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, won the Best Comedy award in the 2025 Shore Scripts competition, semi-finalist in the Big Break competition, and was a Second Rounder at the Austin Film Festival (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…
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.
Winner, Comedy Genre, Shore Scripts 2025
Semifinalist, Emerging Screenwriters’ Thriller Competition 2026
Semifinalist, Outstanding Screenplays 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
The Mysterious Affair at Stone Fences: coming-of-age comedy/mystery (in production)
They’re naive, immature, and on the case. When two high school girls stumble across a possible murder while working at an eclectic farm wedding, they must convince the “adults” in the room to take them seriously.
Last Blush: rom-com feature
A reclusive 80s rock star hiding in plain sight in a casino cover band must confront his past when he falls for a warm-hearted mortician whose son is accused of plagiarizing his music.
Second Rounder - Comedy Feature - Austin Film Festival 2025
Quarterfinalist - Emerging Screenwriters Comedy Contest 2026
Quarterfinalist - Outstanding Screenplay Feature Contest 2025
Christmas in Cryonis: rom-com 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
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