Dallas Screenwriting Competition, presented by Torfoot Films and Event Horizon Films, revealed today that (S)hit Squad by Harry Hunsicker has been selected as the winning short script to be produced and premiered at the 2022 Dallas International Film Festival.
Hunsicker is a creative writing teacher, the author of eight crime thrillers and creator of numerous short stories. His crime comedy, (S)hit Squad, will be produced by Torfoot Films’ Carrie Sternberg, Event Horizon Films’ Jodi Frizzell and IdeaMan Studios with legal partners, Litwin Law Group, PLLC, and The Law Office of LaToya L. Blakely. Award-winning filmmaker Johnathan Brownlee will produce, direct and develop the short film.
“Our team is dedicated to helping writers get their works developed and produced,” said Johnathan Brownlee, CEO & President of Torfoot Films. “It’s great to write these short and feature scripts, but you must get them made and seen by an audience and that is our ultimate goal.”
Dallas Screenwriting Competition is dedicated to helping emerging writers break into the industry. Alongside Hunsicker’s (S)hit Squad, the competition also recognized the award-winning work of K. Jennifer Llagan for the feature script, BFF’s Never Die; Haley Dercher for the TV pilot, The Ties that Bind; and Kristy Budding for the short script, Happy Ending Retirement Home.
The competition also honored several top-quality finalists, including:
Feature Scripts
Van 59 by Brian Trotter
Scuppernongs by Lynne Ashe
Don’t You Know who I am? by Izzy Mariano
The Gates by John Burr
TV Pilots
Half-Assed by Tracie Laymon
Betsy and the Emperor by Staton Rabin
Invincible by Andreas Nelander
A Family by Cid Weinberg
Shorts
Identification by Larry Collins
The Last Prophet by Christopher Celestin
Green Love by Penny Jackson
Milo & Milly by Douglas Spaltro
Each script that entered the competition was vetted by readers from the industry’s top talent agencies and management companies based on strength of characterization, dialogue, theme, concept and marketability. The winning scripts were selected by three time Oscar-winner Jana Memel; Billy Kelly, veteran screenwriter of Disney’s Enchanted; Disney Channel-writer Jonathan Hurwitz; and award-winning director Johnathan Brownlee.
The winning screenwriters receive a writer’s enrichment cruise, professional feedback, access to industry networking platforms and festival passes. For more information on the Dallas Screenplay Competition, visit eventhorizonfilms.com. Information can also be found on: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Torfoot Films
Torfoot Films is an award-winning film, television and digital content production company founded in 2010 with offices in Toronto, Canada and Dallas, Texas. Veteran filmmaker Johnathan Brownlee serves as President and CEO. Brownlee is a Canadian/American director, producer, writer and actor, known for THREE DAYS IN AUGUST, THE STANDOFF AT SPARROW CREEK, DECODING ANNIE PARKER and JOHNATHAN BROWNLEE’S ATHOME. A highly respected producer who has worked with Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning talent. Torfoot’s work has been viewed in more than 100 countries in multiple languages and was honored in 2021 with 14 Telly Awards. Torfoot has a variety of content in development, including the feature films; MONTSERRAT, EYES OF JEFFERSON, BREW MASTER, GOOD ENOUGH and Hallmark Channel’s AN ISLAND LIGHT. For information, visit torfoot.com.
About Event Horizon Films
Event Horizon Films is an online network of experienced film professionals established to help screenwriters improve stories, increase exposure and understand the business of Hollywood. From screenplay competitions to analysis services to professional consultations, Event Horizon Films is committed to encouraging writers to keep writing. For more information, visit eventhorizonfilms.com.
