NYC Midnight Screenwriting Competition
In 2025, I got through to the final of the NYC Midnight Screenwriting Competition - a prestigious contest that attracts thousands of writers from around the world.
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After an intense first round, I was thrilled to be shortlisted into the top 300 participants, and then after an even more stressful second round, I was through to the final 36 writers. Unfortunately, in the end, I did not place in the top 10 winning positions, but was still immensely proud to have reached that stage.
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Each round presented a brand-new challenge: writers were placed into random groups and given a unique assignment consisting of one genre, one character, and one specific subject, all of which had to be woven into an original script under tight deadlines.
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Below, you’ll find the three scripts I submitted, alongside the briefs I was assigned for each round, along with an extract of feedback I received for each!
Round 1
A satyr working in an ordinary pizzeria longs to become a legendary hero, but can he step up when adventure crashes through the window?
Page Count: 12
Genre: Fantasy
Character: A Pizza Maker
Subject: Lovesick
Deadline: 7 Days
"The opening hooks you immediately, throwing you into a dynamic, action-packed world. The comedic tone is revealed quickly and brilliantly...the writer has a real talent for weaving comedy into action, creating exciting sequences full of clever, funny moments."
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- NYC Midnight Judges
Round 2
During a regular night shift, a train station worker receives a desperate phone call from a scared child, lost in the darkness.
Page Count: 8
Genre: Ghost Story
Character: A Shy Person
Subject: Lost and Found
Deadline: 3 Days
"This is most definitely a thrilling and scary story, where the tension is built so perfectly and progressively that the reader cannot turn away. What follows in the second act is an excellent construction of pace where the tension never falters and just increases."
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-NYC Midnight Judges
Awakening in a silent hospital, Charlie must prove he's ready to leave, though no one will say where he's going.
Page Count: 5
Genre: Open
Character: Taskmaster
Subject: No-Frills
Deadline: 24 Hours
"It works on a couple of different levels. It's both thought-provoking and suspenseful. The script is very well-crafted. Both action lines and dialogue are concise but still evocative. There's not a wasted word. Keen to see where you take this."
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-NYC Midnight Judges
Final Round
