Screenplays

MOLLY BANDT is a public interest lawyer, screenwriter, and children’s book author/illustrator based in Madison, Wisconsin. She writes dark comedies, rom-coms, and thrillers both independently and with her writing partner and daughter, Celia Ramsey, who works as an Associate Producer for a production company in LA. As a writing team, they draw on their intergenerational experiences and fascination with the cheeky underbelly of midwest nice to create uniquely colorful characters and dialogue. Their dark comedy thriller, STURGEON GENERAL, was selected as a semifinalist in the Shore Scripts, Big Break, and Outstanding Screenplays competitions, and was a Second Rounder at AFF. Their rom-coms, CHRISTMAS IN CRYONIS and LAST BLUSH, were also Second Rounders at AFF and have placed in multiple other competitions. This year, they’re writing a low-budget, single location, comedic murder-mystery that Celia plans to direct. Like the family they come from, their creative partnership is chaotic, fun, and only awkward sometimes…

Screenplays available by request.

Sturgeon General: dark comedy thriller

When an infamous sturgeon fisherman dies in a mysterious hunting accident, his outcast daughter returns to Wisconsin to protect her family from a caviar crime ring and repair the relationships she left behind.

  • Semifinalist, Outstanding Screenplays 2025

  • Semifinalist, Shore Scripts 2025

  • Semifinalist, Big Break Screenwriting Competition 2024

  • Second Rounder, Austin Film Festival 2025

  • Finalist, Stage 32 Thriller Competition 2024

  • Launch Pad Top 50 Features 2024

  • Finalist, InkTip Pitch-to-Page 2024

  • Semifinalist, Filmmatic - Pitch Now Screenplay Competition Season 6

  • Semifinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Drama Feature Competition 2024

  • Quarterfinalist, Screencraft Feature Competition 2024

Christmas in Cryonis: comedy feature

When a desperate sci-fi filmmaker reluctantly accepts a job on a made-for-TV Christmas movie, she must learn about life, love, and teamwork from the curmudgeonly, alcoholic director and oddball cast and crew, as she faces the unscrupulous producer threatening to end her career for good… If SCHITT’S CREEK was a HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIE

  • Launch Pad Top 100 Features 2024

  • Semifinalist - Filmmatic Comedy Contest 2024

  • Second Rounder - Comedy Feature, Austin Film Festival 2023

  • Quarterfinalist - Page International Screenplay Competition 2023

  • Semifinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Competition 2024

  • Finalist - Female Voice Rock Film Festival - 2022

  • Semifinalist - Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition 2022

  • Semifinalist - Scriptation Showcase Feature Category 2022

Last Blush: rom-com featue

When a reclusive casino cover band musician falls for a warm-hearted mortician, he must confront his past, face the music, and decide if love is worth the hassle.

  • Second Rounder - Comedy Feature - Austin Film Festival 2025

  • Quarterfinalist - Outstanding Screenplay Feature Contest 2025

Gerryland: female driven political dramedy pilot

When protests erupt over a deeply unpopular mining project, an idealistic state senator must fight the forces of dark money and political gerrymandering to bring democracy back to Wisconsin.

  • Second Rounder, Drama Pilot - Austin Film Festival 2022

  • Quarterfinalist, Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices Screenplay Competition 2024

  • Semifinalist - Screencraft Virtual Pitch Competition Spring 2023

  • Quarterfinalist, Female Voices Rock, 2022