Returning for their festival’s 32nd edition from February 19-25, 2026, the bold voices behind Slamdance continue to tell a cutting-edge story by honoring breakout talents who could redefine the film and TV business, too. On Tuesday night in Los Angeles (the event’s new home after leaving Park City, Utah and Sundance behind last year), the 2025 Slamdance screenwriting competition announced its winners at an awards ceremony downtown — hosted by AGBO, the indie studio founded by Anthony and Joe Russo.
In 2025, the contest celebrated writers across five categories: feature film, horror/thriller, TV pilot, short film, and screenplay mentorship. Slamdance awarded more than $18,000 in prizes and creative resources to the talented winners who emerged from a competitive pool of more than 4,200 submissions. A TV pilot about motherhood and healthcare following a woman working in a rural clinic, “The Badlands Woman’s Clinic” by Brennan Cusack took home the $10,000 grand prize.
“We read thousands of stories this year, and ‘Badlands Woman’s Clinic’ didn’t just stand out — it recalibrated the room,” said festival director Taylor Miller in a press release. “It’s the kind of writing that changes how you think about what television can hold. At a time when storytelling is engineered to please algorithms, this pilot refuses the formula.”
Reflecting on the win, Cusack continued, “In a country where millions live in ‘maternity care deserts,’ ‘The Badlands Clinic’ celebrates the women who have worked together to create oases. This story explores the transformational power of choice in women’s lives. Here in rural America, choice is not just a headline. It is power, identity, dignity, community, and survival.”
First place winners in the other four categories took home $2,000 each, as well as one-year memberships to Roadmap Writers (an educational digital platform for screenwriting) and complimentary legal services from Pessah Law Group — an official fest sponsor and Slamdance’s own legal counsel. Awarded to “The Gift of Rain” by Renn Tan, the Best Feature winner will also get script coverage from Sony Pictures Classics.
Screenwriter Erick Torres was given this year’s Slamdance Screenplay Mentorship Award for “Cucuy,” the story of a fighting dog who escapes the pits to pursue redemption. The festival will collaborate with Torres to turn that captivating idea into an even better script through one-on-one coaching sessions.
“Cucuy is a story of endurance, trauma, second chances, and the power of love,” said festival manager Anna Lee Lawson in the same release. “Torres demonstrates remarkable talent through his emotional depth, creativity, and ability to tell a powerful story without relying on dialogue. We see tremendous potential here and look forward to working with Erick.”
Read on for the complete list of the 2025 Slamdance screenplay competition winners.
Grand Prize Winner
“The Badlands Woman’s Clinic” by Brennan Cusack
Mentorship Winner
“Cucuy” by Erick Torres
Best Feature
1st place: “The Gift of Rain” by Renn Tan
2nd place: “Vital” by Amir Zargara & Gabe Berry
3rd place: “Burn Her Slowly” by Edith Storm
Best Horror/Thriller
1st place: “MESA” by Pam Covington
2nd place: “Scissor Mouth” by Deborah Richards
3rd place: “Frozen Lies” by Eric R. Lotter
Best Pilot
1st place: “The Badlands Woman’s Clinic” by Brennan Cusack
2nd place: “Entre Nous” by Christina Keach
3rd place: “Broker” by Jas Kandola
Best Short
1st place: “The Comfort Woman Statue” by Kyung-Ja Lee
2nd place: “Inbetweening” by James Newman
3rd place: “Sourdough (Masa Madre)” by Gádor Camacho Cervantes
