ScreenCraft
ScreenCraft Cinematic Prose
2025
Reads in Coverfly
Active Since 2017
Hollywood loves adapting novels and short stories into feature scripts and TV shows - is yours next? This year’s jury includes literary managers, book agents, and producers.
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About

Our jury is looking for great stories with potential to be adapted for the screen. Now accepting novels, short stories, novellas, true stories, biographies and everything in between! 

Select finalists of the Prose competition will receive introductions to Hollywood professionals including book agents, literary managers, producers and more. Grand Prize Winners will receive an opportunity to develop their project with a manager at Intellectual Property Group and one selected winner will get their script produced with innovative multimedia company Crazy Maple

ScreenCraft has assisted hundreds of writers in securing representation with leading management companies and agencies such as 3 Arts, Anonymous Content, CAA, WME, UTA, Paradigm, and Lit Entertainment. Writers have also been hired by major companies like Universal, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, CBS, and many more.


SCRIPT-TO-SCREEN PARTNERSHIP

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Our exclusive Script-to-Screen Partner Crazy Maple Studio is a next-gen publisher of immersive and interactive mobile serial fiction stories.
 
They will grant one eligible writer a paid writing opportunity to develop the winning IP (short story or manuscript) into an episodic series to be produced for ReelShort.

Benefits

GRAND PRIZE WINNER


The overall grand prize winner in either book or short story category will be welcomed to the Writer Development Program and receive personal introductions and phone calls with one or more top industry professionals who are looking for talented emerging writers.


ScreenCraft has a proven track record for getting writers signed with managers, agents, and staffed in writing rooms.


They'll also receive: 

  • • Personal Introduction to top industry professionals
  • • $1,000 cash award
  • • An exclusive invitation to a Finalist only workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry


CATEGORY WINNERS (Book and Short Story)

  • •  $500 cash award
  • •  Accepted into the Writer Development Program
  • • An exclusive invitation to a Finalist only workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry


FINALISTS

•  An exclusive invitation to a Finalist only workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry


Grand Prize Mentor

This year's Grand Prize Winner will be receive development meetings with Associate Manager Joe Haar of Intellectual Property Group.
Intellectual Property Group

Joe Haar

Associate

Intellectual Property Group

Joe Haar is an Associate at Intellectual Property Group, where he works as a literary manager. He represents bestselling and award-winning authors, journalists, and historic literary estates in optioning their intellectual property for film, television, podcasts, and new media. Before entering literary representation, Joe worked extensively in entertainment, across development and physical production, in Los Angeles – where he now lives – and his hometown of Toronto.

Jury

Get in front of Hollywood judges who love great books and short stories!

Christina Sibul

Producer

Christina Sibul is an independent producer as well as being a highly regarded Development and Production Consultant within the film industry. Recent releases include MONICA, released by IFC Films in 2023, and BUTTER, released by Blue Fox Entertainment in 2022. MONICA premiered in competition to rave reviews at 2022’s Venice International Film Festival, was nominated for 2 Spirit Awards and won a GLAAD Media Award in 2024. A longtime Development and Production Executive, credits (among many others) of Christina’s include SIDEWAYS, HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG, STATION AGENT, LORDS OF DOGTOWN and THIRTEEN.

Gabrielle Utsey

VP, Development

POV Entertainment

Gabrielle Utsey worked her way up from assistant at HBO Max, becoming a junior executive, in which role she worked on original drama series The Flight Attendant, Raised By Wolves, Pennyworth, DMZ, a Dune spinoff series and The Girls On the Bus. Currently Gabrielle is the VP of Development for Layne Eskridge’s POV Entertainment.

Ardvella Entertainment

Shadley Grei

VP, Development

Ardvella Entertainment

Shadley Grei is a writer, consultant, and the VP of Development at Ardvella Entertainment. With a passion for storytellers, he has developed, optioned, and pitched several projects to top studios and production companies, including five novels, three of which he adapted.

Howland Literary

Zoe Howard

Literary Agent

Howland Literary

Zoe-Aline Howard is a literary agent at Howland Literary, and a book publicist at Pine State Publicity, a full service publicity firm that supports writers and publishers who may seem traditionally peripheral in the larger publishing landscape. She holds a BFA with Distinction and Publishing Certificate from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and has had the privilege to work across publishing with several entities, including independent press Lookout Books.

Kronicle Media

Korin D. Williams

CEO

Kronicle Media

Korin D. Williams is the CEO of Kronicle Media, a production and literary management company she co-founded in 2017 with Monique Nash. Williams oversees numerous projects, including a drama series inspired by the founding of Essence magazine, romantic comedies for Netflix and VH-1, and a series adaptation of SHAKESPEARE'S CONSPIRATOR for Westbrook Studios. Recently, she executive produced UNTHINKABLY GOOD THINGS for Crown Media’s Mahogany banner, shot in Rome, Italy. Previously, Williams developed and executive produced Lifetime’s hit SINGLE BLACK FEMALE and MERRY LIDDLE CHRISTMAS starring Kelly Rowland, which led to a successful franchise. She also manages Kronicle Media’s literary division, promoting talented clients working on popular series and films. Williams is a Virginia Commonwealth University graduate and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. member.

Logical Talent Management

Allen Eckhouse

General Manager

Logical Talent Management

Allen is the General Manager of Logical Talent Management. Additionally, LTM works with literary authors, podcast creators, board game designers, and other content generators to help bring their projects to life. He previously worked at CAA, where he helped manage the live comedy tours of Trevor Noah, T.J. Miller, Whitney Cummings, Gabriel Iglesias, James Corden, Dana Carvey, and Mel Brooks. Allen has developed pitch concepts for Dreamworks, Amblin, Blumhouse, and Illumination Entertainment

VIP Development Partner

This optional add-on prize category will grant one eligible writer the opportunity to work with Development Prize partner Emma Kapson of Verve Talent & Literary Agency. This unique add-on benefit is separate from the ScreenCraft Cinematic Prose prizes and placements. Only projects submitted to the ScreenCraft Cinematic Prose Competition AND that select this add-on are eligible for consideration in this category. Additionally, all projects that place in the Top 10 of the competition will automatically be considered.
Verve

Emma Kapson

Agent

Verve

Emma Kapson is a native Los Angeleno and Junior Agent and IP Coordinator at Verve Talent & Literary Agency. She started her career in publishing at Regan Arts and has since transitioned to representation. She’s passionate about literature and bringing stories she believes in to life in various mediums like film, television, and audio. She is a young agent looking to build her list and is open to queries of any kind. She primarily works with female authors, has an eye for women’s voices, loves strong, female driven narratives, epic worlds, romance, horror, and works by foreign and diverse writers. Emma signed previous winner of the ScreenCraft Cinematic Prose Competition Kayla Hardy, who will be published by Ballantine in 2026!

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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.

2025 Winners on Coverfly

Koanim
Private
Short Story  · Family  · 25 Pages
After many years of estrangement from his family, Elliot returns home for his father’s funeral and must face up to what he found and what he lost during his absence from home.
Tucson, Arizona
Michael Tabor enjoys writing literary fiction. He has published two volumes of award winning short stories, The Lost Heifetz and Other Stories, and The Inquisition and Other Stories. He recently completed a historical novel, The Choice, set in C12th England about the conflict between Henry II and Thomas Becket told from the perspective of John of Sa...
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Top 1%
Short Story  · Fantasy  · 37 Pages
A woman with special abilities finds herself caught in a web of lies in a strange, dangerous city. The further she goes down the road of corruption, the more her body adapts and morphs to manage her newfound pain, all the while she dreams of liberation.
Cleveland, OH
Elizabeth Tabish is an American actress and filmmaker best known for her portrayal as Mary Magdalene in “The Chosen.” She earned her M.A. in Theater and B.A. in Screen Studies from Oklahoma State University. After completing her education, Elizabeth moved to Austin, TX and entered the film and commercial industry where she acted in various commercia...
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Top 2%
Manuscript  · Drama  · 234 Pages
At the turn of the millennium in New York, Aileen, a young Chinese immigrant, grapples with her identity, family obligations, and aspirations for success. Amid betrayal, heartbreak, and societal challenges, she navigates a journey of love, culture, and survival, ultimately rediscovering the strength within herself.
New York City, New York
As an Asian female screenwriter, I focus on diverse perspectives and voices often overlooked by mainstream narratives. I once pursued a BA in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins in London before shifting my focus to film. I later earned an MA in Digital Direction at the Royal College of Art in London and am now pursuing an MFA in Film Directing and Sc...
Show more
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Announcements

Feb 5th
Semifinalists
Feb 19th
Finalists
Mar 5th
Winners

Rules

At the program's request, Coverfly will automatically remove your title page for you if you include one when submitting to this program.

  1. Submissions are accepted via electronic submission only.
  2. Entry fees are as listed on the site and checkout form. No coupon or discount is applicable on a previous entry.
  3. Short Stories must be 20,000 words or less. Files should be in PDF format when submitted and should be double spaced. Books must be 150,000 words or less - - in early rounds of reading the writing will be judged based on the first few opening sections of the book. Files should be in PDF format when submitted and should be double spaced.
  4. Optional feedback from a professional reader may be requested at the time of entry for your submission. Please note: feedback will only be provided on the first 50 pages and synopsis of your project.
  5. If a writer would like multiple books that are part of a series to be considered, each book must receive their own individual submission. While each submission will receive its own evaluation we cannot guarantee they will be evaluated by the same reader.
  6. Short stories should be submitted individually and not as part of a collection. If a collection is submitted, only the first story will be considered.
  7. There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit.
  8. Entries must be received on or before the deadline dates by 11:59PM Pacific Time, and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. All entry fees are non-refundable.
  9. All submitted material must be owned by the writer(s), however the material may be based on other works not owned by the writers.
  10. Material must be submitted by the writer. Material written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with consent of the other(s).
  11. If a writing team is chosen as a winner, prizes will be given to the person who submits the project. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing any prizes awarded as they deem fair (whether there is a cash value or not).
  12. Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered material will be allowed for a limited time with a $6 reentry fee through Coverfly. Please proofread your entry carefully before submitting.
  13. It is recommended that original material be registered with the WGA or The Library of Congress before submitting to any competition, however we do not require registration.
  14. Contact info may be included on the cover page of the submission, however it is not required. ScreenCraft uses Coverfly to manage submissions and automatically removes cover pages before submissions are read by the judges.
  15. ScreenCraft claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the projects submitted to this contest remains with the original rights holders.
  16. The decision of the judges will be final and cannot be contested in any manner. There is no score on a scorecard that guarantees advancement to the next level as advancement will be based on all scores in the competition.
  17. In the event a juror, partner organization, or prize partner is no longer able to serve in their specified capacity, ScreenCraft will make its best effort to secure a replacement. ScreenCraft is not responsible for the failed delivery of any prize package by a juror, sponsor, or partner organization.
  18. ScreenCraft reserves the right to change deadline and announcement dates at any time.
  19. ScreenCraft reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
  20. For full rules, see ScreenCraft Website