A note from our Founder to celebrate 2025:

Happy New Year to all our community! May 2025 bring great happiness, success, and health.

As we begin this new year, I want to thank our community and share insights on the industry and independent cinema.

Wscripted was founded in 2020, during the pandemic, with the mission to increase the production of films written by women. As an industry professional with six years' experience in film distribution and sales, I had grown frustrated seeing female-led projects with incredible potential being passed over simply because they lacked "marketable" comparative titles. We launched Wscripted as a talent platform dedicated to women that, thanks to you, has blossomed into a vibrant community. In 2021, we introduced the first Cannes Screenplay List, featured in Variety, to celebrate outstanding scripts by female and non-binary writers by promoting them to producers during the Cannes Film Market. The list's impact was immediate, showcasing extraordinary artists and storytellers from diverse backgrounds worldwide. Five years later, the list has become an institution, gaining support from remarkable filmmakers who push boundaries for women in film, including Mounia Meddour, Vanessa Kirby, and inaugural list alumna Nathalie Marchak. Huge congratulations to three alumni of the lists: Erica Tremblay & Miciana Alise for releasing FANCY DANCE with Apple TV and Vivian Kerr for the release of SÉANCE in 2024! Seeing female-led stories that were once celebrated on the list now released on the big screen is truly extraordinary.

Impact drives everything we do at Wscripted. We believe innovation can positively transform the industry. This vision led us to pioneer an AI platform—in development since 2022 and recently launched with an announcement in Deadline Hollywood—that breaks down decision-making patterns and biases against unvetted talents. We're thrilled about this platform's potential to overcome limitations by promoting talents to the right decision-makers through tailored curation and setting a new standard for industry professionals to review and source content. Today, Wscripted has evolved into an agent of change for all creatives through our impact iniatives and platform Wscripted+, with the mission to diversify story discovery and financing of great and underrepresented storytellers.

Despite Hollywood's production slowdown, European economic instability, and general uncertainty, cinema remains vital—with the need for authentic, exceptional stories from passionate storytellers being more important than ever. Films like Palme d'Or winner ANORA, A24's BABY GIRL, and Sundance premiere DIDI showcase the unique perspectives of filmmakers and demonstrate the strength of independent cinema. We celebrated these achievements by inviting their producers—Alex Coco, Carlos Estrada Lopez, and Christine D'Souza Gelb—to our inaugural Produced by Visionaries event last year in Cannes, highlighting leaders who pioneer new financing models and drive the development of underrepresented stories. Looking ahead to 2025, the spec script market shows particular promise, following the success of films like THE CHALLENGERS and PAST LIVES. It’s also very exciting to see our annual partner MUBI continue to lead independent cinema distribution, with the recent Golden Globe win for Demi Moore in THE SUBSTANCE.

To all storytellers: keep

believing in and developing your unique voice. We hope Wscripted’s work will help you find the right creative partners to bring your stories to life.

Happy 2025!

_{— Ellie Jamen, Founder of Wscripted}

1 week left to apply to pre-submissions with producer matching

This year, we are excited to offer our community an exclusive opportunity to apply to our pre-submissions with producer matching for the Fifth Cannes Screenplay List before the official submissions opening on January 20, 2025.

Applying to the Fifth Cannes Screenplay List Pre-Submissions includes:

• Pre-submission to Wscripted’s Fifth Cannes Screenplay List.

• An individual 30-minute session to develop a tailored list of producers based on your project details and comparative titles. We’ll invite your tailored list of producers to discover your project on Wscripted+ during the campaign of the Fifth Cannes Screenplay List.

• Guidance on how to promote your project on Wscripted+, along with feedback to enhance your project's “e-coverage,” provided by our team after your individual session.

• An extended window to refine your “e-coverage” and a complimentary 4-month coupon to upload your updated drafts to Wscripted+ until the Fifth Cannes Screenplay List’s final submission deadline of March 15.

You can apply to our pre-submissions until January 17. Booking your 1:1 are first come first serve, we suggest to apply early to book our first slots of meetings.

Pre-Submissions close on January 17.

The Ankler: Big Spec Script Sales Are Back, Baby!

The Ankler published an insightful article about spec script sales and how writers and producers can leverage them in 2025.

Below are the key points:

• In 2024, Amazon, Netflix, 20th Century Studios, and Fifth Season/Makeready acquired spec scripts, with deals ranging from six figures to $2 million, from up-and-coming writers. None of these scripts had a filmmaker or cast attached.

• Producer Chris Bender tells The Ankler “Our business needs specs again […] We need writers writing original spec scripts again so we can start making original movies in lots of genres and have a bit of a return to the variety that used to be in theaters. […] I feel strongly that we need screenwriters to save theatrical. It all starts with them.”

• Streaming platforms and production studios acquire spec scripts to reduce costs and use data analytics to choose actors who best appeal to the film’s target audience.

• Screenwriter Jonathan Abrams tells The Ankler “There’s a lot to be hopeful for. We finally put Covid behind us, we put the strike behind us. In 2025, we’re finally going to sort of get back to some semblance of what the industry was pre-Covid. Companies are looking to bulk up their slates. They need material, I’m hearing it from everybody. And I think there’s a little bit of franchise, comic-book fatigue in the ether.”

• Currently selling are character-driven and elevated yet commercial dramas, comedies, action films, and thrillers.

Wscripted+ Ambassador Program:

You can promote your projects on Wscripted+ for free, by joining our Ambassador program! Ambassadors receive one month free on Wscripted+ for each friend they refer who signs up to a membership. Our Ambassador program is a chance to become an active supporter of Wscripted+ to participate in our mission to change the industry for the better.

To participate, simply submit the form below!