Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal’s Untested Rape Kit Drama ‘Backlog’ Wins Stage 32 & Catalyst Studios’ Empowering Women Script Contest

EXCLUSIVE: L.A. filmmaker Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal has won the first edition of Stage 32 and Catalyst Studios’ Empowering Women Script Competition for her social impact film Backlog.

The drama is inspired by the real-life U.S. Senate Hearing to end the national backlog of millions of untested rape kits.

More from Deadline

• Stage 32 & Catalyst Studios Unveil Script Development Program Finalists & Announce Berlinale MD Mariette Rissenbeek As A Mentor

• Third Annual Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative Set

• 'Insecure' Alum Mike Gauyo & Stage 32 Open Submission For 3rd Year Of Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative

It follows a young college sexual assault victim who becomes a key witness. After years of reclaiming her life following a brutal attack that was never brought before the courts due to an untested rape kit, she musters her strength to be a voice of hope for women globally.

Rosenthal will receive a $5,000 option and be eligible for up to $3 Million in financing for the film from Catalyst Studios.

She will also be mentored by outgoing Berlinale Managing Director Mariette Rissenbeek, who will be taking on some development and production projects following her departure from the festival at the end of this year’s edition.

The winning feature project expands Rosenthal’s award-winning 2023 short film of the same name, which won the Oscar-qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival and was also in the selection of the Emerging Filmmakers Showcase at the American Pavilion in last year.

Rosenthal is a recent graduate of USC’s Masters in Fine Arts in Film and Television Production. She is repped by 3 Arts Entertainment.

She was among 11 finalists selected from more than 1,000 scripts submitted to industry training platform Stage 32 & Catalyst Studios’ Empowering Women and Non-Binary Script Development Program from 37 countries.

“We are blown away by the incredible talent that came in from around the world from the Stage 32 community,” said Stage 32 Managing Director Amanda Toney.

“It was clear that Backlog is a story that needs to be told, and Catalyst Studios and their commitment to inspiring change in storytelling is the perfect partner for this.”

The Catalyst team will collaborate with Rosenthal on development, while Stage 32 will provide educational support for script development.

“Finding such a powerful voice in storytelling that can catapult a conversation to spark change is rare and we knew immediately that Jacqueline’s story needed to be told. We look forward to developing the script and beginning the conversation about such an important topic,” said Catalyst President Holly Levow.

Catalyst Studios was launched in 2022 as a joint venture between social entrepreneur Levow, producer Paul Kampf of Equitas Entertainment, and Mark Pennell of Beacon Pictures, with a focus on emerging talent and diverse storytelling.

Levow, Pennell and communication head Giulia Lupetti are at the EFM this year to secure European distribution for the first completed films and productions coming down the the pipeline which include Follow Me, Broken Bird, Alix and Switch and Bird.

Best of Deadline

• Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2024: Photo Gallery & Obituaries

• Berlin Film Festival 2024: ‘Cuckoo’ & ‘La Cocina’ Premieres On Day 2

• 2024 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.