MARPSA Winners - 2025

Feature Screenplay

Winner

Master's degree

On The Record

Writer

Adam Goudchaux

Overview: 

In a nondescript near future, a grief stricken, neophyte print journalist embarks on a journey of self-discovery while working on a story about a new psychedelic drug.

Writer Biography:

Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, currently live in Long Beach, CA. Graduate of the American Film Institute directing fellowship in 2006.

Feature Screenplay

Winner

Bachelor's degree

Crash!

Writer

Gini Graham Scott

Overview:

After a minor car accident, a schoolteacher's life spirals into paranoia and danger when an unhinged bystander fixates on her, turning a simple insurance dispute into a relentless psychological nightmare.

Writer Biography:

Gini Graham Scott is a screenplay writer, executive producer, and TV game show developer, plus a nonfiction writer who has written and executive produced 20 feature films, documentaries, and pilots for TV/film series through her company Changemakers Productions. She has published over 200 books, 50 for traditional publishers and 150 for her own company Changemakers Publishing.

Feature Screenplay

Winner

Diploma

My Name is Henrietta

Writer

Barbara A de la Cuesta

Overview:

Henrietta Rose, a woman felled by drink, was once a famous party giver in foreign capitals; having found sobriety in the church basements of AA, she plans a series of dinner parties, and one last grand Christmas party to regain what is left of her family.

Writer Biography:

B. de la Cuesta has published 4 novels, among them the Gival Press Fiction Prize winning, The Spanish Teacher. She has won fellowships from the NJ Council on Arts, The Ragdale Foundation, and the Millay Colony. Two of her plays were produced on off off Broadway by the American Theatre Co. , and she was visiting playwright at the Syracuse Stage.

TV Pilot Script

Winner

Master's degree

DAFFODILS

Writer

Andry Platrites

Overview:

Set against the backdrop of a Mediterranean island, “Daffodils” is a miniseries that delves into the complexities of identity, family, and the weight of long-buried secrets. ARIA is a 63-year-old architect and single mother of two adult children: Grace Rose and Lucas. Having hidden key parts of her life for years, events force Aria choose whether or not to reveal her sexuality and her complicated past to her children before their gay, bullying father JOSEPH poisons them with his own version of events. This dilemma forces Aria to question her identity and revisit the childhood trauma of sexual abuse that has shaped her life.

Writer Biography:

Andry, (Alice-pen name), a refugee from Famagusta, Cyprus, and now a resident of Limassol, has a rich and diverse creative journey. Originally pursuing psychology, she pivoted to earn her degree in electrical engineering in 1987, later founding and managing a successful power systems company. Her career was cut short by an autoimmune illness in 2007, but this change allowed Alice to fully embrace her lifelong passion for the arts. An accomplished poet, storyteller, and visual artist, she has exhibited her work in local art shows and found her voice in writing.

TV Pilot Script

Winner

Bachelor's degree

The Connecting Betrayal

Writer

Vivianne Rosenberg

Overview:

The Connecting Betrayal is a gripping psychological thriller that follows the protagonist, Valerie Coburn, a beautiful widow in her fifties, as she navigates the treacherous waters of midlife crisis and unexpected romance. Adopted as an infant by two women, Valerie's childhood was marked by loneliness and a persistent sense of emptiness. Now reeling from the recent loss of her husband, she finds herself at a crossroads, questioning her identity and purpose.

Writer Biography:

Vivianne Rosenberg, a Filipino-American screenwriter and member of SAG and WGA, weaves her rich cultural tapestry into compelling narratives that captivate audiences worldwide. Born in the Northwestern Visayan Islands of the Philippines, Vivianne and her family immigrated to San Francisco at age eight, carrying the essence of her heritage.

TV Pilot Script

Winner

Diploma

Cafe Romeo

Writer

Alberto Diamante

Overview:

It’s 1962: in New York, a group of artists gathers in a café to create theater, art, comedy, and performance art. Meanwhile, the Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink of extinction.

Writer Biography:

Alberto Diamante is an award-winning writer-director. Born in Italy and raised in the Middle East and Canada, he identifies as Italian-Canadian. His films include Ulysses, Love...and other reasons to panic, and The Bookstore. His screenplay for the film “Skin” garnered accolades all over the world. Rattlesnake Point, his latest release, is his fourth feature film.

"Cafe Romeo" is his first TV Pilot.

Short Script

Winner

Master's degree

The Battle of the Fishermen

Writer

PABLO ANDRÉS FERNÁNDEZ

Overview:

The Battle of the Fishermen is the screenplay for a short historical animation film about the struggle of the people of Vieques, Puerto Rico, who mobilized over many decades to get the U.S. Navy out of their island.

Writer Biography:

Pablo Fernández is an award–winning documentary filmmaker and journalist with over 20 years of experience. He was born and raised in Argentina, and now lives in the United States.

Short Script

Winner

Bachelor's degree

PHD

Writer

Sameer M Khan

Overview:

A new south Asian immigrant marital consternation between wife wanting husband to do PhD or follow his passion.

Writer Biography:

Sameer Khan is an actor of South Asian origin based in Los Angeles, he has published two fictional work. A short stories collection & a thriller novel on kindle. He also wrote and performed plays in India.

Short Script

Winner

Diploma

Wreakin havoc in 1999

Writer

Simona Mancini

Overview:

It's the night of December 31, 1999, and Grace and Stephanie are excited to attend the exclusive party where they will celebrate the transition from the old to the new millennium. During the final meters, almost in front of the venue, the two girls hear strange sounds coming from a bench on the sidewalk they're walking along: those sounds are coming from a baby in a basket, wrapped in a hoodie.

Writer Biography:

Simona Mancini holds a Diploma in Film and Documentary Directing, a Bachelor's Degree in Cinema, and a Master's Degree in Coordination of Film Production. Throughout her career, she has collaborated on numerous independent film sets, undertaking various roles and gaining extensive experience across the industry. Her international work has significantly contributed to the development of her professional expertise, artistic perspective, and industry connections. In 2016, she founded Film Pollution 1981, an independent creative collective dedicated to the production of innovative audiovisual projects across multiple genres and techniques.

Screenwriter

Winner

Master's degree

Painted in Blood

Writer

Stephen Settimi

Overview:

A mysterious figure, drawn to the echoes of suppressed artistry and rebellion, unravels the connection between two eras of political turmoil: 1950s Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution and the present-day cultural censorship of avant-garde art. As the story morphs between the stark brutality of Soviet oppression and the vibrant yet fraught streets of modern-day New York City, the canvas of rebellion is painted with courage, betrayal, and the enduring struggle for freedom of expression.

Writer Biography:

Writer, director, and producer. Side gig of distilling bourbon, gin. brandies. First “film” production was in 1978 using a 16mm camera for an originally scripted music video mash-up of Welcome to the Machine (Pink Floyd, 1978).

Screenwriter

Winner

Bachelor's degree

GatorFerno

Writer

Catherine Erhardt

Overview:

When rehabilitated alligators are released during an unprecedented heatwave, an introverted animal behaviorist and her team must race against the elements to discover the cause of mysterious events terrorizing a small Florida town.

Writer Biography:

Catherine Erhardt is known for Rhonda Reviews Things (2021), Curtain Call (2011) and In This House (2024).

Screenwriter

Winner

Diploma

Doris & Vickie

Writer

Nicole Salmeri

Overview:

In 1970s Bay Area, seventeen-year-old Vickie navigates the turbulent waters of coming of age while living under the shadow of a violent, emotionally damaged father and the haunting legacy of her mother, Doris, whose mysterious death years prior remains shrouded in silence. As Vickie uncovers fragments of family trauma and reclaims pieces of her mother's forgotten life, she begins to question her reality, her lineage, and her power to break free.

Writer Biography:

Nicole Salmeri is an LA-based editor/director/cinematographer, working on films, commercials, fashion, and music videos.

Raised on rock‘n roll and muscle cars, Nicole brings a stylized look, an emotional feel, and skillful music edits to everything she touches. With 15 years of experience, Nicole has worked with clients such as Vogue, Sony Music,  L'oreal Paris, Ralph Lauren, Wild Turkey, Josh Cellars Wine, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Moncler, Glossier, Mini Cooper, iD-Germany, Amazon Games, Warner Bros. Games, Shutterfly, Dockers, Pinhook Whiskey, Vanity Fair, L'oreal Paris and Vice. 

First-time Screenwriter

Winner

Master's degree

We Want Your Baby

Writer

Leah Rowell

Overview:

A young woman seeking an abortion finds herself and her friends in a dangerous situation with two rabid protestors wanting to take her baby.

Writer Biography:

Leah is an actor and writer from Georgia, holding a BFA in Mass Media with a minor in Theatre. With a passion for storytelling and performance, she has written three original scripts, each reflecting her unique voice and creative vision. While her screenplays are yet to be produced, she is actively seeking opportunities to bring these compelling narratives to life. Leah is currently focused on building connections in the film and television industry as she continues to grow her career as a multifaceted artist.

First-time Screenwriter

Winner

Bachelor's degree

Fragments of Freedom

Writer

Richard Stride

Overview:

Fragments of Freedom is a deeply personal and visually intimate coming-of-age story that bridges two generations scarred by prejudice and silence. Set in the politically charged summer of 1987, the story follows 14-year-old Richard as he escapes the hostility of his daily life in England for a long-awaited family holiday in Yugoslavia—only to confront truths far more profound than he expected.

Writer Biography:

Richard Stride He has written and directed several theatre productions such as Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Snow Queen and the Boy Who Loved Star Wars. All receiving rave reviews and awards. He also has written and directed several short films. This is his first feature he has written. Richard has also directed countless short films and plays. He was Artistic Director of the award winning Groundlings Theatre for 20 years, where he produced and directed over 100 productions and events including Festival of Christmas and the Launch of Cunards Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.

Richard Stride is also known for Gladiator (2000), Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) and Say Nothing (2024).

First-time Screenwriter

Winner

Diploma

HELLÉ

Writer

Mathew Dalby

Overview:

Hellé is a powerful biopic tracing the rise, fall, and forgotten legacy of Hélène Delangle—better known as Hellé Nice—dancer, trailblazer, and the fastest woman of her time. From the glittering cabarets of Paris to the deadly racetracks of Europe and America, her story is one of relentless reinvention and defiance in a world that refused to make space for women like her.

Writer Biography:

Mathew Dalby is a neurodivergent designer and storyteller whose journey has evolved from crafting evocative spaces to writing resonant narratives. With a background in design and a passion for emotionally rich storytelling, Mathew brings a unique sensitivity and precision to every project he undertakes. His work is driven by a deep attention to detail and a belief in the power of difference as a creative force. Whether on screen or behind the scenes, Mathew transforms perspective into impact.

Honorable Mention

Winner

MARPSA Certificate

PARISINA - Punishment without Forgiveness

Writer

Giampietro Manzalini

Overview:

Romantic Drama based on historical facts dated back to the XV Century. The beautiful Laura Malatesta (14yo), orphan of mother since her birth and later of his father, lives her teenage at the court of her uncles Elisabetta Gonzaga and Carlo Malatesta. They give her the best possibile education, reason for her second name “PARISINA” (meaning in the local language “a lady from Paris”)....

Writer Biography:

Born in Ferrara (1954), now retired after a career as engineer and agricultural land broker. Writer and researcher out of passion.