Diversity Initiative Competition

June Winner!

Kyle Sosa Frederick

Kyle Sosa Frederick is a Latina screenwriter and filmmaker telling stories of fierce and complicated women. She got her start in the industry working for executives and producers at Scott Free Productions, Indian Paintbrush, Focus Features, and Bona Fide. Kyle shot her first independent feature AMONG MOUNTAIN CRAGS in the Appalachian Mountains—it’s now available on Amazon Prime, tubi, and other VOD channels. She is a 2022 WIF Mentee, a graduate of Williams College with a degree in Art History, and earned her MFA from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.

Each month, Roadmap selects one diverse screenwriter to participate in the Pitch Prep Program (Step 1 of our Career Writer Program) for FREE!

Also, each month (1)Winner and (1) Runner-Up will receive a certificate for a free copy of Final Draft courtesy of our friends at Final Draft!

The lack of diversity and representation in Hollywood has been at the forefront of the national conversation for a while now. At Roadmap, we want to do our part to help bring more diversity to the big screen (and the small)! For us, that starts with the screenwriters.

That's why we are proud to sponsor the Roadmap Writers Diversity Initiative Competition!

We launched this tribute in memory of Roadmap Writer Coletta Preacely-Garcia, whose budding career was cut short when she passed suddenly shortly after Roadmap's launch in 2016. Coletta was an extremely hardworking screenwriter who was always working to better her craft—tirelessly writing, rewriting, and taking advantage of every opportunity presented to her to gain skills, make connections, and polish her screenplays. This tribute highlights diverse writers that embody this same spirit.

Who should apply?

This program is for diverse screenwriters with at least one completed original Feature or TV Pilot who are ready to tackle the marketing aspect of their career! Roadmap defines "diverse" as anyone belonging to a group whose voice has traditionally been marginalized in Hollywood, particularly BIPOC, AAPI, LGBTQIA+, women over 45, and Disabled.

Signing & Staffing Success

Past winners of this competition have been signed to representation by Anonymous Content, Rosa Entertainment, APA, First Story Entertainment, Untitled Entertainment, Fictional Entity, The Buchwald Agency, and more!

December 2020 winner Lillian Wang was also recently staffed on a show for Netflix!

How to Enter (it's Free!)

To apply for this tribute, please submit in PDF format:

A one-page statement highlighting your diverse background and why you would be a valuable and hardworking member of the Career Writer Program.
A scripted writing sample (Pilot or Feature).

The deadline for entries is on the 3rd of each month.

Roadmap truly wants the winning recipient to get the most out of the program. For that reason, winners are expected to attend each session and complete all assignments to the fullest of their ability. Writers who fail to complete any assignment or attend any of the classes during the first two weeks of the program will forfeit their spot for the remainder of the program.

View our complete rules and guidelines here.

Submit now

Past Tribute Winners

Rebecca Jordan Smith

May 2022

Toyi Ward

April 2022

Alejandra Gracia

February 2022

Larry Coleman

January 2022

Robert A.

December 2021

Sierra Sanborn

November 2021

Blaine Ross

October 2021

Larry Collins

September 2021

Kathryn Orwig

August 2021

Helen Fernandez

July 2021

Latasha Mercer

June 2021

Vanita Borwankar

May 2021

Jason Coombs

April 2021

Ashley V. Hudson

March 2021 (Co-winner)

Candace Patrick

March 2021 (Co-winner)

John Lowe

February 2021

Signed by The Buchwald Agency

Lore V. Olivera

January 2021

Lyric Fergusson

December 2020

Lillian Wang

November 2020

Signed by Rosa Entertainment
Staffed on Netflix show

Tarik Woodbine

October 2020

Quinton Stroud

September 2020

Jennifer Irons

August 2020

Kayona Ebony Brown

July 2020

Signed by Anonymous Content
Hired to write two featurettes for CBS & nominated for a Sports Emmy

Eljohn Macaranas

May 2020

Lori Beth Crawford

April 2020

Lenna Murisier

March 2020

Signed by Untitled Entertainment

Amena Kheshtchin-Kamel

February 2020 (Co-winner)

Signed by Seth Nagel Management
Signed by The Seymour Agency (from Roadmap Authors)
Landed two writing assignments with the producer of Netflix's RATCHED.