Suckale, Producer, Bombay Berlin Film Production (BETWEEN OUR WORLDS, THE ROAD TO MANDALAY)
-- Vivek Singhania, Producer, Picture Perfect (HEXING, CITY OF SPIES)
-- Selena Leoni, Producer, Little Paws Pictures (JANE, DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH)
Stage 32 Contests Launch Careers
Recent Winners Making Waves:
Film & TV Comedy Winner Ted Sperling signed a shopping agreement with Pathfinder Media on his winning script TREASURE INC!
Diversity Talent Accelerator Winner Micheal S. Camp signed a shopping agreement with Color Farm Media on his winning script THE PERFECT KISSER!
TV Comedy Winners Maxwell Gay & Tucker Flodman - Signed with Literary Agent Joe Fronk of IAG who got them hired as Staff Writers on the 51st season of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!
New Blood Winner Travis J. Opgenorth - Script optioned by Broken Time Entertainment and signed with Persistent Entertainment after Stage 32 introduced him to nearly a dozen industry pros.
New Blood Winners Tanya Klein & Jim Cirile - Script set up for production with $1.5M budget, Lucas Heyne attached to direct & Scoot McNairy set to star!
Diversity Springboard Winner Jeffrey Thompson - Staffed in the Writer's Room of THE GOLDBERGS
New Blood Winner Christina Pamies - Signed by "Billion Dollar" Literary Manager Jake Wagner, then hired by StudioCanal to adapt BAGHEAD (now streaming on Shudder/AMC+).
New Blood Winner Kevin Bachar - Winning script became THE INHABITANT (2022), produced by Lionsgate and released on Hulu.
Career-Changing Representation:
TV Drama Winner Katie McClung - Signed with literary manager Chloe Morris of 42 MP
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Winner Josh Miller - Signed with literary manager Tamer Ashan of Zero Gravity Management
Rom Com Finalist Henry Sawyer-Foner - Signed with literary manager Nicholas Bogner of Affirmative Entertainment
Female Driven Winner Jimmy Miller - Signed with literary manager Marc Manus
New Blood Winner Richard Doyle (Australia) - Signed with literary manager Will Rosenfield
Drama Winner Jonathan Jordan - Signed by major agency Verve, script currently in production
New Blood Winner Glenn Forbes - Secured representation with Infinity Management International
Comedy Winner Diana Wright - Signed to The Cartel and Abrams Artists Agency
New Blood Winners Alyssa & Griffin Devine - Signed with HG5 Entertainment
Comedy Winner Greg Mania - Signed with Cohn/Torgan Management, published NPR Best Book of 2020
New Blood Finalist Frank Ponce - Signed with 3 Arts Entertainment, script picked up by Atlas Entertainment, sold Evel Knievel series to USA Network
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
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!"
