The Launch Pad Feature competition prioritizes exclusive partnerships and opportunities including a Grand Prize Partnership with Gran Via Productions, Development opportunities and a Mentorship program. We aim to provide our writers with as many avenues towards success as possible.
Designed to set you up for success, we’ll guarantee a meeting with a jury member for every Top Ten finalist plus a virtual pitching workshop. Including vetted industry professionals from Artists First, Brillstein Entertainment, MarVista and more.
We’re looking for the next great voices in feature film writing. Our tradition of writer success, includes projects sold to Netflix, Paramount, and more.
JURY
ALEX PELHAM
Literary Manager, 831 Entertainment
AMY ROACH
Producer/Manager's Assistant, Brillstein Entertainment Partners
BRANDON GALE
Coordinator, Speck + Gordon
BRITTANY PRATT
Development Assistant, Davis Entertainment
CAMILA RIOS
Executive Assistant, 18Hz
DAN VALLANCOURT
Coordinator, Development, MarVista
ELLA WAHLESTEDT
Producer/CEO, Quarterlife Pictures
JOSH MARKS
Literary Manager, Runyon Media
MEGAN MOREY
Manager, Black Box Management
NICHOLAS BOGNER
Literary Manager, Affirmative Entertainment
TINA ZIOBRO
Office of Tucker Voorhees, Artists First
PRIZES
Grand Prize Winner
Everything the Category Winners receive, plus…
- Meeting with the Head of Film Development from Gran Via (The Holdovers, The Notebook, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie)
Category Winners (2)
Everything the Top 10 receive, plus…
- Will receive an additional 1:1 meeting with an industry professional.
- Each of the competition winners will be invited to an exclusive yearly virtual event where they will get the chance to meet with and pitch industry professionals from management companies, agencies and production companies in a 1:1 setting. Past participants included MGM, Scott Free, Verve, Bellevue, Lit Entertainment, WME, and more.
Top 10
Everything the Top 50 receive, plus…
- A guaranteed meeting with a member of the jury.
- Receive a paragraph of written feedback from a jury member.
- Invite to a Top 10 only virtual event.
- One free entry to any future Launch Pad Competition of your choosing.
Top 50
Everything the Top 100 receive, plus…
- One year free membership to the Tracking Board.
Top 100
- Receive brief written feedback from 2 different readers.
- Your project and writer profile will be shared and marketed to our extensive industry networks.
ADD-ON PRIZES
To qualify for this prize, entrants must select the specific add-on, or make it to the Top 10 of the competition to be considered for this prize opportunity.
Development Prize with American High
American High will pick one project and take at least one meeting with the writer for development purposes.
Specializing in high-concept, R-rated, high-school comedies, American High is a production company with an overall deal at Hulu behind such features as The Binge, Plan B, I Love My Dad, and the Sundance Award-winning Big Time Adolescence. The company is helmed by writer/director Jeremy Garelick of major box office features like The Hangover, The Break Up, and The Wedding Ringer.
Signing Prize with Locus Entertainment
This year’s Signing partner is manager Anders Lykke of Locus Entertainment, who will select a minimum of one (1) writer from the competition to sign as a client.
Anders is the founder and CEO of Locus Entertainment, aimed at nurturing and promoting emerging screenwriters with a global perspective. He founded the Casino Theatre in 2019. This innovative platform is dedicated to showcasing the finest unproduced screenplays, brought to life by skilled actors before a select audience of industry professionals.
Mentorship Program
The Launch Pad mentorship program is tailored for each individual relationship and will include a call or meeting with your mentor to provide career advice. This year's mentors are:
JEFF WADLOW
Jeff Wadlow is a DGA Award-nominated writer and director behind major projects such as Kick-Ass 2, Truth or Dare, The Curse of Bridge Hollow, and the recently-released Blumhouse horror, Imaginary. He has also written and produced on major TV series Bates Motel and The Strain.
MICHAEL BRANDT
Michael Brandt is the screenwriter behind the newly released film Arthur the King, in addition to the films 3:10 to Yuma, Wanted, 2 Fast 2 Furious and Catch That Kid. He is also the co-creator of NBC’s Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Justice, serving as showrunner on Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. for multiple seasons.