DEL SHORES FOUNDATION WRITERS FESTIVAL
MAY 8-10, 2026 PEnsacola, FL
Join us for the fourth
DEL SHORES FOUNDATION
WRITERS FESTIVAL
May 8-10, 2026, Pensacola, Florida
presented by
The Red Ribbon Charitable Foundation
at Pensacola Little Theatre
with Stamped Film Festival
THREE STAGE READINGS of the Writers Search Winning Scripts.
FOUR PANELS with experts in Theatre, TV & Film.
Smoke Breaks screening from our Best Short Winner.
One-On-One with Peter Paige of Queer As Folk and The Fosters.
ONE GREAT WEEKEND CELEBRATING LGBTQ+ WRITERS!
We are preparing a glorious weekend for our winners, writers and you! We're excited to bring this incredible new group of writers together in community with our experts, producers, professionals and enjoy the readings of our three winning plays together!
ALL READINGS AND PANELS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!
**Click the button for each title to register to attend FREE**
ALL EVENTS take place at our theatre partner PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE
400 S. Jefferson St., Pensacola, FL 32502
Nathan Blankenship
"Augusta"
Eric Gustafson
"Do You Take This...?"
OPENING NIGHT!
A two-part evening centered around a stage reading of the Del Shores Foundation Writers Search Short Film Award winner DO YOU TAKE THIS...? by ERIC GUSTAFSON. Followed by a special screening of SMOKE BREAKS, the completed film written and directed by Pensacola-based short winner, WILLIAM METTLACH.
The evening closes with "One-On-One with with Peter Paige" a fun and free-wheeling interview with the Queer As Folk star and writer/co-creator of the long running series The Fosters and Good Trouble. CLICK TO REGISTER.
Do You Take This...? reading starring
J.B. Cole
Ben Haupt
SaraBeth Mowad
Ashley Simmons
Nathan Simmons
Nathan Toepfer
Lendsey Von Krueger
We have FOUR daytime panels with a range of topics related to writing and working to get it made featuring experienced professionals in theatre and film! All panels include a Q&A at the end. **All panels are Free, but you must register through the links below to attend. If you want to attend all three, register through each link. We will have breaks between each panel and a one hour lunch break.
**CLICK EACH TITLE TO REGISTER FOR THE FREE PANEL**
10AM - BRINGING YOUR STORY TO LIFE
A panel on finding your story, the right medium for it and what to do when your story meets the real world of film production and coming to life on the stage! Moderated by DEL SHORES
11:30AM - MAKING IT HAPPEN YOURSELF
A panel of writers who have produced their own work in short film, film and theatre sharing their experiences of making it happen on their own! Moderated by EMERSON COLLINS
1:30PM - WRITING FOR TELEVISION
A panel on the world of television writing from pilots to writing rooms. Moderated by DEL SHORES
3:00PM - FROM PAGE TO PRODUCTION
A panel on the journey of working with the real world application of a script once it hits the director, the actors, the stage and the set. Moderated by EMERSON COLLINS
WEEKEND SPECIAL GUESTS & PANELISTS INCLUDE:
Playwrights Del Shores, Leslie Kimbell and
Matthew Scott Montgomery
Screenwriters Marisa Calin, Ariel Mahler,
William Mettlach, Peter Paige and Brianca Williams
Jameson L. Black
"ANIMALS ~or~
We Just Want Love..."
SATURDAY NIGHT CENTERPIECE, 7:30PM!
A stage reading of the Del Shores Foundation Writers Search Play Award winner ANIMALS ~oe~ We Just Want Love... by JAMESON L. BLACK. CLICK TO REGISTER.
ANIMALS ~or~ We Just Want Love... reading features
Eleanore Armani
James Platt
Gio Porreca
Nathan Simmons
Robbie Robertson
"The Invalid"
SUNDAY MATINEE CLOSING!
A stage reading of the Del Shores Foundation Writers Search Screenplay Award winner The Invalid by ROBBIE ROBERTSON. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
The Invalid reading starring
Brooke Hardy
Kathy Holsworth
Laynie Gibson
Jeff Glickman
Barbara Jacobs
Maureen McNeill
Ashley Simmons
Jannon Starratt