Updated for 2024 on December 31, 2023.
This is a list of screenwriting opportunities that I believe are worthwhile.
Here are some thoughts on whether screenwriting contests are worthwhile in general — and why.
I define “worthwhile” as providing one or more of the following:
- industry-recognized validation of script quality that can help a writer get a script read and/or help a writer get represented
- effective promotion of top scripts, leading to read requests
- professional mentoring
- script feedback and workshopping (more than just written notes)
- introductions to industry professionals
- professional training programs
- entry-level screenwriting jobs
The best opportunities are highly selective and can have thousands of applicants for a handful of slots. It’s usually a waste of time and/or money to enter a first draft.
Most programs in the US are open to writers all over the world. Most programs outside the US are only open to people in those countries/regions.
Some programs (including the Nicholl) offer script feedback, but most don’t. If you want to see if your script is competitive before entering, you could consider getting free peer feedback from a site like Zoetrope, reddit, CoverflyX, etc. You can also pay for professional reviews from a site like The Black List or hire someone like me to give you detailed notes and help make your script better.
Reddit/TVWriting has a well-curated list of TV-related fellowships, along with updates, tips, and resources for applicants.
Applying for any of the opportunities listed below is a low-effort, low-yield screenwriting career strategy. Here are other things you can try.
Some programs have early, regular, and late deadlines with increasing fees, so you may save money by entering early.
Programs may be changed, discontinued, or not offered every year.
Check websites for the current deadlines. Many dates/deadlines listed below are from previous years and may not be valid for 2024. I’ve listed the 2024 dates when I could find them. “?” means I’m guessing based on past years’ deadlines.
Many programs/deadlines for 2023 changed because of the Hollywood strikes and may change again in 2024.
It’s a very good idea to follow fellowship programs on social media and sign up for their mailing lists so you get notified of new programs/deadlines.
Check requirements early as some applications will require multiple essays and a lot of time to complete.
“New” means that a program is new to this list this year, but the program itself may or may not be new.
To suggest edits, additions, or deletions, please contact me with the details.
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Program | Details | |
JAN | Proof of Concept new | Supported by Netflix, the program’s goal is to identify the next generation of filmmaking talent whose stories promote the perspectives of women, trans, and non-binary people. Up to eight filmmakers will receive $50,000 in funding to create a short film that can serve as “proof of concept” for a feature film or television series. Throughout the process, they will receive one-on-one mentorship and guidance from industry leaders, culminating in a project showcase to spotlight their work. Opens: Jan. 3, 2024 Deadline: ? No fee. |
JAN | TorinoFilm Lab Red Sea Lodge new | The writer can come from any country but preference is given to writers with Arab, Saudi, Asian, or African nationality or origin. All applications must have a producer and a director. The Red Sea Lodge will cover online platform fees, flights, accommodation, visa costs, and meals for all participants. Deadline: Jan. 7, 2024 No fee. |
JAN | GrassRoutes Prize new | A new initiative to help UK writers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds kickstart their careers and gain proper access to the TV industry. The winner of the Grass Routes writing competition will receive a prize of £5,000 and a further amount to option the script. The writer will then develop their project before pitching it to different buyers. Deadline: Jan. 8, 2024 No fee. |
JAN | BFI Flare x BAFTA Mentoring | A professional development programme that showcases and supports six LGBTQIA+ filmmakers, with opportunities including mentoring, wellbeing and career coaching, festival access and membership to BAFTA’s year-round programme of events. For UK residents. Will re-open in early 2024. No fee. |
JAN | Film Independent Amplifier Fellowship | Direct support to six emerging and mid-career Black American filmmakers working as writers, directors and/or producers. The program takes place over a period of nine months each year, during which Fellows will receive creative and strategic support that furthers their professional ambitions and propels a selected project forward. Fellows will receive a $30,000 unrestricted grant and meet bi-weekly with a professional coach. Applications will be open by nomination only. Deadline: Jan. 9? Fee: $45 |
JAN | Hamptons Film Screenwriters Lab | The Lab fosters emerging talent by pairing selected fellows with established writers and creative producers for a weekend of one-on-one mentorship. Additional events include nightly salons, roundtables, master class, and happy hours with industry guests, board members, alumni of the Lab, and members of the local artistic community. Opens: November? Extended deadline: Jan. 18, 2024 Fee: Earlybird deadline: $55 $85 for extended deadline |
JAN | IWC/ Kylemore Notre Dame Residencies new | Three writers will be awarded with a fully-catered five day residency opportunity from April 15th to 19th, 2024 on the grounds of Kylemore Abbey in Connemara (Co. Galway). For Irish residents. Deadline: January 10, 2024 No fee. |
JAN | Harvardwood Artist Launch Fellowship new | Fellowship for graduating seniors or recent Harvard alumni working or seeking to work in the arts, media, and entertainment fields. Includes a $24,000 per-artist grant. Each Fellow is also paired with a mentor in their field of interest. Deadline: Jan. 22, 2024 No fee. |
JAN | Television Academy Foundation Summer Internships | Paid, eight-week, full-time internships in various disciplines across the television industry to students currently enrolled in colleges/universities nationwide. Writing Interns will be placed at a television series or network. They will gain insight into an overview of the writing process. Duties may include idea inception, story meetings, revision and production. Interns will have opportunities to shadow the writers and staff in the room to gain a better understanding of how writers rooms are organized and run. Internships may be in-person, hybrid or remote, depending on the opportunity. There’s also a special summer program in TV development for Foster Youth who are undergraduate and graduate college students in the Greater Los Angeles area. Deadline: Jan. 17, 2024 No fee. |
JAN | Fox Enter-tainment Writers Incubator | Designed to nurture and provide support to four writers who have diverse voices, backgrounds and life experiences. The initiative offers trained writers a rigorous three-month workshop focused on rewriting material, honing writing skills, and exploring the business of media and entertainment. Upon successful completion of the FOX Writers Incubator, writers will receive priority in staffing meetings on FOX television shows. Opens: Dec. 11 Deadline: Jan. 19, 2024 No fee. |
JAN | Northwestern MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage | Your time at Northwestern will be tuition free and they provide you with health insurance and a living stipend so you can focus entirely on your creative work. Deadline: Jan. 15? Fee. |
JAN | Peter Roth Internship Program @Paley | Interns will meet and interact with top TV executives, the most respected showrunners, renowned writers, talent, and others through guest lectures, red carpet events, and Q&A sessions, fostering the art and craft of storytelling. Students will work for the Paley Center and visit TV networks and high-end production studios, providing practical experience and valuable understanding of the television and streaming industries. Deadline: Jan. 16, 2024 No fee. |
JAN? | The Writers Lab – Europe | You are eligible if you are a woman-identifying writer (cis, trans, binary)you are over the age of 40 (born on or before June 10, 1982)you submit a completed narrative feature or pilot (half-hour and/or one-hour)you are based in the EU (including Ireland) Up to 15 screenwriters will be mentored by some of the industry’s best writers and producers. Closed? Deadline: Jan. ? Fee: £25 |
JAN | Circle of Confusion Writers Discovery Fellowship | An immersive introductory experience to the world of professional screen and television writing to a diverse group of aspiring writers who have not yet been employed or represented by the industry. Deadline: Jan. 5, 2024 No fee. |
JAN | QALAMBAAZ | QALAMBAAZ is Pakistan’s first professional development program for screenplay writing. Open to writers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. More info on Facebook. Deadline: First quarter 2024 No fee? |
JAN | Nantucket Film Festival Tony Cox Screenplay Competition | One of the prizes in the feature category is this screenwriting residency: Each year the Screenwriters Colony brings four emerging screenwriters together during the month of October to live and work together at picturesque Almanack Farm, perched on the edge of Nantucket’s cranberry bog conservation land. The Screenwriters Colony is an all-expenses-paid residency. Writers are provided with round-trip transportation to the Colony, a chef, shared car, bicycles, and private workspace. Early: Nov. 9, 2023 Regular: Jan. 11, 2024 Final: Feb. 15, 2024 Extended: Mar. 7, 2024 Fee: $45 and up |
JAN | Stowe Story Labs Fellowships | Various writers’ retreats and labs in the US and Ireland; some online. Scholarships/fellowships available. Regular Deadline: Dec. 25, 2023 Final Deadline: Jan. 10, 2024 Fees: $30-$50 |
JAN | Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival new | Selected scripts will be read live by an ensemble of actors. Afterwards, a panel of film industry professionals will discuss the script with the writer. If selected, writers must attend in person. Opens: December 18 Deadline: Jan. 15, 2024 Fee: $13.50-$20 |
JAN | Respect Ability Labs for Entertain-ment Professionals with Disabilities new | Lab is for disabled creatives working in development, production and/or post-production, and careers as writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, animators, and other production roles. Priority Deadline: Jan. 5, 2024 Late Deadline: Jan. 12, 2024 No fee. |
JAN | The Script Lab’s FREE Screenplay Contest | Accepts features, TV pilots, and short screenplays. Deadline: Jan. 31, 2024 No fee. |
JAN | The Orchard Project’s TV/Episodic Lab | Allows writers to work together and interact with industry guests to advance the development of their pilots, in a virtual setting via teleconference. Deadline: Jan. 16, 2024 No fee. |
JAN | Norman Jewison Film Program – Writers’ Lab | Applicants must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. Full-time, 5 ½ month professional accelerated film program for emerging to mid-level Canadian filmmakers. Tuition is $10,000 (covered by scholarship) Deadline: Jan. 31, 2024 Fee: CAD$100. |
JAN | WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Screenwriting Lab | Strives to encourage stories that are told from perspectives that are often underrepresented in Hollywood today. This includes writers of color, women writers, writers with disabilities, writers over 40, writers in the LGBTQ+ community, and any other voices that have historically been ignored by Hollywood. Four winners will be flown out to LA for mentorship and meetings with industry professionals. Includes free feedback. Opens: Jan. 15, 2024 $35 and up. |
JAN | TorinoFilm Lab SeriesLab new | SeriesLab is open to international professional scriptwriters, directors and producers. The programme follows the entire process of creation of a TV series concept: from generating ideas and structuring the material, up to a final pitch in front of major key players during a TV industry event. Opens: Jan. 2024 No fee. |
JAN | TorinoFilm Lab Serieslab Talents new | A programme for professional scriptwriters coming from all over the world and planning a career in ora coproduction with Europe, wanting to boost their experience in drama series writing and training the skills required in a writers’ room. Opens: Jan. 2024 No fee. |
JAN | Sean Connery Talent Lab new | If you are a Scottish or UK National and an emerging writer, apply now to join our year-long training programme, where you’ll further your craft at a prime studio location in Edinburgh. Each team will receive a £25,000 production budget, with access to equipment and facilities provided for free. Deadline: Jan. 29, 2024 No fee. Successful applicants will pay £3,000 for the course. Financial support available. |
JAN | Summer Lab for Enter-tainment Professionals with Disabilities | 6-week, 12-session Lab for people interested in – and with experience in – development, production and post-production, including careers as writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, animators and other production roles. Priority deadline: Jan. 5, 2024 Late deadline: Jan. 12, 2024 No fee. |
JAN | NIPKOW PROGRAMM | Media professionals from all over the world such as writers, directors, producers and animators submit their current feature film projects which they want to develop through individual consultations with script consultants, potential producers/co-producers and through tailor-made workshops. Three-month residency in Berlin between June and November. Monthly stipend of 1.500 Euros. Deadline: Jan. 9 ,2024 No fee. |
JAN | Talents Durban | 5-day training and development programme that brings together Africa’s rising film professionals. The Durban FilmMart Institute will cover accommodation and accreditation for selected Talents. Participants who will need to arrange their own flights to Durban. Opens: December Deadline: Jan 26, 2024 No fee? |
JAN | Women in Film Fellowships new | Each Fellow will meet within their cohort for a year of master classes, networking, and community building. Fellows will also receive 1:1 career strategy sessions and mentoring. Deadline: Jan. 8, 2024 Fee: $40; waivers available. |
JAN | BAFTA US Scholarships | Pigott / BAFTA Scholarship Supporting British university graduate students studying at accredited graduate schools in the U.S. in filmmaking programs leading to a Masters Degree. Recipients receive $10,000 to contribute towards their tuition and expenses, and year-round support from BAFTA. Opens Jan. 2024 The Fulbright-BAFTA Postgraduate Scholarship Provides funding for UK students to pursue a master’s degree in film, or discipline related to the practical art forms of the moving image, at any accredited US university. No fee. |
FEB | WarnerMedia Access X Canadian Academy Writers Program | A professional development initiative focused on experienced Canadian writers from underrepresented communities. This program will support a maximum of 12 individuals seeking to advance their careers in episodic television or feature film through the development of a specific project; mentorship and community-building opportunities; and connections to and industry knowledge from WarnerMedia executives and creators. This program is designed to support writers from underrepresented communities: Indigenous, Black, racialized groups, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2IA+ and Francophone members of the aforementioned communities. Applications and scripts can be submitted and developed in English or French, but the program sessions and communication are solely in English. Opens: Jan. 26 Deadline: Feb. 16? No fee. |
FEB | Australian Writers’ Guild’s (AWG) The Creators new | A career acceleration program for high-calibre, mid-career screenwriters to build toward the creation of their own shows. Up to six writers will be selected as The Creators delegation to travel to Los Angeles to participate in show-runner and pitching training, industry meetings, mixers and networking events in May 2024. Funding of $15,000 per person to participate in The Creators program and cover travel and accommodation in Los Angeles. Applicants must be Australian citizens or residents. Applicants must have 5 cumulative hours of episode credits as a sole writer of scripted episodic drama or comedy series. Deadline: Feb. 1, 2024 No fee. |
FEB | Imaginar TV Incubator for Fearless Latinx Creators new | The first part of the two-week Incubator will be a three-day intensive that will focus on workshopping selected one-hour drama pilots, deepening pitch skills, and gaining access and insights into the FX development process. Creators will pitch their original one-hour drama pilots to FX at the conclusion of the initial intensive. Over the remainder of the program, Creators will have individual meetings with creative advisors and executives to develop a second original drama concept that will be pitched to FX on the final day of the Incubator. A $3,000 grant will be awarded to each participant. Applications will open on December 14, 2023 and close on February 2, 2024, with an extended deadline for Film Independent Members on February 9, 2024. Fee: $35 |
FEB | ATX Television Festival Pitch Competition | Anyone with an idea for a new show and a five-to-ten-page script sample may submit. Also requires a pitch video. Opens: Nov. 10 Regular Deadline: Jan. 12, 2024 Late deadline: Jan. 19, 2024 Fee: $45 and up. |
FEB | Moving Picture Institute’s Hollywood Career Launch Program | Paid internships typically last for 12 weeks. Most placements are in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC. Though we consider applications on a rolling basis, it is best to apply for summer internship positions as early as possible, usually in February. No fee? |
FEB | ISA Fast Track Fellowship | Two ISA Fast Track Fellows meet with eight top level agents, managers, producers and executives during a week of career acceleration in LA. Mega Early deadline: Oct. 19, 2023 Final deadline: Feb. 15, 2024 Fee: $24-$79 |
FEB | Screencraft Screenwriting Fellowship | Up to four winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles for meetings with agents, managers, screenwriters, and studio executives. Regular deadline: December 31, 2023 Late deadline: Jan. 31, 2024 Final deadline: Feb. 29, 2024 Fee: $59.50 and up |
FEB | Yes, And… Laughter Lab | Open only to US residents. The Lab will select ten original comedy projects from the pool of applicants. Winners will present their original projects either in New York City or Los Angeles to a curated room of traditional and digital media platforms, grantmakers and investors, leading NGOs/nonprofits, production companies, and other select industry players. Opens: Feb 13? Deadline: Feb. 26? No fee. |
FEB | BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition | For UK passport-holders and residents only. Selected script extracts are performed by a professional cast to an audience of producers, development executives, directors, actors, and literary agents, aiming to give a platform to emerging writing talent from across the country. Closing: Feb 27? Fee: £42; fee bursaries available |
FEB | Film Independent Episodic Lab | Lab will accept a diverse group of 6–8 writers or writing teams and provide them with critical support and mentorship. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will award one participant of the Film Independent Episodic Lab a $10,000 development grant. The teleplay should have a scientific, mathematical and/or technological theme and storyline or have a leading character that is a scientist, engineer or mathematician. Non-member deadline: Feb. 26, 2024 $45 and up |
FEB | Serial Eyes | Applicants must be from the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Republic of Serbia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, or Tunisia. Applicants from other countries may apply for a very limited number of places on the programme. Serial Eyes is a full-time course based in Berlin. The program normally costs €4.500 but three full scholarships for residents of certain countries are available. Applications open in February 2024. No fee. |
FEB | The Veterans Writing Project | The mission of the Writers Guild Foundation’s Veterans Writing Project is to identify emerging writers from United States military backgrounds and provide them with the tools and insights to nurture their passion for writing and successfully navigate the entertainment industry. Opens: Jan 11, 2024 Deadline: Feb. 12, 2024 No fee. |
FEB | Storyland new | We are seeking to commission eight scripts, working closely with script writers and producers on their development. Project should explore contemporary Irish life and society. Each submission needs to come through a registered production company. Deadline: Feb 24? No fee. |
FEB | Climate Short Animation Film Competition new | The winning project will receive a total production budget of £30k and further in-kind production and climate advisory support. Opens: Jan. 15, 2024 Deadline: Feb. 29, 2024 No fee. |
FEB | WIFV Narrative Script Development Fellowship new | Through the nine-month WIFV Narrative Script Development Fellowship, open only to WIFV members, accomplished film professionals will work with 4-6 Fellows to take feature-length scripts from page to production. Deadline: Feb. 9, 2024 Fee: $50 |
MAR | Native American TV Writers Lab | The NATIVE AMERICAN TV WRITERS LAB is an intensive scriptwriters’ workshop that prepares Native Americans for writing careers at major television networks. Opens: Dec. 28, 2023 Deadline: March 1, 2024 No fee. |
MAR | Indigenous Screen Office | Travel Funding to support Indigenous screen-based creatives for activities that require travel including festival and market attendance, conferences, community engagement, training opportunities, and artistic screen-based collaboration across Canada and internationally. Applicants are eligible for a maximum amount of $4,500 CAD per fiscal year. (See website for other programs.) Opens: April 5, 2023 Deadline: March 1, 2024 No fee. |
MAR | Greenlight Screenwriting Lab new | Will provide support and up-skilling opportunities to a new generation of emerging script writers and script editors through hands on industry-led training and mentoring, and will contribute to and enhance the Irish screen Industry. Writers will be paid a fee for participating in the course and for completing two drafts of a one hour/30 minute script. Deadline: March 3? No fee. |
MAR | Untapped new | A talent development program for undiscovered and historically excluded Australian screenwriters and directors. Deadline: MAR 3? No fee. |
MAR | To Be Commissioned Initiative new | The Black List and Tubi have partnered to discover five feature scripts for Tubi to purchase and develop, with the intent of greenlighting each script for production and distribution. Deadline: March 15, 2024 Scripts must have at least one evaluation and be hosted on the Black List for one week. 200 fee waivers are available. |
MAR | Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country | BBC new | An eight-week development programme to support emerging writers and creatives who are at the early stages of their writing careers. Writers should be over the age of 18 and currently living full-time in Birmingham or the Black Country (specifically the City of Birmingham, the Metropolitan Boroughs of Solihull, Dudley, Sandwell or Walsall or the City of Wolverhampton). Travel costs covered. Opens: Feb. 1, 2024 Deadline: Mar. 5, 2024 No fee. |
MAR | Sundance – Episodic | Lab program for original pilots. Opens: Feb. 9? Deadline: March 9? $40 fee. |
MAR | CineStory Feature Retreat and Fellowship Contest | The CineStory Feature Retreat takes place over four days in the mountains of Idyllwild, California. Attendees receive three 90-minute one-on-one sessions with CineStory mentors. Retreat fee is $2400; scholarships available. The Grand Prize for the competition is the CineStory Feature Fellowship, a 12-month mentorship program, during which the Feature Fellow works with 2 Hollywood professionals hand-picked to help the Fellow advance his/her craft and career. The Feature Fellow also receives $10,000 as well as free tuition and housing for the retreat. (Also see July.) Early deadline: Feb. 6? Regular deadline: Mar. 13? Late deadline: April 10? Extended late deadline: May 8? Final deadline: May 29? Fee: $50 and up |
MAR | Propelle Content Accelerator for Women | The goal of the program is to further develop the careers of up-and-coming female creators by pairing them with female-owned production companies and female CEOs for project workshopping and mentoring. One winning project will receive up to US $20,000 to further develop their project into production. Deadline: March 3? No fee. |
MAR | Black Writers in Focus Apply here | A paid summer fellowship program for Black student screenwriters. Selected students will receive a $6,000 stipend to support a full-time commitment over 10 weeks. Opens: Jan. 17 Deadline: Mar. 4 Sign up for newsletter for updates. Fee: $25; fee waivers available |
MAR | The Writers Lab – US | Four-day script development program for women over 40, sponsored by Meryl Streep and NY Women in Film & Television. Submissions open: Feb. 15? Deadline: Mar. 30? Fee: $40-60. Note: also offers labs for EU and UK residents. |
MAR | NBC TV Writers Program | During the eight-month program, writers will create and workshop an original pilot to which the writer retains all rights. They will be paired with programming executives who will mentor them, as they write their original pilot and polish samples for staffing consideration. The program also consists of weekly evening workshops, focused on developing craft, soft skills, and the business of TV writing. The goals of these workshops are to enhance writers’ creative and professional skills, such as self-branding, pitching, and interviewing, and to increase writers’ knowledge of the TV, streaming, and studio landscape. Throughout the program, selected writers interact with industry professionals, including network and studio executives, showrunners, agents, and managers. At the conclusion of the program, program writers will be considered for writing positions on NBC broadcast, cable, streaming, and Universal Studio Group series. Opens: Feb. 15? Deadline: March 7? No fee. |
MAR | SFFILM Rainin Grant | Screenwriting Grant: These grants are open to filmmakers anywhere in the US, as well as internationally, and range between $10,000 and $25,000. The funds allow filmmakers to devote dedicated time to furthering their work, and the grant includes a two-month FilmHouse residency in the Bay Area to further develop the screenplay, and have access to both peer and established mentorship engagement. The screenplay must explore issues pertaining to social justice. Regular deadline: Mar. 24? Final deadline: Apr. 28? Fee: $25 and up |
MAR | Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship in Screenwriting new | Fellowship is for screenwriters between the ages of 18-25 who will be no older than 25 years of age as of December 31, 2023. The winner receives a $10,000 stipend to write an original screenplay (not the script used to opt in to the fellowship) and is mentored during the course of the fellowship year by a prominent screenwriter. Opens: Nov. 13, 2023 Deadline: March 14, 2024 Script must be hosted on The Black List. |
MAR | Monte Miller Awards | Awards for unproduced scripts in Australia, dedicated to uncovering the best new scripts and talent among AWG’s Associate and Student Membership. Categories are open to short and long form work across all genres and formats including film, television, theatre, and interactive media, with the shortlisted and winning projects inducted onto AWG’s prestigious Pathways Showcase. Opens: March 5, 2024 No fee. |
MAR and OCT | The Jeff Sagansky Harvardwood TV Writers Program | For Harvard students and graduates. Held twice a year. The TV Writers Program uses peer review, guest speakers and workshops to foster a motivating and supportive environment for each participant’s writing. Participants of the TV Writers Program may be considered for the annual Harvardwood Most Staffable TV Writers List. Deadline: March and October? No fee to apply. Program fee: $100 |
MAR and AUG | Hedgebrook Screenwriting Residency | Fully-funded residency, offering two to four week residencies to women-identified writers. Hedgebrook is on Whidbey Island, about thirty-five miles northwest of Seattle. Opens: Feb. 15 for Winter/Spring Deadline: Mar. 14? Opens: Aug. 15 for Summer/Fall Deadline: Sep. 11 Fee: $45 and up; fee waivers available |
APR | Humanitas College Screenwriting Awards new | The two student-writers selected each receive a trophy at the annual Humanitas Prizes event, a one year WriterDuet license, a professional notes session, and a $20,000 cash prize. Deadline: April? Fee. Fee waivers available. |
APR | Humanitas New Voices | A four-month mentorship program for emerging television and screenwriters. The program is committed to identifying and empowering five writers each year who are currently working on a 30- or 60-minute pilot or feature film screenplay that upholds the mission of Humanitas. Also includes $7,500 stipend. Deadline: Apr. 14? Fee: $40? |
APR | NRDC CLIMATE STORYTELLING FELLOWSHIP new | The Fellowship will grant $20,000 each to three writers to support revision of a feature screenplay or pilot that engages with climate change in a compelling way through events, actions, character, emotions, plot, and/or setting. Opens: April 2024 Deadline: TBA Scripts must be hosted on The Black List. |
APR | Austin Film Festival | Accepts screenplays, teleplays, stage plays, and digital series. Feedback available. Early deadline: March 22, 2024 Regular deadline: April 19, 2024 Late deadline: May 24, 2024 Fee: $50 and up. NB: Austin has long been considered one of the top 5 screenplay competitions. However, in recent years there have been widespread complaints about the quality of the reader feedback. |
APR | NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program | Ten diverse Latinx writers nationwide are selected for a five-week intense writers lab. At the end of the program, these writers will have either a half-hour or hourlong original series pilot, which they will pitch to Industry leaders, beginning with our partners at ABC & NBC. Deadline: April? No fee. |
APR | Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting | Considered the most prestigious fellowship for amateur screenwriters. Up to five $35,000 fellowships are awarded. Fellows are invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars in LA in November. Early deadline: March 1? Regular deadline: April 3? Late deadline: May 1? Fee: $50 and up. |
APR | RIDEBACK RISE FELLOW-SHIP PROGRAM new | To qualify as a potential Fellow you must, in the last three years, have accomplished one or more of the following: have previously been staffed and credited in a writing capacity on a produced U.S. scripted television series; have written OR written and directed a produced feature film; have written and directed a short film that screened at a noted film festival; or have written a spec feature screenplay that was optioned or purchased by a recognized U.S.-based producer, distributor or studio. Deadline: April 15? No fee. |
APR | Young Films Foundation | Seven new screenwriters will have the opportunity to write a TV drama, comedy or feature film script commissioned by one of seven broadcasters over a year long programme. The programme culminates in a week-long residency in Skye. Applicants must reside in Scotland (resident for two years) Deadline: April 28? No fee? |
MAY | Television Academy Foundation Fall Internships | Paid, part-time internships for full-time students who will be enrolled in college/university in the Greater Los Angeles Area. 2023 Internships may be in-person, hybrid or remote, depending on the opportunity. Deadline: May 18? Info about Spring internships is here. No fee. |
MAY | WBD Access Writers Exchange Programme new | Five writers will be selected to embark on the six-month scheme where they will be supported to develop their writing for screen and stage. To be eligible, applicants must: – Currently reside in the North of England – defined as Yorkshire and Humber, North-West and North-East England. – Be at least 18 years old – Not have any screen credits (TV/Feature Film) at the time of applying Deadline: May 8? No fee. |
MAY | Sundance Screenwriters Lab | Five-day writers’ workshop in Utah. Fellowships are also available for Comedy, Horror, Asian American, and Latine writers. Deadline: May 15? Fee. |
MAY | Sundance Screenwriters Intensive | Online workshop. The program supports 10-12 writers or writer/directors from underrepresented communities who are developing a fiction feature screenplay. Deadline: May 15? Fee. |
MAY | Paramount Writers Mentoring Program | For diverse writers. Eight-month structured program of career development, support, and personal access to executives and the decision-making processes, with the goal of preparing aspiring writers for later employment opportunities in television. Opens: April 1? Deadline: May 1? No fee. |
MAY | WFTV KAY MELLOR SCREEN-WRITERS’ LAB new | Lab is an opportunity to spotlight and develop emerging female writers who have some writing experience and are looking to take the next step in their career to achieve their first screenwriting credit in either Film or TV, whether that is finding an agent or pitching their project to an independent production company. Must be a permanent/full-time resident of the UK, but do not need to have been born in the UK or have UK citizenship. Deadline: May 24? No fee. |
MAY | Writers’ Access Support Staff Training Program new | The program’s mission is to provide writers who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled writers, and writers over the age of 50, with tools and education to become a writers’ assistant and script coordinator, ultimately resulting in meaningful employment opportunities. Deadline: May 18? No fee. |
MAY | 1497 Features Lab new | The 1497 Features Lab is designed to elevate and develop screenplays by writers of South Asian descent, while providing career support. Deadline: May 7? Application fees are waived April 12-18 (?), after which there is a fee: $25 April 19-25 (?), $50 April 26-May 1 (?), $70 May 2-7 (?) |
JUN | Sloan Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship | Winners of the Sloan Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship will receive a $35,000 cash grant and a two-month residency at FilmHouse, SFFILM’s suite of production offices for local and visiting independent filmmakers. Deadline: May 19? Final Deadline: June 2? Fee. |
JUN | Sesame Street Writers’ Room | Writers must come from an underrepresented racial group. Emerging storytellers will receive hands-on writing experience guided by Sesame Street veterans and other media industry leaders. Opens: May 5? Deadline: June 5? No fee. |
JUN | Fred Rogers Productions Writers’ Neighborhood new | The Fred Rogers Productions Writers’ Neighborhood for emerging BIPOC writers focuses on how to build and sustain a career as a freelance writer in children’s media. Deadline: June 1? No fee. |
JUN | The Prince William BAFTA Bursary | A fund to help assist junior creatives with the costs of progressing their career in film, television, or games. Up to £2,000 towards specific costs such as a training course (including driving lessons), the costs of equipment or software, or relocation costs; as well as a contribution towards living expenses whilst working or doing work experience. For UK citizens only? No fee. |
JUN | Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award | The competition is for non-American novice writers under the age of 30. Entrants are asked to create a completed half-hour to one-hour English-language television drama script. The winner will be flown to New York City to be presented with an award and a USD $2,500 prize at the International Emmy® World Television Festival. Opens: April 19? Deadline: June 28? No fee. |
JUN | THE 2023 GEORGIA LIST (SCRIPTS, PILOTS, & THEATER) | The Georgia List is a new opportunity for all writers with close ties to the state of Georgia to submit their feature scripts, pilots, plays, and musicals. The writers on the Georgia List will meet with managers from 3Arts and Content Talent South for possible representation, and executives from Fifth Season for a potential development deal. The Alliance Theater will mount a staged reading of one of the scripts on the List. Two writers from the List will also become Artists in Residence at the Art Farm at Serenbe. These two writers will each receive a $10,000 grant and mentorship. Opens: Oct. 20? Evaluation deadline: May 14? Deadline: June 15? Scripts must be hosted on the Black List. Writers who are new to the Black List may request a fee waiver for one free month of hosting and one free evaluation. 75 fee waivers will be distributed in order of request. |
JUN | Outfest Screenwriting Lab | Outfest creates visibility to diverse LGBTQIA+ stories and empowers storytellers, building empathy to drive meaningful social change. The authors of five scripts will be invited to participate in a lab in mid-June, where they will work closely with Lab Mentors — established writers who will critique and encourage their work. (On pause for 2023 but says to check back in 2024) Opens: May 9? Final Deadline: June 6? Fee: $40 and up. |
JUN | The Disruptors | Fellowship supporting emerging television writers of color who identify as transgender, non-binary, disabled, or undocumented/formerly undocumented. During this 3-month program, fellows are provided with mentorship, professional development, master classes and opportunities to build community with other writers of color. $10,000 stipend. Deadline: June 10? No fee. |
JUN | Pustnik screenwriting residency new | A retreat for filmmakers that are writing their first feature film. Pustnik takes place at a remote location in Romania as an environment dedicated to peace of mind and clarity of thought. You must have a previous screenwriting credit on a short fiction film that has screened at a festival in this list. Deadline: June 7? No fee. |
JUL | The Black List Annual Labs new | The Labs support writers on two distinct career tracks: those who are interested in being a career writer, with a focus on working within the studio system, and those who are interested in writing and directing their own work in the independent space. The Labs will remain exclusively writing-focused programs in which each participating writer workshops the script that gets them into the Lab. The Black List’s 2024 Sloan Foundation Fellow at the Annual Black List Feature Lab will be a science- and technology-focused writer with a science-rooted feature screenplay. Air Travel (coach class round trip flights within the continental United States (if available and if used)), ground transport to and from the airport in Los Angeles and all Lab events, and accommodations will be provided by the Black List. Meals will also be provided. Opens: October Deadline: July 1, 2024 Scripts must be hosted on the Black List. |
JUL | Berlinale Talents | Participants share their short scripts or feature-length screenplays with a line-up of internationally acclaimed script consultants. Opens: July, 2024 Fee: 20 Euros |
JUL | Writers’ Guild of Ireland Zebbie Awards new | For the best script that was broadcast, performed or screened in Ireland, or streamed to an Irish audience in 2023. Open to all writers resident on the island of Ireland, or Irish writers living abroad. Deadline: July 11? Fee: €10 |
JUL | Screenwriters Lab new | The Lab is a year-long creative endeavor supporting the development of scripts that tell diverse Jewish stories, with the ultimate goal of connecting Jewish writers to their culture and launching accessible Jewish themed scripts into the mainstream media marketplace. Each writer receives a $10,000 stipend. Deadline: July 1? No fee. |
JUL | Rogers-Black Screen Office Development Fund | The Rogers-Black Screen Office Development Fund supports Black and people of colour writers to develop original content, from pitch to first draft. For Canadian citizens or permanent Canadian residents. Selected projects will be granted industry standard fees (CAD$7500 and up). Deadline: July 17? No fee. |
JUL | HBF Script and Project Development Support | The HBF provides support to talented filmmakers from countries as specified in the HBF list of eligible countries. This list includes countries from Latin-America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, and is roughly based on the DAC-list of the OECD and the lowest ranking countries on the World Free Press Index. Grant can be used for the further development of a script (e.g. research, writing, translation or hiring a coach or script consultant), but can also be used to present a project to financiers or other potential partners at (international) co-production meetings or film festivals. The maximum contribution for Script and Project Development is €10,000. Deadline: July 10, 2024 No fee. |
AUG | Women Write Now Fellowship | Women Write Now is looking for applicants who meet the following criteria: Identify as Black or African AmericanIdentify as femaleBe 18 years or older at the time of applicationBe an emerging non-union writerBe based in the US and legally authorized to work in the US Applicants will be evaluated on the strength of the submitted material, which will include a statement of interest and an original short comedic screenplay. Opens: July 8? Deadline: Aug. 5? (Still suspended due to WGA Strike as of 12/31/23) No fee. |
AUG | Film Independent Screenwriting Lab | A two-week workshop designed to provide individualized story and career development for emerging screenwriters with a fiction feature screenplay. Opens: July 3? Non-member deadline:Aug. 28? $45 and up |
AUG | The Pitch | Offers an array of training and support and £50,000 to spend on two short films inspired by the Bible. Early Bird: 26 June 2024 (free) Standard: 28 August 2024 (£20) Final: 25 September 2024 (£50) |
SEP | CineStory TV Retreat & Fellowship | The CineStory Television Retreat takes place over three days in the mountains of Idyllwild, California. The Grand Prize for the competition is the CineStory TV Fellowship, a 12-month mentorship program during which the TV Fellow works with 2 Hollywood professionals hand-picked to help the Fellow advance the Fellow’s craft and career. The TV Fellow also receives $1,000 as well as free tuition and housing for the retreat. (Also see March.) Early deadline: June 23? Regular deadline: Sept. 4? Late deadline: Oct. 1? Extended late deadline: Nov. 5? Final Deadline: Dec. 3? Fee: $50 and up |
SEP | Studio21 Drama Series Script Competition | The competition connects emerging writers with the global content business, offering the winner a £10,000 development option and unique opportunity to connect with the global drama business through C21Media’s Content London in December. The Competition is open to Entrants worldwide. Opens: June 15? Deadline: Sept. 13? Fee: £40 |
SEP | Nickelodeon’s Content Accelerator Program | Leveling the playing field for underrepresented and marginalized early-career content creators. More info here. Deadline: Sept. 30? No fee. |
SEP | Writers Guild of South Africa new | Mentoring program for screenwriters age 35 and younger. Deadline: Sept 18? No fee? |
SEP | TorinoFilm Lab Scriptlab & Story Editing new | The programme welcomes 16 projects in a treatment stage that are selected to work in 4 groups, each guided by a tutor with wide experience as a script consultant. A story editor trainee – who works side by side with the tutor – completes each group. Opens for applications: Fall 2024 No fee. |
SEP | Four Nations Mentoring Scheme | For mid-career women who are based in the UK. You are eligible to apply for this scheme if you have five (Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland) or seven (England) years’ experience or more in the film and TV industry. Deadline: Sept. 11? No fee. |
SEP | Feature Film Screenwriting Lab | For Indian citizens 18 and up. Early deadline: Aug 31? Final Deadline: Sep. 22? Application fees: Rs. 3,000 (by Early deadline) Rs. 4,500 (by Final deadline) Lab participation fee Rs. 55,000 Scholarships available |
OCT | Djerassi Resident Artists Program | For artists from around the world — a one-month residency on a 583-acre ranch in northern California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. Deadline: Oct. 27? Fee: $55 |
OCT | Less is More new | LiM Boosting Ideas Workshop aims at helping writers turn creative limitations in to opportunities for innovation in script development. (Scotland) Deadline: Oct. 5? No fee. |
OCT | Channel 4 Screenwriting Course | Applicants must be resident in UK or Ireland. The purpose of the course is to offer 12 writers new to television drama an insight into how the industry works and to provide a “dry-run” of what it can be like to write under a television drama commission, specifically for one hour series and serial drama, and to work with them as they write an original drama script. Writers are paid a fee to participate. Opens: Sept? Deadline: Oct. 3? No fee. |
OCT | Cannesfilms Unlimited | Participants in the Residency will develop a new original European film or TV series, in English. Deadline: Oct. 9? No fee. |
OCT | Universal Writers Lab Apply here | Lab develops storytellers who organically incorporate multicultural and global perspectives in screenwriting. Salary of $75,000. Deadline: Oct. 17? No fee. |
OCT | Universal Animation Writers Apply here | Applicants have the option to submit writing samples for a program that includes Television for Preschool 3-5 and Kids 6-11 and Feature Film. Writers selected to participate in the one-year paid program are hired under a writing service agreement requiring an exclusive, full-time commitment of a minimum of 40 hours per week. $75,000 salary. Deadline: Oct. 17? No fee. |
OCT | Digital Storytellers Lab | Eight-month fellowship that gives digital storytellers the opportunity to kickstart the development of new, narrative, digital audio/visual media exploring Jewish themes. The program provides fellows with a stipend, mentorship, and technical and subject-matter expertise to support the development of their projects. Each participant will receive a stipend of $20,000 for participation in the program. Deadline: Oct. 30? No fee. |
OCT | Cartoon Network Mexico Children’s Animation Writing Program | Program provides Mexico-based writers with resources and instruction to create an original children’s animation television pilot while exposing them to creatives and executives at Cartoon Network. Up to ten writers will be selected based on their material submissions and their ability to write for children’s animation. You can submit your written material in either English or Spanish. The majority of the classes will take place in English. This 12-week program will take place virtually. (Not clear if this is happening in 2024.) Deadline: Oct. 5? No fee. |
OCT | The Coletta Preacely-Garcia Diversity Fellowship new | This program is for diverse screenwriters with at least 2 polished original features and/or TV pilots in their portfolio (with at least a 3rd original script in the works) who are ready to tackle the marketing aspects of their career. Roadmap defines “diverse” as anyone belonging to a group whose voice has been traditionally marginalized in Hollywood, particularly BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women over 45, and Disabled writers. Opens: Oct. 2? Deadline: Oct. 29? No fee. |
OCT/NOV | Athena IRIS Screenwriting Lab and Athena List | The Athena Film Festival Writers Lab is a three-day creative development workshop for emerging women and non-binary writers. Virtual Writers Lab; In-Person Writers Lab Deadline for lab: Nov. 6? Fee: $55 for Lab. The Athena List is an annual script competition that selects exceptional scripts with women leaders at the heart of the story. Submissions for list are open June 1 to Oct. 31? No fee for List. |
NOV | Disney Entertainment Television Writing Program | 12-month program. Pays WGA rates for staff writers. Follow on Facebook to receive updates and alerts about the submission period. Opens: Oct. 24? Deadline: Nov. 17? No fee. |
NOV | Black List/Women in Film Episodic Lab 2023 BLACK LIST X WIF EPISODIC LAB WIF Fellowship | The Black List and WIF will invite six to eight promising non-professional television writers who are women, nonbinary, and trans people to the Lab. The Lab consist of script development, peer workshopping sessions, and master classes with established writers and industry executives. Opens: Oct. 2? Deadline: Nov. 13? Applicants may enter via the Black List or via Women in Film. WIF members can apply for membership rates and non-members can apply for $40 per application. |
NOV | Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab and Story Editing Lab | Nationals of the following countries are eligible for SEAFIC participation: Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Deadline: Nov 11? No fee. |
NOV | Missouri Stories Scriptwriting Fellowship | Writers do not have to be from Missouri to submit their scripts to the Missouri Stories Scriptwriting Fellowship, but all scripts must be based in Missouri. Winners receive an all-expense-paid trip to the concentrated fellowship experience, held in Missouri. Early deadline: Nov. 5? Regular deadline: Nov. 19? Late deadline: Nov. 26? Fee. |
NOV | THE MINORITY REPORT | The Minority Report is a fellowship program for the top diverse screenwriters enrolled in undergraduate or graduate educational institutions. Deadline: Nov? No fee? |
NOV | CAPE New Writers Fellowship | Sponsored by the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment but open to writers of any race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability or sexual orientation. Each Fellow is matched with a high-level industry mentor to help them revise their scripts into professional-level writing samples to get them noticed and land that all-important first job. Deadline: Nov. 13? Follow on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER for the latest updates on the next application cycle. $65 fee. Fee waivers available. |
NOV | Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship new | One screenwriter each year is awarded an all-expenses paid trip to the Sundance Film Festival with producer Cassian Elwes. Deadline: Nov. 20? Scripts must be hosted on The Black List. |
DEC | BBC Open Call | Open Call is not a competition but a means by which the BBC seeks out the best writing talent. Must be resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland. The latest Open Call window for DRAMA and COMEDY DRAMA scripts was open between 7th November 2023 and 5th December 2023. The dates of the next Open Call will be announced during 2024 here and on social media. Follow on Twitter for updates. No fee. |
DEC | George RR Martin Sci Fi/Fantasy Screenwriting Grant | $5000 grant only available for New Mexico residents who are non-WGA members. Must be for feature length film or TV Pilot. Must be in the Science Fiction or Fantasy genre. Deadline: Dec. 15? No fee. |
DEC | Nickelodeon Writing Program | Paid full-time writing job for six or 12 months, based in LA (Burbank). Application must include a half-hour comedy spec script from the Accepted Shows List. Opens: Oct. 15 Deadline: Dec. 31? No fee. |
DEC | Michener Center for Writers MFA program in screenwriting | Three-year, fully funded residency program in Austin, TX. Open to students from around the world. Deadline: Dec. 1 Fee. |
DEC | TorinoFilm Lab ComedyLab new | ComedyLab pairs scriptwriters with talented comedians who will bring their expertise and comedic brilliance. Deadline: Dec. 20? No fee. |
DEC | TorinoFilm Lab Feature Lab new | A training programme dedicated to 1st and 2nd feature film projects – fiction, creative documentaries, experimental, animation or any possible kind of cinema form – at an advanced stage of development. It is aimed at teams of director and producer (with a scriptwriter, if on board) and it unfolds throughout three workshops taking place over a period of 6 months. Every year 10 projects are selected to benefit from the programme. Deadline: Dec. 11? No fee. |
DEC | STARZ #TAKETHE LEAD WRITERS’ INTENSIVE new | A platform for emerging talents to cultivate their skills and refine their spec scripts with the guidance of mentors, executives, and established writers. $5,000 grant awarded to the four participants who move on to phase 2 of the program. Opens: Nov. 13? Deadline: Dec. 4? No fee. |
TBA = to be announced | ||
Varies | The Black List | Offers various labs and other opportunities during the year; see listings above for details and check the Black List site because more are added on a regular basis. Generally, scripts must be hosted on The Black List Site for at least one week during the submission period. The site charges a monthly hosting fee, but hosting can be paused after a week so that one month’s hosting allows submission to multiple opportunities. Fee waivers are available for some programs. |
Varies | BAFTA | Various bursaries, competitions, scholarships, and mentoring programs from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. |
TBA | BAFTA UK scholarship programme | The BAFTA UK scholarship programme is open to British citizens in need of financial assistance to study eligible undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the UK. BAFTA Scholars undertaking postgraduate study receive between £5,000 to £12,000 towards their annual course fees (up to a maximum of £20,000 for 2 year courses). BAFTA scholars also receive mentoring support and free access to BAFTA events around the UK. Re-opens Spring 2024 |
TBA | Sam Spiegel International Film Lab new | Each year the Lab selects 12 international writers/directors who are at advanced stages of writing their first/second narrative feature film. The participants are invited to Jerusalem for two working sessions and an additional session via zoom, over a seven-to-eight-month period. The selected projects undergo an in-depth process with one of our acclaimed script editors. At the last session they present to an audience. The jury awards production prizes totaling $50,000- $70,000. No fee. |
TBA | Sam Spiegel Series Lab new | The Series Lab is open to outstanding Israeli creators making their initial steps in the world of international TV. The Lab is seeking teams of producers and writers who are developing a promising scripted project- either series or limited series. Diversity is at the heart of the program, with creatives whose first language is Arabic, Amharic, Russian, Yiddish, and Hebrew are all strongly encouraged to apply. As part of the program, Netflix will sponsor the new Series Development Award for one exceptional project. No fee. |
TBA | BAFTA Breakthrough | BAFTA Breakthrough showcases and supports the next generation of creative talent in film, games and television in the UK, the US and India. BAFTA gives talented individuals bespoke support at their critical ‘breakthrough’ career moment, enabling them to build on their success and ensuring their continued development in their chosen field. |
TBA | Harvardwood LGBTQ+ Fellowship new | The gift will support at least two projects. The minimum amount of grant funding is $5,000. In addition to grant funds, Fellows will receive one-on-one guidance and mentorship from Harvard Alumni that want to empower artists to make the world a better place through their stories. Applicants must be Harvard University alumni. No fee. |
TBA | Harvardwood AAPI Artist Fellowship new | Fellowship for artists who are Harvard University alumni (or students expecting their degree in May) and identify as Asian American Pacific Islander. The total amount of grant funding for the year is $11,000 (more than one Fellow may be named, and individual award sizes may vary) No fee. |
Varies | BBC Studios Talentworks new | Every year, BBC Studios chooses up to 8 drama and 4 comedy screenwriters who are invited to an annual writer retreat and receive dedicated training and mentorship from leading producers as they develop a script with BBC Studios. No fee. |
Varies | Film Independent | Many of their programs are listed above and new ones are listed on a regular basis. |
TBA | Warner Bros. Discovery Access Writers Program | Provides historically excluded writers a pathway into the episodic television writing space. Selected writers will undergo an extensive creative and business curriculum before being put up for staffing opportunities across the WBD enterprise. No fee. |
TBA | Accelerate Fellowship | The Accelerate Fellowship is a year-long program that gives mid-level disabled screenwriters $40,000 in funding, bespoke mentorship, industry connections and community they need to become industry-leading creators. No fee. |
Ongoing | Inevitable Foundation Concierge new | A personalized service that links showrunners and creative executives with mid- and upper-level disabled writers for development and staffing. No fee. |
TBA | Elevate Collective | Elevate Collective empowers mid and upper-level disabled screenwriters with mentorship, coaching and connections they need to level-up their careers. The Collective, which is made up of Elevate Award recipients who each get $5,000 professional development grants, helps mid-level disabled writers get in front of creative executives and showrunners, build community and sharpen their writing skills. Application is free, and applications are open continuously throughout the year. No fee. |
TBA | TFL Extended new | Through TFL Extended, TorinoFilmLab puts its pedagogical expertise and its wide network of experts to the service of the largest possible audience. It offers special workshops to both external partner organizations (tailor-made workshops & lectures on demand) and film professionals (workshops with highly qualified tutors and story editors). No fee. |
Year-round | Pacific Screenwriting Program Story Department Internship | The Writer-Intern must be a resident of British Columbia, and a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident. It is the prospective intern’s job to find a production company willing to work with them before applying to access this funding. Eligible applicants can apply to the PSP for a non-recoupable cash advance of $600 per week. No fee. |
Year-round | Unfinished Works | The Unfinished Works program provides screenwriters with the opportunity to see their work brought to life by Film Lab Actor Directory members and then led through a constructive workshop by the Unfinished Works Coordinator for the Film Lab, at no cost. The purpose of the Unfinished Works program is to provide (1) screenwriters of color (all colors) or (2) screenwriters writing about diverse and/or Asian American themed stories or with at least one Asian American character to receive honest and practical feedback on their unfinished screenplay through seeing and hearing their screenplay read aloud by professional actors in a table read. No fee. |
Year-Round | The Awesome Foundation new | The Foundation distributes $1,000 grants, no strings attached, to projects and their creators. |
Monthly | Breakthrough Reading Series | “We highlight six stellar writers a month at a cold reading event filled with diverse actors” (in LA). Directors, producers, casting directors, and other friends in the entertainment business will be invited. No Fee. |
Year-Round | Moving Picture Institute Screenwriting Workshops | In these ten-week virtual workshops, participants develop original concepts under the guidance of award-winning screenwriters and develop them into compelling, pro-freedom scripts for short or feature length films. Participants receive a fellowship to attend weekly virtual workshop sessions, complete assignments, and present their work to the group twice. Applications may be submitted at any time, but are reviewed on a cyclical basis three times per year. No fee. |
TBA | MPAC Hollywood Bureau | Screenwriting Labs & Competitions for Muslim screenwriters |
TBA | Tribe new | A year-long program and ongoing career network for intermediate indie writers (not yet staffed or recently staffed at the lower level). |
TBA | Realness Institute | Programs for African screenwriters. |