Slamdance 2026 Screenplay Grand Prize Goes to James Oxyer's 'Termite'
Oxyer's horror/thriller script took the $10,000 top award at a ceremony hosted by AGBO in downtown Los Angeles.
James Oxyer's screenplay "Termite" won the grand prize at Slamdance's 2026 screenplay competition, a $10,000 award announced at a ceremony hosted by AGBO in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday night, according to IndieWire. The script also placed first in the horror/thriller category.
Wes Andre Goodrich's "Citizens" took first place in the feature category and will receive script coverage from Sony Pictures Classics. Aisha Amin was awarded the 2026 Slamdance Screenplay Stowe Fellowship for "The Redeemer," and Jake Allgeier's "Ravenous" received an honorable mention.
AGBO chief creative officer Angela Russo-Otstot presented the top prize. Category winners receive $2,000 each, while the 12 placed scripts get legal services from Pessah Law Group and one-year Roadmap Writers memberships.
The 2026 competition drew nearly 5,000 submissions and handed out more than $18,000 in prizes.
Long-running awards program
The Slamdance screenplay competition is in its 29th year. The awards program reports it has distributed more than $450,000 to emerging filmmakers to date. AGBO, which hosted the ceremony, was founded by "Avengers: Endgame" directors Anthony and Joe Russo.
Quick answers
Who won the Slamdance 2026 screenplay grand prize?
James Oxyer won the $10,000 grand prize for "Termite," which also placed first in the horror/thriller category.
What did the feature category winner receive?
Wes Andre Goodrich's "Citizens" took first place in the feature category and will receive script coverage from Sony Pictures Classics.
How many submissions did the 2026 competition receive?
Slamdance's 2026 screenplay competition received nearly 5,000 submissions and awarded more than $18,000 in prizes.