The Nashville Film Festival is excited to announce the finalists across 8 categories in this year’s Screenwriting Competition. Since 2014, NashFilm’s Screenwriting Competition has championed exceptional stories for film and television, and the visionary voices behind them, from around the world.
Congratulations to the 2026 NashFilm Screenwriting Competition finalists on this recognition. These finalists are invited to the 57th Nashville Film Festival this September 24-30th, where they will be treated to a live table read of a scene from their screenplay performed by professional actors. Get tickets now for the Finalist Table Read on Sunday, September 27th to watch these exceptional scripts brought to life. The winners in each category will be awarded cash prizes at the festival awards ceremony later that day.
Tennessee Writer Semifinalists
Chihua-Wolf by John Hayes
Dolls of the Dead by Cashea
Greg’s Dojo by Jeremy Ray Burchard
not THAT kind by Michael H Moore
Saving A Christmas Carol by Shirley Amitrano
The Cold Below by Robert Hamilton & Leonard Johnson
Vibez by Alexia Greene
Comedy Feature Semifinalists
Guest Relations by Harim Sanchez
I Got You Babe by T. Camponeschi
Jackalope by Luke Guidici
Middlescence by Angela Manfredi
Notice Me by Jody Wiltshire
The Anti-Comic by Steve Savitz
Horror Feature Semifinalists
Darien by Farah Ysvette Mourad Vera
Dolls of the Dead by Cashea
Felt by Ran Jing
HIKR_95 by Elvis Wilson
Old Mother Lynn by Justin Brock
The Shimmers by Brendan J Vogel & Ruth Sabin
Genre Feature Semifinalists
BUSted by Hunter Davis & Bryan Bockbrader
Durango by Daniel J. Ricottone
Inertia by Nyah Gazda
No Peace I Find by Hyten Davidson & Christian Missonak
Praying to a Laughing God by Summer Shelton
The Consultation by Christopher J Lopez
Drama Feature Semifinalists
Burden of Silence by Paul Frank
Cotton’s Sack by Will Sims
Dope Friend by Matt Ferrucci
Dry Land by Oscar Rodriguez Gorriz
Filthy by Lisa Cole
Mambo by Peter Gibbons
The Caretaker by John Dilley & Seth Corr
Short Semifinalists
Dead Water by Kevin Machate
Independence by Marc Pitre
Last Man Standing by Alex Dauphin
Lejos de AquĂ (Far From Here) by Missy Hernandez
Not That Kind by Michael H Moore
Only You by Seth Kelman
Spirit Walkers by Victor Dean
The Debutante’s Gown by Ashley Heathcock
Triple Crown by Tyler Totten
60 Minute Pilot Semifinalists
Freedom General by Raymond Cho
Gleason’s by Jess Waters
Gods of Iowa by Terry Rietta & Andrew Chapman
Oh Bloody Hell by Nigel Tyrone Simms
Out of Order by Christine Torres
Scooped by Eric Ortega
The Solicitor by Ellen Ancui
Valdez by L.E. Coleman
30 Minute Pilot Semifinalists
Exclusive by Zane Swift
In Fertility by Jane Miller
Pharaoh Taharqa – Warrior King by Will Sims
Son of a Beekeeper by Marcus Ross
Tight by Heather Birmingham
Todos Santos by Erin Donovan