Three Emerging Canadian Voices Receive 2025 Writers’ Block Crystal Awards; CSSC Seeks To Produce Next Slate of Award-Winning Short Films

Toronto, Canada (May 24, 2025) — After 6 months of spell-binding and memorable journeys through thousands of pages from hopeful screenwriters, the CSSC concludes the 6th edition of the Canadian Short Screenplay Competition with the unveiling of its 2025 Writers’ Block Crystal Awards honouring the top three screenplays selected from a competitive field of global storytelling talent.

The industry-based jury (included BAFTA-winner Claire Urquhart (S4C), Glenn Cockburn (Meridian Artists), Suri Parmar (screenwriter and former CSSC-winner), Toby Fountaine (screenwriter, director), Tua Harno (Helsinki Film), and Emmy-nominee David Cormican), awarded top honours during the during Yorkton Film Festival’s Golden Sheaf Awards gala to: 

• The Sound of Trees written by Michael Young received the Best in Fest Grand Prize;

• Last Meal: A Love Story written by Betty Robertson earned the second place Golden Cinema Award; while 

• HAIL! written by Lee Murray Chetwynd claimed the Silver Screen Award in third place

As part of the CSSC’s mission to champion new voices in screenwriting and help bring exceptional short scripts to life, each of the three winners will receive an option and purchase agreement— valued at $1,000, $500, and $250, respectively.

“I’d like to extend my gratitude and thanks to our dedicated jury and all our scribes who have generously shared their hearts and their pages with us,” said David Cormican, CSSC Founder and Festival Director. “I also want to thank the team at Yorkton Film Festival whose passion and dedication have helped bring this competition to life through their exceptional hospitality —we couldn’t do it without them. To Michael, Betty and Lee; I can’t wait to see what’s in store for each of you.”

The award ceremony concludes a successful relaunch of the CSSC after a 12-year hiatus. Originally founded in 2008 by Cormican, it has been the premier screenwriting competition known for elevating unproduced screenplays into acclaimed short films amongst international film festivals and audiences such as Festival de Cannes.

The competition draws in entries from all around the world, showcasing a diverse range of voices, genres and ideas. Beyond the top three honourees, the 2025 edition’s final placement is as follows:

(4) Amuse Me written by Jason Long

(5) We Vampires written by Matthew Heiti

(6) One Night in Marengo written by Christin Butcher

(7) The Last Cut written by Jamie Powter

(8) Mother, Daughter, Deprogrammer written by Huelah Lander

(9) Host written by Jenna Schaefer

(10) The Right To Die written by Cicy Nie

(11) What We Left Behind written by Claudine Yip

(12) Have You Eaten Yet? written by Sherry Li

(13) Burrow written by Swaroop Elamon

Following a successful relaunch and an influx of submissions in 2025, CSSC organizers have confirmed that the 2026 edition is expected to open for submissions later this year on FilmFreeway, giving screenwriters across Canada and worldwide, another shot at the prestigious Writers’ Block Crystal Awards. Writers are encouraged to prepare their screenplays now for submission to the 2026 edition.