Women in Film & Video New England (WIFVNE) is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 WIFVNE Screenwriting Contest, launched in honor of our 45th Anniversary to celebrate storytelling, elevate emerging voices, and spotlight women and underrepresented writers in film and television.

WIFVNE supports creators both in front of and behind the camera through networking, mentorship, and education—building a more inclusive and equitable industry.

2025 Winners

Overall Winner: Free Skate by Caitlin McCarthy

Broke and barely eighteen, a scrappy figure skater plunges into the circus of a traveling ice show, juggling backstabbing rivals and sizzling scandals while hustling to keep her Olympic dreams from melting away—one performance at a time.

Runner-Up: Fandom by April Lecours

After winning only two tickets to their music idols’ tour of the century, three lifelong friends must navigate distance, time, and each other to finally enter the fandom.

Honorable Mentions:

Scituate by Sonja Kelly — An eager-to-please girl sells lemonade to two men: a cynical retired detective and a predator on the prowl.

Swish by Kelly Keough — After making a wish on a cursed ancient mermaid pendant, a self-doubting 14-year-old singer/songwriter swaps bodies with a mischievous mermaid and must reclaim her voice before it’s too late.

The Colonel and Her Sergeant by Shana Figueroa — In the high-stakes world of the U.S. military rocket program, a female colonel has a disastrous affair with a male staff sergeant.

About the Contest
The 2025 contest invited writers from all backgrounds to submit short scripts or excerpts (up to 15 pages) featuring a female-identifying protagonist. All genres were welcome, and entries were open to the public.

The winning script will be featured in a live Table Read at the WIFVNE 45th Anniversary Annual Meeting & Conference on November 18, 2025, at GBH Boston. The winner also receives full script coverage and feedback from NewEnglandScreenwriters.com and Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Andrew Osborne (WIFVNE Board Member and Boston 48 Hour Film Project City Producer)

Through opportunities like this contest, WIFVNE continues to “Widen the Lens” — offering educational and career development programs, mentoring, and networking to empower storytellers and build a more inclusive creative landscape.