Red Planet Pictures & ITV Crown Writing Competition Winner

Genevieve Barr has won Red Planet Pictures and ITV’s bi-annual writing competition, Red Planet Prize, for her script Curio.

Barr, a deaf writer and actor from North Yorkshire, previously collaborated with screenwriter and playwright Jack Thorne on several projects, most recently on the factual drama Independence Day? How Disabled Rights Were Won for BBC Two. Receiving a script commission as part of her prize, she will now work with both Red Planet Pictures and ITV to develop Curio as a fresh and original four-part legal drama.

Curio examines the question of consent, centering on the family of a disabled man that accuses his girlfriend of rape, while a newspaper’s investigation throws up a spate of abuse cases surrounding the contentious issue of Facilitated Communication. Curio, a coming-of-age love story as well as a crime drama, tackles disability, social care, responsible journalism and language.

The Red Planet Prize runner-up is Nick Ahad for his script Apnay. He will receive development opportunities with Red Planet Pictures and ITV on the back of his script, which tells the story of a crime family in Bradford and the head of the family’s quest to appoint an heir before her death.

The judges for the writing competition included Red Planet Pictures CEO Tony Jordan, ITV Drama Commissioner Chloe Tucker, Red Planet Pictures Joint Managing Director Belinda Campbell, Red Planet Pictures Creative Consultant Kate Rowland and actor and writer Rhashan Stone (Keeping Faith, Apple Tree Yard).

Chloe Tucker, drama commissioner for ITV, said: “We have met so many great writers during this prize, and are delighted to announce Genevieve as the winner and Nick as the runner up. Genevieve’s writing is so visceral and surprising, it gets under your skin. We’re also very happy to recognize Nick’s work, which is incredibly entertaining. I want to thank everyone at Red Planet Pictures for helping us discover such brilliant talent.”

Kate Rowland, creative consultant for Red Planet Pictures, added: “We absolutely love running the Red Planet Prize, but this year has been truly exceptional. During an unprecedented time, these stories and writers reflect the kind of stories we want and need to tell—diverse, complex and original. A true writing talent, Genevieve’s script was captivating and as funny as it was emotional. Nick’s script was also one we couldn’t put down and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.”

Barr said: “I am totally overwhelmed and thrilled that Curio has been selected. Thank you so much to Red Planet and ITV for this opportunity and for their efforts in developing emerging writers. I can’t wait to get into the story.”

Stone said of the two winners: “I was captivated by Genevieve’s writing. She’s smart, confident and mischievous. She’s out to challenge our preconceptions and does so with humor, intelligence and emotional insight. Her voice feels so fresh, so authentic, I can’t wait to read more from this fiercely talented writer. Not only was I won over by Nick’s vibrant (and often violent) story of a Bangladeshi crime family, I was won over by Nick himself. Smart and charismatic—Apnay packs a punch and is just as vibrant, funny and full of life as he is.”