Broken Worlds

SCIENCE-FICTION

A family struggling to survive the devastating future effects of climate change is aided by a foreign stranger who helps them fight off a gang of marauders who covet a valuable resource - the family’s young daughter.

Notes on the Screenplay:

The screenplay explores themes of climate crisis, redemption, and family bonds. Set in a future devastated by environmental collapse, the story follows both a fractured human family and a grieving stranger exile as they navigate survival, trust, and sacrifice.

At its heart, the narrative is about connection – how strangers can become allies, and how past wounds can be confronted through acts of care. The stranger's flashbacks to a lost love echo the emotional struggles faced by Kira and Derek, reinforcing the script’s meditation on loss and healing across worlds.

Blending sci-fi elements with grounded emotional stakes, the story uses genre to pose human questions: What will the effect on humanity be in the near future? What does it mean to protect those we love? Can we find redemption in a broken world?

Marked by both survival and hope suggests that recovery begins with empathy, courage, and the willingness to keep moving forward into the unknown.

Team:

• Writer & Producer: Terry Podnar

• Producer: Jean-François Cavelier

• Poster & Concept Art: John Adam White

Status: In Development

GET INVOLVED

Recognition:

2025 Awards:

• London Director Awards - Finalist

• Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition - Finalist

2024 Awards:

• Palm Springs Int’l Screenplay Awards - Semi-Finalist

• San Francisco Independent Film Festival - Semi-Finalist

• Swedish Int’l Film Festival - Winner in Best Feature Script

• Hollywood Discovery Awards - Best Feature Screenplay

• London Movie Awards - Silver Award

• Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival - Winner

• Los Angeles Int’l Screenplay Awards - Finalist

• New York Movie Awards - Gold Award: Feature Script

• Miami Film Critic Award - Best Feature Script

• WRPN.tv Screenplay Competition - Silver Award

• Toronto Int’l Filmmakers’ Festival - Winner for Feature Script

• New York Screenwriting Awards - Best Feature Screenplay USA Winner

• Hollywood Int’l Golden Age Festival - Best Feature Script

• Silver Mask Live Festival Los Angeles - Best Feature Screenplay

• Depth of Field Int’l Film Festival Script Writing Competition - Gold Award Winner

• Creative World Awards - Finalist

• Los Angeles Film Awards - Best Sci-Fi Screenplay

• Gothamite Monthly Film Awards - Best Feature Film Script

• Zeal Int’l Film Festival - Best Feature Script

• NYC Int’l Screenplay Awards - Finalist

• Red Moon Int’l Film Festival - Best Feature Screenwriting

• 4th Dimension Independent Film Festival - Best Feature Script

• Filmmakers Connect Awards - Winner for Best Screenplay

• New York Film Awards - Best Sci-Fi Screenplay

• London Int’l Filmmakers Festival - Best Unproduced Feature Script

• London Int’l Filmmakers Festival - Best Unproduced Feature Script

• New York Film & Actress Award - Best Sci-Fi Screenplay

• New York Film & Actor Award - Best Sci-Fi Screenplay

• San Francisco Independent Filmmakers’ Contest - Best Screenplay

• StoryPros Awards Screenplay Contest - Finalist

• New York Film & Cinematography Festival - Best Feature Screenplay

• Santa Monica Int’l Film Awards - Best Unproduced Script

• Hollywood Int’l Indie Screenplay Awards - Winner of Feature Screenplay Contest

• On Coverfly’s The Red List - Top 1% of Discoverable Projects

• Scriptation Showcase Script Competition - Semi-Finalist

• WRPN Sci-Fi/Horror Int’l Film Festival - Gold Award

• Vail Film Festival Screenplay Competition - Semi-Finalist

• Shore Scripts Feature Screenplay Contest - Semi-Finalist

• StoryPros - Finalist

• The Southern California Screenplay Competition - Finalist