KinoWriter
ENES

SCREENWRITING FOR MAC

Your story,
in the spotlight.

A professional application for Mac: write in screenplay format, organize your scenes, and prepare the copies your team needs.

Focused on ease of use and distraction-free writing.

Request beta access

Free beta · All features

Application: macOS 12 or later.TestFlight beta: macOS 13 or later.

Vector illustration of KinoWriter with the Maya and Leo scenes

Bring the screenplay you already have.

Import and export Final Draft, Fountain, and PDF. Keep working on your screenplay and share copies in the formats your team uses.

.fdx.fountain.pdf

Your screenplay, in an editable file.

You choose where to save your screenplays. A .kinow file is KinoWriter’s editable format: it keeps the text, formatting, scene synopses, and comments together.

.kinow

FROM THE FIRST LINE TO THE FINAL SCENE

The story is yours.
The format is taken care of.

Scene headings, action, characters, and dialogue, each in its place. KinoWriter helps you keep the shape of a screenplay while you find what you want to say.

Keep the words flowing

Paragraph styles, name suggestions, and continuation marks help you stay with the scene.

Find your focus

Focus Mode and Unpaginated View let you choose how you want to work with the page.

Hear what you wrote

Reading Mode gives your screenplay a voice so you can listen back and review its rhythm.

A CLOSER LOOK

Every scene.
The whole picture.

Write on the page, arrange scenes in the Outline, and review comments anchored to the text. It all belongs to the same screenplay file.

Just you and the scene.

A clear page, screenplay formatting, and room for the words to arrive. Hide the panels whenever you want to concentrate on writing.

The beginning of the four-page Maya and Leo screenplay, with its panels hidden

FROM THE SCREENPLAY TO THE TEAM

The same page.
For everyone.

In production, “page 12, scene 8” needs to mean the same thing to everyone. Prepare a reference version that preserves the screenplay’s layout, then use it to print or export copies for the team.

That reference is saved as a .kinop file. The .kinow remains the original you can edit.

Stable paginationWatermarksPersonalized PDFs in batches
Explore .kinop production references
.kinowYOUR SCREENPLAY
.kinopPRODUCTION REFERENCE
First page of Maya and Leo exported from KinoWriter with a READING COPY watermark.pdf

One story. One shared reference.

View the watermarked PDF copy
  • Your editable screenplayWrite and revise the original in the .kinow file.
  • The team’s referenceExport a .kinop file that preserves the pages and scenes.
  • The PDF copiesChoose numbers, continuation marks, and watermarks.

BEYOND THE PAGE

Another perspective
on your screenplay.

Turn the information in your story into reports you can read, print, and share.

Excerpt from the actual Maya and Leo report: scenes, pages, characters, and synopses

An excerpt from the Maya and Leo Scene Report, generated in KinoWriter.

View the full report for all six scenes

Scenes

Browse the full scene list and its details, including each scene’s length and who appears in it.

Locations

A list of all locations and their scenes. Distinguish interiors, exteriors, and times of day.

Cast

See how many scenes feature each character, with or without dialogue.

Character dialogue

Read a character’s dialogue in one place to work on their voice or export their part.

Comments

Review comments and replies before preparing your next draft.

Five perspectives. The same screenplay.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

A few answers.

Which Mac do I need?

KinoWriter runs on many Macs from ten years ago, provided they support macOS 12 or later. It is a small application with modest memory requirements, built for Intel and Apple Silicon. The interface and help are available in English and Spanish.

Can I bring a screenplay from another app?

Yes. You can import Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain (.fountain), and text-based PDF files. Scanned PDFs are not supported. Save the imported screenplay as a .kinow document to continue working in KinoWriter. You can also export to Final Draft, Fountain, and PDF.

What is a .kinow file?

It is KinoWriter’s editable format. It stores the screenplay text and formatting, along with scene synopses, comments, and replies. This is the file you open to keep writing or reviewing your work. You can export copies in Final Draft, Fountain, or PDF when you need to share it in another format.

What is a .kinop production reference?

It is a reference edition made from your screenplay. It preserves the page and scene layout so your team can refer to the same places in the text. In KinoWriter, you can open it, read it, print it, and export PDF copies with your choice of page numbers, scene numbers, and continuation marks. The editable screenplay remains in the .kinow file.

Can I personalize copies for my team?

Yes. You can add watermarks when printing or exporting PDFs. From a .kinop reference, you can also export a batch of PDFs using a list of watermarks in a TXT or CSV file.

How do I share comments with someone else?

Comments and replies are saved in the .kinow file. You can share that file so someone else can open it in KinoWriter, add their notes, and send a copy back to you. This version does not synchronize changes or comments in real time.

How can I try KinoWriter?

The beta is free and includes all features. Request access with your name, macOS version, and the email address where you want to receive your TestFlight invitation. We review requests and send invitations by email. The current version of TestFlight requires macOS 13 or later. Each build expires on the date shown in TestFlight.

Where are my screenplays kept, and what data is shared?

Your files. You choose where to save your screenplays and whom to share them with. KinoWriter does not upload your screenplays to any server or service and does not include its own usage analytics. If you choose a folder synced by another service, that service’s settings determine how those files are synced.

Your request. The details you email are used to manage your participation and contact you about testing. To ask about those details or request their deletion, email [email protected].

TestFlight. Apple collects and shares installation, usage, and crash data with the developer, which may include your name and email address. It also shares feedback and screenshots you submit. See Apple’s TestFlight & Privacy.

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WE ARE WRITING THE OPENING SCENES

Your next story
starts with you.

We are looking for writers who would like to try KinoWriter and help us refine the details. If you want to be part of this first chapter, we would love to hear from you.

Free beta · All features

Request beta access

  • Request access

    Send your name, macOS version, and the email address where you want to receive your invitation.

  • Receive your invitation

    We review requests and send invitations by email.

  • Try KinoWriter

    Install TestFlight on your Mac, accept the invitation, and download the beta. You need macOS 13 or later.

The button opens a prepared message in your email app. Review your details and send it to complete your request.

The beta requires no subscription and does not activate any charges. Each build expires on the date shown in TestFlight. Taking part does not commit you to buying the commercial version.