Feral Mountains

THRILLER

A man with crippling anxiety is forced to move his family to a remote area of the Appalachians where they make a shocking discovery lurking in the mountains when their dog captures a baby monkey.

Notes on the Screenplay:

The screenplay effectively combines elements of family drama, psychological thriller, and shocking horror, while maintaining themes of personal growth, family bonds, and the ethical treatment of animals. Warren's character arc from an anxiety-ridden, passive individual to someone capable of handling crisis situations forms the emotional core of the story. The parallel between Warren's separation anxiety and the monkey mother-child separation experiment adds thematic depth to the narrative. The story also touches on important issues regarding animal testing and the ethical boundaries of scientific research, while ultimately delivering a message about the healing power of compassion and the importance of family support in overcoming personal challenges.

Team:

• Writer & Producer: Terry Podnar

• Producer: Jean-François Cavelier

• Poster & Concept Art: John Adam White

Status: In Development

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Recognition:

2025 Awards:

• Palm Springs Int’l Screenplay Contest - Finalist

• Chicago Script Awards - Best Thriller Screenplay

• Sacramento Independent Film Festival - Best Screenwriting

• Santa Ana Independent Film Awards - Best Unproduced Script

• Outstanding Screenplays Features Competition - Semi-Finalist

• Austin Int’l Art Festival - Best Unproduced Feature Screenplay

• Pageant Film Festival- Best Feature Screenplay

• Cult Movies Int’l Film Festival - Best Feature Screenwriting

• New York Int’l Film Awards - Best Feature Script

• International Gold Awards - Best Feature Script

• Florence Film Awards - Best Feature Script

• New York Movie Awards - Silver Award Winner

• London Movie Awards - Best Feature Script

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

• New York Script Awards - Finalist

• Amsterdam Movie Fest - Best Feature Script

• Hollywood Blood Horror Festival - Best Original Screenplay

• Oniros Film Awards - Best Feature Script

• Vegas Independent Film Award - Best Feature Script

• Vegas Movie Awards - Award of Excellence for Best Original Story

• Vegas Movie Awards - Award of Prestige for Best Feature Script

• Nature Without Borders Int’l Film Festival - Platinum Award Winner

• Madrid Int’l Movie Awards - Best Original Screenplay

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

• Paris Film Awards - Gold Award: Feature Script

• Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival - Exceptional Achievement for Best Unproduced Script

• Emerging Screenwriters Thriller Screenplay Competition - Semi-Finalist

• Emerging Screenwriters Action & Adventure Screenplay Competition - Semi-Finalist

• Emerging Screenwriters Horror Screenplay Competition - Top 10 Finalist

• Page Int’l Screenwriting Awards - Quarter-Finalist*

• Capital Fund Screenplay Competition - The Hot 100 List

• Festigious Int’l Film Festival - Best Thriller Screenplay

• Hollywood Int’l Indie Screenplay Awards - Winner for Best Drama Screenplay

• Depth of Field Int’l Film Festival - Platinum Award Winner

• Kraken Int’l Film Festival - Best Feature Screenplay

• Optimus Feedback Screenplay Competition - Top 20 Writers Finalist

• Script Symphony Award - Best Thriller Script

• Swedish Academy of Motion Picture Awards - Winner of Critic’s Choice Award

• Austin Film Festival Script Competition - Second Rounder

• Los Angeles Movie and Music Video Awards - Best Horror Screenplay

• HorrorFest Int’l Film Festival - Finalist

• WRPN.tv Screenplay Competition - Platinum Award Winner

2024 Awards:

• Hollywood Blvd Film Festival - Best Feature Screenwriting

• Hollywood Gold Awards - Gold Feature Script

• Script Symphony Award - Best Script Winner

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

• Zeal Int’l Film Festival - Best Feature Script

• Los Angeles Short Film Awards (Best Film Awards) - Best Thriller Screenplay

• NYC Independent Film Festival - Best Feature Screenwriting

• Filmovia Int’l Film Festival - Best Thriller Script

• Paris Film Awards - Silver Award

• Milan Gold Awards Int’l Film Festival - Silver Award

• Outstanding Screenplays TV Pilot Competition - Semi-Finalist

*The Page Int'l Screenwriting Awards is one of the top 10 screenwriting competitions in the United States with over 9,100 entries in 2025.