Winning Scriptwriters
The Georgia Film Academy recognizes high school students and teachers in a scriptwriting competition.
In support of future talent, the Georgia Film Academy (GFA) named four students and two teachers as winners of its 2024 high school scriptwriting competition. Participants submitted scripts for either a 10-minute play or a short film.
Abby Bullock from Johns Creek High School took first place in the 10-minute play category, and Abbas Kazmi from Peachtree Ridge High School got first in the short film category. Both winners received a $1,000 University System of Georgia (USG) scholarship. Emma Kevers from Milton High School received second place in the 10-minute play category, and Ethan Rehg from Midtown High School took the second prize in the short film category. Both received a $500 USG scholarship. Sonny Harding, a literature teacher and yearbook adviser at Marietta High School, and Benjamin DeWitt, a language arts teacher at Central Gwinnett High School, were “Teacher Selections” in their respective categories.
The contest received dozens of submissions, which were judged through blind evaluations by GFA curriculum and industry professionals as well as graduate students in the Writing for Young Adults program at Kennesaw State University.
Aaron Levy, director of the Master of Arts in Professional Writing (MAPW) program at Kennesaw State University and the lead trainer at GFA, says the competition highlights the creativity of Georgia’s high school students and paves the way for them to break into the film industry.
“The curriculum creates an opportunity for students to write for [something] bigger and better than a grade. When they’re learning how to write, their audience is more than just a teacher,” Levy says.
In addition to its work with the University System of Georgia, the Georgia Film Academy, which began operations in 2015, also supports the Technical College System of Georgia and independent institutions that offer courses in television, film, digital entertainment and more.
