Jan 14th
Open
Mar 17th
Early
Jul 1st
Regular
Sep 1st
Late
Oct 6th
Extended
Keep or Destroy
New York New Stories Screenplay Contest
2025
Active Since 2019
NYNS is a script contest dedicated to discovering & celebrating the work of writers and elevating unique & creative stories that are ready to be told.
Accepting Features, Shorts, TV Pilots, and Web Series
Enter Now
Enter on or before July 1st to save $20
About
New York New Stories a script competition in its 7th Year seeking submissions in the following categories: Feature Films, Short Films, TV/Web Pilots. This competition is sponsored by Keep or Destroy.
New York New Stories is dedicated to discovering and celebrating the work of screenwriters from all backgrounds and all levels of experience. Our mission is to elevate unique and creative stories that are ready to be told. With sponsorship from Brooklyn based production company Keep or Destroy, New York New Stories will award quality, original work and connect the winning screenwriter with a professional network of producers and filmmakers in order to produce their screenplay.
Six past NYNS winners and runners-up have gone on to be produced and enjoy successful festival runs.
Past Winners include:
2024
Feature Film Grand Prize - Yolanda by Kari Mote
Short Project Grand Prize - Not Without Laughter by Jermaine Manigault
Short Project Runner Up - The Officiant by Maria DeCotis
2023
Feature Film Grand Prize- Exposed by Alan Schwarz
Short Project Grand Prize- Perfect Love by Kelly McCready
Short Project Runner Up- Offspring by Hannah Silverman
2022
Grand Prize Winner - Bathroom Break by Dave Canning [produced by Keep or Destroy, 2023]
Runner Up (TV Pilot) - Going Native by Ian Trutt
Runner Up (Narrative Short) - En Memoria by Roberto Fatal and Ali Meyers-Ohki [Official Selection, Sundance Film Festival 2025]
2021
Grand Prize Winner - Mancha by Nicole Mejia [produced by Keep or Destroy & Netflix, 2022]
Runner Up (TV Pilot) - Sex&Magic by Carolyn Page
Runner Up (Narrative Short) - What’s Grandad by Ivy Johnson
2020
Grand Prize Winner - Lenny’s Luck by Colin Pierce
Runner Up (TV Pilot) - Night Nurse by Laura Mitchell
Runner Up (Narrative Short) - The Thermometer by Bill Liggins
2019
Grand Prize Winner -Samurai Sword by Stanley Sievers [produced by Keep or Destroy, 2020]
Runner Up (TV Pilot) - Light-Skin Lightning and the ToyBoy by Thomas F. Ray
Runner Up (Narrative Short) - The Squirrels in the Attic by Rachel Thomas Medwid [produced by Seapoint Studios, 2020]
*NOTE* Scripts DO NOT have to be set in New York, from New York-based writers or New York centric in any way whatsoever.
Prices & Deadlines
Jul 1st
Regular
|
Sep 1st
Late
|
Oct 6th
Extended
| |
|---|---|---|---|
Feature Film Screenplay
|
$60.00
|
$80.00
|
$90.00
|
Feature Film Screenplay + Coverage
|
$130.00
|
$150.00
|
$160.00
|
Short Film Screenplay
|
$40.00
|
$55.00
|
$65.00
|
TV/Web Pilot
|
$50.00
|
$60.00
|
$70.00
|
Benefits
Feature Length - Grand Prize Award Winner (1) will receive: a cash prize of $1000, detailed coverage, a feedback and development meeting with Keep or Destroy, a pitch deck and line budget consultation, and introductions to select, applicable, industry professionals.
Short Project - Grand Prize Award Winner (1) will receive: $750*, live table read of screenplay workshopped by professional actors, detailed feedback, a development meeting, and an opportunity to have your script produced by Keep or Destroy. Open to TV/Web Pilots and Short Films.
Short Project - RUNNER UP (1) will receive: live table read of screenplay workshopped by professional actors, detailed feedback, and a development meeting with Keep or Destroy. Open to TV/Web Pilots and Short Films.
NOTE: For Feature Scripts with Coverage/Feedback: Every submitted project will receive feedback within 30 days of their submission. Feedback will include: numerical scores for: Premise, Plot, Character, Dialogue, Setting, and Overall. Each script will also receive a written evaluation on the strengths, weaknesses and prospects of the screenplay. This detailed coverage is invaluable to any writer looking to take their script to the next level.
*Short Project monetary prizes may be awarded in the form of in-kind donations. See official rules for judging criteria and submission details.
Coverfly Program Insights
Coverfly vets all programs on its platform, but not every program is right for every writer.
Program Insights help you decide where to submit your work.
2024 Winners on Coverfly
NOT WITHOUT LAUGHTER
Private
Short
· Horror
· 7 Pages
A Black detective enters a nightmarish underworld in search of a masked vigilante who preys on members of law enforcement who were responsible for the deaths of unarmed African-Americans.
Jermaine Manigault is a Black LGBTQ director & screenwriter. His last film "Not Black Enough", screened internationally at 4 Oscar-Qualifying & 5 BAFTA-Qualifying festivals, & was mentioned in The New York Times, Variety, Yahoo! Entertainment, Filmmaker Magazine, Wonderland, & Hyperallergic. The film was distributed by Kino Lorber, Dedza Films, & is...
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Top 1%
Feature
· Thriller
· 110 Pages
A young Latine mom struggles to navigate her rural town after being sexually assaulted. She raises her chaotic six-year-old with help from her closeted roommate when she learns her predator is a police officer, and he's not going to stop.
Drama, Thiller, Crime
2024 HollyShorts Winner for Best Feature Screenplay & semifinalist in the 2024 Acad...
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Being the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and a career US veteran influenced Kari's lens. Her work spans genres and cultures, exploring identity, trauma, abuse, and the unknown. In contrast, she relishes adapting long-forgotten public domain material.
Optioning her ancestor's sinister story to ITV Studios empowered Kari to craft gritty female rol...
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Announcements
Nov 16th
Semifinalists
Dec 8th
Runner Ups
Dec 8th
Grand Prize Winners
