Ryan Clarke is an Albuquerque-based screenwriter and playwright whose work blends dark comedy, social satire, and intimate character drama. Across a slate of 20+ feature scripts, his stories often follow deeply flawed people pushed into impossible situations, finding humor, tension, and humanity in characters who are entirely in over their heads.
His screenwriting recognition includes Grand Prize Winner, 30th Annual Fade In Awards Comedy Competition (#FightForNoah); Semifinalist, 2026 PAGE Awards Semifinalist (#FightForNoah, Aura,); 2026 Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Competition (#FightForNoah, The Oasis, AURA, & Ghsot of the Highway); 30th Annual Fade In Awards Comedy Competition (The Trencherman); Semifinalist, 30th Annual Fade In Awards Thriller Competition (Flashbang); 2026 Top 10 Finalist, ISA Table Read My Screenplay at Cannes (A Walking Shadow); 2026 Outstanding Screenplays TV Pilot Competition & 2026 Semifinalist, BlueCat TV Writing (The High Priest pilot), Six-time 2026 PAGE Awards Quarterfinalist, (#FightForNoah, Aura, Dead Signals, Karma, The Finalists, and The Molecule); 2026 Quarterfinalist, Finish Line Script Competition (#FightForNoah); two-time 2026 Semifinalist, ISA's Emerging Screenwriters Competition (Flashbang and Ghost of the Highway), 2026 Quarterfinalist, ISA's Emerging Screenwriters Horror Competition among others.
As a playwright, Ryan is a three-time winner of FUSION Theatre Company’s short works festival, “The SEVEN”, in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The stage version of A Walking Shadow was also selected for The Road Theatre Company’s 17th Summer Playwrights Festival.
Recent Recognition
2026 has been a breakthrough year for Ryan Clarke, a talented screenwriter and playwright, with recognition from Fade In, PAGE Awards, Final Draft's Big Break, ISA, Finish Line, The Road Theatre Company in North Hollywood, FUSION Theatre, and many more! These honors celebrate his works in dark comedy, social satire, dr