Slamdance Honors Breakout Talents Redefining Film and TV in 2025

On October 29th, 2025, the 2025 Slamdance screenwriting competition announced its winners at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles. The festival, which is returning for its 32nd edition from February 19-25, 2026, continues to celebrate bold voices and emerging talents who could reshape the film and TV landscape.

This year, the competition received over 4,200 submissions across five categories: feature film, horror/thriller, TV pilot, short film, and screenplay mentorship. The $10,000 grand prize was awarded to "The Badlands Woman's Clinic," a TV pilot about motherhood and healthcare following a woman working in a rural clinic. According to festival director Taylor Miller, the script "didn't just stand out - it recalibrated the room" with its transformative storytelling.

In addition to the grand prize winner, first place recipients in the other four categories each took home $2,000, along with valuable industry resources like memberships and legal services. Screenwriter Erick Torres was also given the Slamdance Screenplay Mentorship Award for his script "Cucuy," a story of endurance, trauma, and second chances involving a fighting dog.

As Slamdance continues to champion cutting-edge narratives, these winners are poised to make a significant impact on the future of film and television.