Slamdance announces the winners of the 2024 Screenplay Competition

The independent Slamdance festival has identified Next next great screenwriters.

An annual festival that recently took place announced the Indie Awards ceremony scheduled to premiere in December 2024, has announced the winners of its 2024 Screenplay Competition. Slamdance recognizes authors of feature films, horror/thrillers, television pilots, short films and mentorships with over $18,000 in cash prizes and industry services. The awards were presented during a live ceremony at the Writer’s Guild of America at West. IndieWire was the first to report the results.

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

This year’s main prize went to Jorge Lucas for his screenplay “Yokai”, a Japanese paranormal thriller based on his partner’s legacy. “Yokai” centers on a young girl who becomes fascinated by her grandmother’s superstitions and unknowingly unleashes a vengeful spirit from her family’s dark past, according to the official log.

“‘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 embody the fearless spirit of Slamdance. Based on 4,000 submissions, we are humbled and proud to welcome these uncompromising writers to our Slam family.”

The top three screenwriters in the Feature Film and Horror/Thriller categories are eligible for membership in the Writers Guild of America West Freelance Writers Club.

Maaman Rezaee is the winner of the Slamdance Screenplay Mentor Award for her screenplay “Ashes,” which tells the story of an Americanized Iranian woman who, following her mother’s last wish to take her ashes back to her homeland, tries to unravel the mysteries of her past with the help of an ex-girlfriend in the face of the feminist revolution.

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

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

Check out the full list of winners of the 2024 Slamdance Script Contest.

Function

1st place: “Kontrapunkt” by Arden Earnest

2nd place: “Revolutionary Medicine” by Kristen McNaule

3rd place: “Rivers The Match” performed 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: “The 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 Answer” by Charlene Fisk

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

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