EXCLUSIVE: Harvard University’s writer incubation program, Harvardwood, has named the winners of its 2025 Writers Competition. Yael Schick won the feature category with her script Mazel Tov?, with Gwen Thomas dominating both the TV category and the Most Staffable Writer category with Not That Deep.
Now in its 19th year, Harvardwood’s winners were selected by a panel of industry professionals in a blind judging process. Each will be mentored by leading TV and film professionals, read by top producers, and considered for representation at established agencies and management companies, also receiving a cash prize. This year’s program mentors are Michael Colton (A Futile and Stupid Gesture, Penguins of Madagascar) and Scott Weinger (Black-ish, Galavant).
“At a time of greater uncertainty for emerging writers in our industry, we are excited to highlight Yael and Gwen and to utilize Harvardwood’s resources to support their unique voices,” said Harvardwood founder Mia Riverton Alpert.
In recent years, participants in the Harvardwood Writers Program and Competition have seen success with pilot sales to ABC, the CW, Disney+, The Jim Henson Company, Netflix, Showtime, Sony, Syfy, and TV Land, in addition to blind script deals at ABC Studios and Warner Bros., Harvardwood writers have been staffed on over two dozen notable TV series. Participants have also secured representation with 3 Arts, Apostle, Benderspink, Brant Rose Agency, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, CAA, Circle of Confusion, Echo Lake, Gersh, ICM, Madhouse Entertainment, Entertainment 360, Mosaic, Original Artists, UTA, WME, and others.
Read more about this year’s winners and their projects below.
FEATURE Category Winner:
MAZEL TOV? by Yael Schick
Jennifer always said she’d support her kids no matter what. But when her son Max returns from a year abroad and announces that he is Orthodox and getting married ASAP, she must find a way to get him to the chuppah with her family— and her sanity—intact.
TV Category Winner:
NOT THAT DEEP by Gwen Thomas
Two ugly teenage mermaids become the subject of a nature documentary cataloging their achingly embarrassing high school experiences in this half-hour animated comedy.
Harvardwood’s Most Staffable Writer:
Gwen Thomas (NOT THAT DEEP)
Gwen was awarded the additional honor of “Most Staffable Writer” because her outstanding TV pilot was incubated in the Harvardwood Writers Program.
