MONIKA MORENO-LAPP
WRITER
ABOUT HER
She writes mostly dramedies and tragic journal entries. Her strong but flawed characters reflect the triumph of the human spirit, with unique voice, raw emotion and whip smart humor.
Monika is a recent recipient of THE WRITERS LAB NYC, supported by Meryl Street and Nicole Kidman. She studied Screenwriting for Film & Television at UCLA's Writer Program while running the acclaimed Angelus Student Film Festival in Hollywood as Festival Director. Her first screenplay, EMERALD CITY BLUES won 3rd place at UCLA. Her subsequent screenplays took 1st place at THE SANTA CATALINA FILM FESTIVAL 1st place BLUE CAT FILM FESTIVAL, 2nd place BIG BEAR FILM FESTIVAL among many other accolades. Her superpowers included curating films and finding first time filmmakers that became Oscar nominees/winners.
WHIRLWIND
* Top 1% Coverfly 2024
2023 Nicholl Fellowships, Semi-Finalist (150/5599)
2021 The Writers Lab NYC, Winner
2023 Cinestory Retreat QF
2021 Big Break Final Draft, Semi-Finalist
2021 Santa Barbara Int'l Screenplay Awards, Finalist
2021 Toronto Women Int'l, Official Selection
2021 LA Independent Women Film Awards, Official Selection
2021 WeScreenplay, Semi-finalist
2021 Filmmatic Drama, QF
LATEST NEWS & AWARDS
SUMMER OF DIVA LOCA
Dramedy
2024 Santa Barbara Int'l Screenplay Awards, FINALIST
ALLY ALL OVER AGAIN
comedy feature
TOP 3% COVERFLY (2023)
2024 Screencraft Comedy Competition, QF
FInal Draft Big Break, QF
SELECTION Austin Comedy Film Festival
Semi-finalist,
Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards
Script Pipeline, QF
2024 QF, UNIQUE VOICES SCREENWRITING COMPETITION
WHIRLWIND
other ACCOLADES
LEFT AT ALBUQUERQUE aka ALBUQUERQUE
2nd place, Hot Springs Screenplay Competiton
1st place, HBO Montage Screenwriting Competition
Winner, Telluride Indiefest
2nd place, Big Bear Film Festival
ANGEL'S GATE / THE STOWAWAY
1st place, Blue Cat Screenwriting Competition
1st place, Santa Catalina Film Festival (screenwriting)
Finalist, Long Beach Intl Film Festival
EMERALD CITY BLUES
3rd place, UCLA Screenwriting
PRODUCED HALF HOUR RADIO DRAMAS
Written in English, translated to Spanish for Latino Radio Series, FTP
THE MIDGET AND THE MUSIC, 30 min radio drama
THE SHIP OF FOOLS, 30 min radio drama
THE FINAL SEASON, 30 min radio drama
2021 FILM & TV SCRIPTS
WHIRLWIND
Drama, dramedy crime feature
Maureen's plans to leave are disrupted by a child whose mother disappeared. When the mother turns up dead, Maureen becomes entangled in a case which may hit too close to home.
* The Writer's Lab, WINNER
* Santa Barbara Int'l Screenplay Awards, FINALIST
* WeScreenplay, Diverse, Semi-Finalist
*Toronto Int'l Women Film Fest, Official Selection
* LA Independent Women Film Awards, Selection
ALLY ALL OVER AGAIN
comedy feature
When ALLY MENDOZA reluctantly returns to her Latino family’s home for Christmas, she unwittingly sets off a chain reaction that catapults her back in time to Christmas 1995.
COMPS: 17 AGAIN meets ABOUT TIME and BACK TO THE FUTURE with a Latino twist .
NON-PROPHETS
comedy pilot 30 mins
A disgraced Latina rising businesswoman (30s) agrees to community service at a faith based non-profit, despite having no faith herself.
The series has the quirky ensemble of PARKS AND REC, the heart of UNBELIEVABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT and the female energy of DEAD TO ME.
SUMMER OF DIVA LOCA
YA Dramedy Feature
When AVALON’s mom leaves her at the projects for the summer, Avalon (15) is determined to find a way out. In navigating this new world, Avalon finally meets her dad but didn’t count on meeting GILBERTO (17) — a first love with complications.