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FOR PRODUCERS

SYNOPSIS

Inspired by Roman Polanski's "The Ninth Gate" while working as a wildlife biologist, "Winter Bird" is a Gothic adventure in the wilds of Alaska. In this slow-burn, high-concept, character-driven story with strong Native American themes, two individuals, are recovering from distinct horrific experiences. The first, a former physician with family ties to the Jamestown, S'Klallam tribe, is currently employed as a librarian. He is slightly delusional since helping his fair-haired wife commit suicide.

One slow evening in the Rare Book Room, he meets what a nurse with amber eyes and blond hair. Murdered while pregnant 100 years ago, she was resurrected by her snowy owl. She locates a set of antique herb books needed to heal an infant whom she found on the library steps. She attempts to vanish with Volume 1.

An Irish-American science student with Attention-Deficit Disorder helps his old family physician/mentor track the herbal thief to a mountaintop cabin. At her snowbound aerie, beneath a gibbous moon, her sensual vampire persona glows crystal clear, prompting a life-or-death struggle for truth and mutual redemption.

Script @ Writers Guild of America-West (#1872030)

script available at www.inktip.com

The script has won many Annual Awards worldwide, including “Best Uncomissioned Screenplay” at the Oxford International Film Festival (UK 2020), Cannes Screenplay Contest "Thriller/Suspense Competition" (FR 2019), and Alaska International Film Awards "Feature Script" (AK 2019).

As featured in FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND # 289, p. 197:

"WINTER BIRD began as a stage play drafted for the Edward Albee Theatre Conference in Valdez, Alaska. I hesitate to argue with my wife, who claims she commanded me to write a play about a vampire, deriving from all those long winter nights our family of four was experiencing in Anchorage. The play is 100% recognizable to anyone who ever lived in Alaska -- Anchorage library, fur-trapper's cabin, sled dogs, northern lights, an Eskimo legend..."

"Wishing you nothing but the best with your project, jd". (J.D. Barker)

SELECT wins (2024)

WINNER "NewYorker Indie Critics' Choice Awards 2024"

(IT 2024)

AWARD WINNER "Best Fantasy Script"/"Best Original Writer"

(IRL 2024)

GOLD AWARD "Feature Script"

(FR 2024)

WINNER "Best First 10 Pages"

(CA 2024)

AWARD WINNER "Best American Original Screenplay (ESP 2024)

WINNER "Feature Unproduced Script"

(FR 2024)

WINNER "Best Unproduced Script Feature" (CA 2024)

AWARD WINNER "Best Screenwriting; Best Unproduced Script" (BEL 2024)

AWARD WINNER "Grand Prix Feature Screenplay" (IT 2024)

AWARD WINNER "Best Arthouse Writer of the Year" (IR 2024)

AWARD WINNER "Best Unproduced Feature" (ESP 2024)

TOP Awards (2021-2022)

BEST FEATURE SCRIPT

(UK 2022)

WINNER: "Best Feature Script"

(FR 2022)

AWARD WINNER "Best Feature Screenplay" (AUS-GER 2022)

AWARD WINNER: "Best Dialogues in Script" (SCO 2022)

WINNER "Best Horror Feature Screenplay"

(CA 2022)

WINNER: "Screenplay Award"

(JP 2022)

RUNNERUP: "Best Feature Script"

(NY 2022)

WINNER: "Screenplay Award"

(DE 2022)

WINNER "Best Unproduced script for a long feature film" (CAN 2022)

WINNER: "Best Un-produced Feature Screenplay"

(AUS 2022)

WINNER: "Best Feature Script"

(CAN 2021)

WINNER: "Screenplay Competition"

(CA 2021)

TOP Awards 2017-2019

Annual Award "THRILLER/SUSPENSE COMPETITION" (FR 2019)

["Congratulations on your truly outstanding work. We will do our best to continue to promote your success in the industry."]

Annual Award (AK 2019)

["Reflecting the highest degree of excellence... We congratulate you and praise the talent and craftsmanship in your outstanding work." ]

WINNER: "Best Horror Screenplay"

(UK Aug 2019)

Annual Award (CA 2018)

WINNER "Best Horror Screenplay"

Annual Award (CA 2017)

["We all loved your script. We hope it gets made."]

Reader Comments

Slamdance (2023)

"Captivating premise that's an interesting twist on the paranormal genre. Promises a stunning escapist journey with its Alaskan setting. The screenplay expertly weaves together elements of mystery and horror to create a truly intriguing and sometimes poignant story. The dialogue is both natural and authentic."

Reno-Tahoe Screenplay Contest (2022)

"From the analyst's subjective standpoint, the most appealing or significant aspects of Winter Bird are its novel concept. A mystic indigenous legend and a modern-day librarian who helped his wife commit suicide are bound together by fate and a psychological, subconscious connection. This is a unique concept that the writer manages to do a lot with in the runtime of this film. There are wonderful reversals, changes of pace, plot twists, and unique character decisions. It's all very unpredictable and fresh.
.

Chicago Screenplay Awards (2021)

"One of the script's most attractive qualities are its characters. This setting and the characters that inhabit it are compelling and authentic. This helps drive the script forward in a positive direction. The reader can discern and summarize the main concept rather quickly. A former physician is drawn into the world of an "owl-woman." There are other details that help clarify the story's intent, but this is the main concept. The logline is clear and communicable. The writer formats this script according to standard industry conventions. There are no glaring formatting or spelling errors that would detract from the reading experience of this story. The dialogue in this script is somewhat nuanced. There are some on-the-nose sections of dialogue, but these are outweighed by some solidly written, subtle exchanges. The writer manages to include a sense of underlying tension beneath conversations that feel normal. The script is generally easy to read. It does not require re-reading for comprehension. There is a logical flow from scene to scene."

Portland Screenplay Awards (2021)

"One of the most attractive features is the eerie tone that the writer establishes at the beginning of the script as Peter chats on the phone, unaware of what is going on outside his bookroom in the wintry night."

Thriller/Suspense Festival (2021)

"A really interesting concept where the mythical and natural world collide."

Oxford International Film Fest (2020)

"A Gothic tale of an Alaskan rare book librarian’s connection to his wife’s suicide and a subconscious entity."

The Golden Script - Glasgow (2019)

"The story is curious and enthralling, mostly by virtue of not being similar to anything else made before and because of its vivid imagery and dark realism that maintains a perfect balance with the fantastic elements. Yes, women turn into owl beasts and magic hats glow red, but there is also the gritty realism of the environment to make it all seem real and even possible. Dirt, grime, blood and other mundane elements combine to make the story feel grounded."

Development Executive, Tailored Films - Dublin (2018)

"I particularly enjoyed the Beckettesque dialogue. The surrealist nature of the characters conversations were very sharp and engaging."

Academy Nichols Feedback (2018)

"Fantasy imagery in this script is strongly cinematic. On page 44, especially, when a fog pours into a library and transforms into a woman with wings, imagery is especially powerful. I believe fantasy imagery is one of this script's strongest elements."

Los Angeles Film Awards (2018)

"Congratulations on winning Best Horror Screenplay. Our jury loved your work on Winter Bird. It is highly engaging and we hope you take pride in it! Great writing. Thank you for being a part of LAFA18! ❤Best Regards, Nami, Roy and the LAFA team"

UK Film Festival - London (2018)

"...the committee enjoyed reading Winter Bird and it made it past the final cut... This is no mean feat and we want you to know that we appreciate your creativity and professionalism."

Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards (2018)

"Our industry professional judges have carefully read and considered over 2500 submissions... you should feel proud of the fact that your script--after being closely reviewed by multiple judges--was ranked as among the Top 15% of all entries received."

13Horror.com (2018)

"You write to an extremely impressive standard and Winter Bird represents a very original idea delivered in glorious Gothic style, even boasting its very own Woman in White. There’s a nice blend of tension and humor throughout and they are well balanced against each other. Alfred stood out for me – very amusing and likeable."

Slamdance Screenplay (2017)

"This is an intriguing and compelling adaptation of the play by the same name... as the author sets up the world, characters and the events that unfold, it becomes clear that things are not what they seem in this quaint Alaskan town. What is additionally refreshing is the subtle weaving of moments of magical realism that pushes the narrative further into what is fantasy, dreams and legends. Overall this is a unique refashioning of typical vampiric lore while remaining contained and grounded in the rules and mythos originally established in the first several pages."

Seattle International Film Festival (2017)

"The writer succeeds at creating a clear sense of setting and time. Descriptions and details of the physical world (i.e. exemplifying the tundra of Alaska through different animals) were cinematic and instilled a very intense image of Alaska's natural beauty. The story was propelled, almost exclusively by dialogue without being overly expository -- this was a major strength of the script. The dialogue was original and engaging. The characters, and their interpersonal relationships, felt realistic and impactful; their relationships with one another were genuine. Each character had their own distinct voice. Also, the use of a diverse set of characters is refreshing and automatically makes the story-world more intriguing."

Holly Interlandi, Executive Editor, Famous Monsters of Filmland (2017)

"Appreciate it! Winter Bird is fantastic, by the by. Amazing Dialogue."

About Us

Winter Bird Story

Screenplay Awards (by year)

The Stage Play

In a Rare Book Room, a former physician/now librarian, haunted by his wife's assisted suicide, meets an amber-eyed woman seeking ancient herbals to rescue a foundling girl. The woman is a shapeshifter from Alaskan Native legend.

Murdered while pregnant 100 years ago, she haunts the woods near Anchorage, often as a snowy owl, seeking

Murdered while pregnant 100 years ago, she haunts the woods near Anchorage, often as a snowy owl, seeking someone to share the full horror of her paranormal origin. Seemingly intrigued by the librarian, she vanishes abruptly.

A rambunctious science student helps explain the missing herb books and a gruesome murder in front of the library. He patiently emboldens his increasingly delusional mentor to track the woman to a snowy mountain cabin where her shapeshifting becomes obvious.

At her aerie, beneath a gibbous moon, her bloodthirsty persona glows crystal clear, prompting a life-or-death struggle for truth and a risky redemption.

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The Stage Play

Screenplay Awards (by year)

The Stage Play

The stage play "Winter Bird, A Gothic Fantasy in Three Acts" (copyright 1995 by Stephen Delos Treacy) was drafted during 20 years in Alaska, researching marine mammals & seabirds by day and doing theatre (Actors' Equity & Dramatists Guild) by night.

It was read @ Edward Albee Theatre Conference (Valdez AK), it won Honorable Mention at Virt

The stage play "Winter Bird, A Gothic Fantasy in Three Acts" (copyright 1995 by Stephen Delos Treacy) was drafted during 20 years in Alaska, researching marine mammals & seabirds by day and doing theatre (Actors' Equity & Dramatists Guild) by night.

It was read @ Edward Albee Theatre Conference (Valdez AK), it won Honorable Mention at Virtual Theatre Project's "The Pen Is A Mighty Sword" play-writing competition 2008-09.

The play premiered October 2015 in Seattle, under Actors' Equity Association Members' Project Code. Drama In The Hood "The artistic direction here is one of the more successful aspects of the production. Lighting is used to good effect, providing dark, moody scenes and the use of the color red to emphasize key moments. The costumes are well chosen, too, with a good 90’s feel. This particularly applies to one outfit, which really embodies the grunge aesthetic prevalent in that time period."
Steve has written a tantalizing play called Winter Bird that was staged at Eclectic Theater by Tony Doupe and Klae Bainter. An enjoyable experience!" (Rik Deskin, President, Seattle SAG-AFTRA, 2016). It was in the top-10 grossing productions at that theater.

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Screenplay Awards (by year)

Stephen Delos Treacy, Galwegian-American screenwriter (NW Screenwriters Guild/SAG-AFTRA) adapted the screenplay from his stage play at The Film School, Seattle. No sooner was "Winter Bird" revamped (2017), than it began winning a long streak of screenplay contests (48 Awards to date).

2024

WINNER: "NewYorker Indie Critics' Choice 2024":  @

Stephen Delos Treacy, Galwegian-American screenwriter (NW Screenwriters Guild/SAG-AFTRA) adapted the screenplay from his stage play at The Film School, Seattle. No sooner was "Winter Bird" revamped (2017), than it began winning a long streak of screenplay contests (48 Awards to date).

2024

WINNER: "NewYorker Indie Critics' Choice 2024":  @ 8 & Halfilms (IT);

WINNER: "Best Fantasy Script" & "Best Original Writer": Dublin Indie Screen Festival (IRL) [New Cinema Festival];

AWARD WINNER: "Best First 10 Pages" Hollywood International Indie Screenplay Awards (CA);

WINNER: "Best Arthouse Writer of the Year" (IRL);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Unproduced Feature": Madrid Arthouse Film Festival (ESP);

GOLD AWARD WINNER: "Feature Script" @ Paris Film Awards (FR);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Character Design": Brisbane International Film Union (AUS);

AWARD WINNER: "Best American Original Screenplay": International Academy Arthouse Fest (ESP);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Screenwriting; Best Unproduced Script" @ Brussels World Film Festival (BEL);

WINNER: "Best Screenplay Feature" San Diego Independent Cinema Awards (CA);

AWARD WINNER: "Grand Prix Feature Screenplay" @ Kraken International Film Festival (IT);

WINNER: "Best Indie Author of the Year": 8 & Halfilm Awards, Special Event in Cannes (FR);

AWARD WINNER: "Feature Script": Frida Film Festival (FR);

AWARD WINNER: "Feature Script": Hollywood Gold Awards (CA);

2023
AWARD WINNER: "Best Unproduced script in a feature film": London International Filmmakers Festival (UK);

AWARD WINNER: "Best International Feature Script": Switzerland Film Fest and Screenplay Competition (CH);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Horror Screenplay": Sydney Film and Screenplay Festival (AUS);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Feature Script" & "Best Fantasy": 8 & Halfilm Awards (IT);

AWARD WINNER: "Psychological Screenplay": Chicago Script Awards (IL);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Unproduced Script": Monte Carlo Movie Awards (CAN);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Horror Screenplay": Filmatic Filmfare (UK);

AWARD WINNER: "Feature Script": London Movie Awards (UK);

GOLD AWARD WINNER: "Feature Script": New York Movie Awards (NY);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Unproduced Script (Feature)": San Jose Independent Film Festival (CA);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Drama/Thriller Screenplay": Vegas Movie Awards (NV);

AWARD WINNER: "Feature Unproduced Script": Rotterdam Independent Film Festival (NTL);

2022
AWARD WINNER: "Best Feature Script": Paris Film Awards (FR);

WINNER "Best Feature Screenplay": ORION International Film Festival (AUS/DEU);

AWARD WINNER "Best Original Screenplay": Sin City Festival (NV);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Un-Produced Feature Script": Hybrid Genre Australia, Melbourne Film Awards (AUS);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Feature Script": Stanley Film Awards (UK);

RUNNER UP: "Best Feature Screenplay": Katra Film Series (NYC);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Feature Screenplay": Silver Mask Live Festival (CA);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Un-Produced Feature Screenplay": International Cosmopolitan Film Festival of Tokyo (JP);

WINNER: "Screenplay": Dreams Catcher International Film Festival (INDIA);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Horror Script": Gold Star Movie Awards (NJ);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Unproduced Script (long feature film)": Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift (CAN);

AWARD WINNER: "Screenplay": Nature Without Borders International Film Festival (DE);

AWARD WINNER: "Screenplay Competition": WRPN.tv (DE);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Dialogues in Script": Echonation Audio and Film Festival (UK);

AWARD WINNER: "Best First Time Screenwriter Feature": Festigious International Film Festival (CA);

TOP-3 SCREENPLAY: New Hampshire Film Festival (NH);

2021
WINNER: "Best Script": LA Sun Film Fest (CA);

WINNER: "Best Feature Script": Hybrid Genre Canada, Toronto Film Awards (CAN);

AWARD WINNER: "Screenplay Competition": Beverly Hills Film Festival (CA);

AWARD WINNER: "Screenplay Competition": Depth of Field International Film Festival (CA);

AWARD WINNER: "Best Unproduced Script (Feature)": Hollywood International Golden Age Festival (NY);

2020
WINNER: "Best Uncomissioned Screenplay": Oxford International Film Festival (UK);

WINNER: "Best Feature Script": Venice Film Awards (IT);

2019
AWARD WINNER: "Thriller Suspense Competition": Cannes Screenplay Contest (FR);

WINNER: "Best Horror Screenplay": London Independent Film Awards: (UK);

AWARD WINNER: "Feature Script": Hollywood Horrorfest (CA);

AWARD WINNER: "Feature Screenplays": Alaska International Film Awards (AK);

2018
WINNER: "Best Horror Screenplay": Los Angeles Film Awards (CA);

AWARD WINNER: Hollywood Screenplay Contest (CA);

2017
WINNER: "ACKERMAN IMAGI-MOVIES SCREENPLAY AWARD": Silver Scream Film Festival @ Famous Monsters of Filmland Convention (TX).

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IMAGE CONCEPTS

"I wasn't always a librarian."

[Statue of William Seward in front of Anchorage Main Library]

"My Great grandmother knew such a woman."

[Helen Konek walking into her igloo in Arviat, Nunavut in 1949]

"...Look! Look at this sky! These colors. Vivid far from the city. Come. Watch the green ribbons move, dance, expand. Inhale them. Breathe the green. The ribbons display themselves for us to see, to smell, to taste!"

"Shhhhh! Your body is tensing now. Like a caged bird."

"Almost like it never died."

Kwakiutl Owl Mask [from "Spirit and Ancestor" by Bill Holm]

Award-winning Winter Bird seeks Movie Producer

"On the same stump, in colorless moonlight"

FOR PRODUCERS

SELECT wins (2024)

SELECT wins (2023)

TOP Awards (2021-2022)

TOP 2020 AWARD

TOP Awards 2017-2019

current Focus

Now Seeking Producers

contact us

Help fledge this Gothic Thriller! Full script @ InkTip and The Black List

101 S. Palmer Dr., Port Townsend WA 98368

Reader Comments

About Us

Winter Bird Story

Screenplay Awards (by year)

The Stage Play

The Stage Play

Screenplay Awards (by year)

The Stage Play

Screenplay Awards (by year)

Screenplay Awards (by year)

Screenplay Awards (by year)

IMAGE CONCEPTS

AUDIO CONCEPT

Winter Bird Page 1