Sundance

Dorothy Pecoraro-Bertram has the winner of their first annual script initiative

Leading production, development and financing company Route One Entertainment and screenwriters resource organization Roadmap Writers today announced the winner of their first annual film and television competition to select a script for Route One’s option and development. The winning project is Sabiya, written by Dorothy Bertram.

The partnership with Roadmap Writers, championed by Vice President of Production & Development Sophia Dilley, highlights Route One’s continued support for upcoming talent and their dedication to finding projects with strong stories destined for creative excellence confirmed Route One CEO Russell Levine and Roadmap Writers Founder Joey Tuccio.

Route One will option Sabiya for 18-months adding the project to their growing, diverse development slate. As part of the development process, Route One will produce a proof of concept short film of the script to generate extra support and buzz for the project.  This was a model used for other independent features including Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash in order to drive development. Route One’s Russell Levine will produce the project and Sophia Dilley will co-executive produce alongside Roadmap Writers’ Joey Tuccio.

Launched in April 2016, Roadmap Writers provides screenwriters with access to seminars, pitch sessions, and workshops and connects new talent to producers and agents. Since its launch, the company has helped 19 screenwriters get signed to Circle of Confusion, Gotham Group, Gersh, The Shuman Company and more.

“We are so excited to collaborate with Roadmap Writers to present a fresh voice that aligns with our taste, said Dilley.  “We can’t wait to shepherd Sabiya through the development process and introduce Dorothy to the community.”

"Roadmap Writers was created to launch writers’ careers and we are thrilled to be working with Route One Entertainment to help bring Dorothy's powerful voice and poignant story to life" said Tuccio.”

Based on true events, Sabiya follows the harrowing journey of two young Yazidi women as they struggle for survival after being kidnapped by ISIS. The story is a page-turning tale of what it means to exist at the hands of violent extremist groups and what happens when women act to inspire positive change. 

Having traveled more than 30 countries, Dorothy Pecoraro Bertram is a self-described investigative voyager, global social issues are proximately interwoven in all her screenplays. She has a degree from Istituto Europeo di Design (Milan) and also studied film at UCLA and NYU. Dorothy's work is very character-driven and she believes fervently in using her talents to promote intellectual nourishment and connote social awareness. 

Route One is starting 2017 with two feature films in the Sundance Film Festival marking the third year in a row that they have had productions as part of the festival: making its world premiere is Landline reuniting director Gillian Robespierre and star Jenny Slate, as well as TIFF 2016 premiere Colossal starring Anne Hathaway to be distributed by Tom Quinn and Tim League’s NEON in 2017. Landline is produced in partnership with Oddlot Entertainment and Colossal in partnership with Voltage Pictures. Past films include critically acclaimed Tallulah acquired by Netflix, A Walk in the Woods, with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte, Free State of Jones starring Matthew McConaughey and Secret In Their Eyes with Academy Award winner Julia Roberts.