Slamdance Announces 2024 Screenplay Competition Winners

Indie festival Slamdance has identified the next next big screenwriters.

The annual fest, which recently unveiled its Indies Awards Show slated for December 2024, has announced the winners of its 2024 screenplay competition. Slamdance recognizes writers in feature film, horror/thriller, TV pilot, short film, and mentorship categories, with more than $18,000 in cash prizes, plus industry services, awarded. The prizes were awarded during a live ceremony at the Writer’s Guild of America, West. IndieWire first announced the results.

Past alums have included ”Day Shift” scribe Tyler Tice, “Tiana” series head writer Joyce Sherri, and “The Woodsman” co-writers Nicole Kassell and Steven Fechter. Sherri was also present at the 2024 ceremony as the guest of honor to welcome the new winners to the Slamdance family. 

This year, the Grand Prize was bestowed to Jorge Lucas for his screenplay “Yokai,” which is a Japanese paranormal thriller based on his partner’s heritage. “Yokai” centers on a young girl who becomes fascinated with her grandmother’s superstitious ways and unwittingly unleashes a vengeful spirit from her family’s dark past, per the official logline. 

“’Yokai’ stopped us in our tracks,” Slamdance festival director Taylor Miller told IndieWire. “This haunting, beautiful story weaves the weight of the immigrant experience and inherited struggles into something deeply human and unforgettable. The 2024 winners truly reflect Slamdance’s fearless spirit. From 4,000 submissions, we’re humbled and proud to welcome these uncompromising writers to our Slam family.”

The top three screenwriters in the Feature and Horror/Thriller categories are eligible for membership in the Writers Guild of America West’s Independent Writers Caucus.

Maaman Rezaee is the recipient of the Slamdance Screenplay Mentorship Award for her script “Ashes,” which tells the story of an Americanized Iranian woman who, after following her mother’s last wishes to take her ashes to her home country, tries to solve the secrets of her past with the assistance of her ex-girlfriend amid a feminist revolution.

“This is a timely piece that pulls the audience into the history of the Iranian revolution from past to present day. It truly encapsulates the bold Slamdance spirit,” Anna Lee Lawson, the film festival and screenplay competition manager, said. “We look forward to working with Maaman Rezaee.”

In 2025, Slamdance will celebrate its 31st film festival in its new home in Los Angeles, California from February 20-26 and virtually on the Slamdance Channel from February 24-March 7. Slamdance historically took place during Sundance in Park City, Utah.

Check out the full list of 2024 Slamdance screenplay competition winners.

Feature

1st place: “Counterpoint” by Arden Earnest

2nd place: “Revolutionary Medicine” by Kristen McNaule 

3rd place: “Rivers The Match” by Crystal Muma

Horror/Thriller

1st place: “Yokai” by Jorge Lucas

2nd place: “Brains” by Zach Rubin

3rd place: “Perception” by Pauline McAlonan

Pilot

1st place: “Waters of Hedeby” by Olivia Webb

2nd place: “Welcome to Sunset” by Eric John Meyer

3rd place: “Howl” by Zoe Kerr

Short

1st place: “Self Love” by Jeremy Brull

2nd place: “Call and Response” by Charlene Fisk

3rd place: “Echoes of Ringing Bells” by Oleg Condrea