Monterey Screenplay Competition Announces Winners

The Monterey County Film Commission of Monterey, CA has awarded prizes to the winning entries in its annual Screenplay Competition, which drew 183 submissions this year. Grand prize winner Barbara Palmer of Whitefish, MT took home $2,000 for her screenplay Robin’s Boys, the story of a black teenager wanted for kidnapping when he rescues a mentally disabled white boy. Runner-up Kevin Leonard won $1,000 for his script Rickenbacker, based on the life of American WWII hero Eddie Rickenbacker. The competition distinguished Tom Schlegel of Salinas, CA with an honorable mention for his screenplay Crossroaders. The competition’s corporate sponsor, NESTech Management Group, Inc. of Salinas, optioned Palmer’s and Leonard’s winning screenplays.

The Commission also honored local screenwriter Phil Mell with its $1,000 On Location Award for Mell’s screenplay, American Cowboy. In addition to featuring Monterey County locations in his script, Mell hails from Salinas, CA and attended California State University in Monterey Bay.

For more information, visit http://www.filmmonterey.org.