Kathryn Orwig

https://www.kathrynorwig.com/

Kathryn Orwig is a neurodiverse, award-winning screenwriter from Northern Michigan who crafts action-adventure dramas about characters pushed to their limits to protect those they most love. A Roadmap GPS Fellowship Winner, Page Finalist, and Nicholl’s Next 100 honoree, she has earned top placements in Roadmap’s Diversity Initiative, Roadmap’s Shorts Grand Prize, and more.

A University of Michigan grad (Go Blue!), she is mentored by Pixar screenwriter Jonathon E. Stewart through Narrative Drive. Named a Top 25 Writer to Watch (ISA) and a Top 10 Emerging Writer (Golden Script), Kathryn draws on her small-town upbringing to explore resilience and survival in her stories.

Honors & Awards

Finalist, Page Awards - PIRATE QUEEN OF THE RED FLAG FLEET - 2025

Winner, Roadmap GPS Fellowship - PIRATE QUEEN OF THE RED FLAG FLEET - 2024

Nicholl's Next 100, Nicholl Fellowship - NOT MY BROTHER - 2021

non-WGA

Female

PIRATE QUEEN OF THE RED FLAG FLEET

Feature | Action-Adventure

FURIOSA x PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN

Based on the true story of the ruthless Pirate Queen Ching Shih who led 40,000 pirates into a brutal clash with the Portuguese Navy and the Chinese Empire, she risked everything to save her crew before they succumbed to a watery grave—and she lived.

THE SWEETEST FARM

Feature | Rom-Com

It’s the Midwestern Polish version of You’ve Got Mail where Polish is Christmas.

When a small-town country woman’s cherry farm is threatened by a big city developer, they embark on a nature against progress struggle that’ll either rip the town apart by its roots or bring the community—and themselves—together.

NOT MY BROTHER

Feature | Action Adventure |

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN x 1917…but in the Civil War.

Inspired by my great-great-great-grandfather and his younger brother’s experiences.

A pragmatic Union soldier toughs out his injuries and embarks on an impossible rescue mission to free his reckless brother from a heavily-guarded Confederate POW camp.

Character-driven, Female-centric, Romantic, Fantasy, Historical/Alternative History, Coming-of-Age, International

Female

unrepped