Unveiling the Shocking Twist: SYS’s Six-Figure Screenplay Contest 2026 Winner Revealed!
And the winner is…
We’re excited to announce the winners and finalists from this year’s SYS’s Six-Figure Screenplay Contest. Thank you to everyone who trusted us enough to enter and evaluate their screenplay. Thank you. We found lots of fantastic screenplays this year making our final decision very tough. It’s never easy trying to apply objective criteria to something as subjective as screenwriting, but that’s what we must do. As a screenwriter myself, I want to really emphasize the fact that this is in no way a “best of” . We had a number of very strong submissions this year making the process all the more difficult.
So without further ado… the winners are…
FEATURE SCREENPLAYS
2026 Winner:
Title: Skunk Hour
Name: Steven Snell
Genre: thriller
Log Line: A conscience-stricken uni student brings the friend he gave a false alibi to—and now suspects is a killer—to his ex-con older brother, the only person capable of uncovering the truth and ensuring the body disappears for good.
Reader Comments:
“The writer excels at immersive world-building, establishing a palpable sense of dread that never wavers.”
“The dialogue between Gavin, Ashton, and Scott is a masterclass in psychological friction; every exchange heightens the stakes and pulls the reader deeper into their mounting desperation.”
“The script does a really good job of using just one location as the backdrop for the story while maintaining a high degree of tension that breeds intrigue.”
“This is one of those, OH FUCK! Stories, and it’s well done.”
2026 Runner Up:
Title: Herb Jenk
Name: Adam Seidel
Genre: comedy
Log Line: When Jenk is released from prison after doing time for drug trafficking, he’s determined to turn his life around. To facilitate, he can make one final run. The only problem? He needs to bring along his five-year-old daughter.
Reader Comments:
“The ride is full of surprises and funny situations.”
“The script features a group of oddballs, and they all have well-defined voices and clear goals, but Jenk and Bug are quite the pair.”
“The concept is fresh. The dialogue feels natural and is unique to each character. The pacing and structure are good, plant and payoffs feel natural and none of the story feels like it’s trying to fill pages.”
SHORT SCREENPLAYS
2026 Winner:
Title: Youniverse
Name: Justin Fontenot
Genre: sci-fi
Log Line: In 2035, history is a place you can rent by the hour. A woman spends one as a man — and idly becomes the greatest musician alive, humiliating the giants whose world runs on without her.
Reader Comments:
“It has a black mirror vibe, while also exploring a revered era of music.”
“The writer constructs a vivid world that puts a fresh spin on familiar sci-fi tropes.”
2026 Runner Up:
Title: A Quarterback Flight To Anywhere
Name: John Ravitz
Genre: drama
Log Line: On the day of the national game of the week, a star quarterback going through the worst slump in his career must decide if he can step onto the football field one more time.
Reader Comments:
“This is a love-letter to football. The writer is clearly passionate about the subject, which is great.”
“There’s a lot to recommend here.”
Post Comment