INFO: The fellowship program was developed to honor dedicated writers and to help further their creative process and skills. Writing in itself is a journey and we would like to facilitate the process by giving the fellows the opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded professionals and individuals.
Fellows will receive:
- The 2016 Scriptapalooza Fellowship recipient will receive a Writer’s Retreat in Costa Rica for 5 days (all expenses paid), and 6 month mentorship.
- 5 additional writers will receive a 3 month mentorship and an online writing course.
- Everyone that applies to the Fellowship gets feedback on their screenplay. (4-5 pages of notes)
FELLOWSHIP FEE: $105
IMPORTANT DATES:
- Fellowship applications accepted through September 30
- Applicants get their feedback between September - November
- They announce the top 6 Fellows on January 15.
- They announce the Fellowship winner on February 15.
- Fellowship winner attends Costa Rica Writing Retreat in June.
scriptapalooza.com/fellowship/
AMERICAN ZOETROPE SCREENPLAY CONTEST
INFO: American Zoetrope, Francis Ford Coppola’s production company, has announced a call for entries for their annual screenplay contest. The mission of the contest is to find and promote new and innovative voices in cinema. Every script is read closely by a select handful of professional readers, and Coppola will select a grand prize–winner from among the top ten finalists.
PRIZE: The grand prize–winner receives $5,000, and the scripts of all top ten finalists are sent by Zoetrope to leading production companies and talent agencies for consideration.
DEADLINE / ENTRY FEES: September 15 / $50
zoetrope.com/contests/screenplays-2016/
Writers Guild of America East
INFO: The Made in NY Writers Room initiative will establish a fellowship program to support professional writers of diverse backgrounds in New York City. Eligible writers must meet all application criteria and guidelines including a nomination for submission from a recommending organization or membership in the Writers Guild of America, East, along with a completed application form and properly formatted comedy or drama pilot. Click here for further information on the program.
The program aims to identify emerging writers whose work offers new and diverse points of view. We know that when writers rooms reflect the diversity of New York City, audiences are treated to stories that are more exciting, creative and reflective of their experiences.
ELIGIBILITY: Individual applicants and/or at least one member of each writing team (teams may consist of no more than two people) must be a member of and/or recommended by one of the organizations below:
- Be a member of the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) or be recommended by a member of the WGAE Diversity Coalition
- Be an alumnus(a) of the Ghetto Film School, Tribeca All-Access Program, NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) programs/incubators
- Be recommended by New York Women in Film and Television
- Be recommended by the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts
- Be recommended by a Blackhouse Foundation Board Member
- Be recommended by the Black Filmmakers Foundation
- Be recommended by the Black List
- Be recommended by Asain CineVision
- Be recommended by a member of the Interguild Diversity Coalition
KEY DATES:
- September 15, 2016 – Application Opens
- October 20, 2016 – Application Closes
- December 2016 – Semi-finalists selected
- January 2017 – Finalists selected
- January-March 2017 – Finalist interviews
- April 2017 – Fellows selected
- June-December 2017* – Fellowship Program
SUBMISSION FEE: There is no cost to apply for the fellowship. Writers may register their pilot scripts free-of-charge as part of the application process.
STIPEND: During the 6-month fellowship, fellows will be compensated for all time spent working on Fellowship activities at the rate of fifteen dollars an hour, up to $15,600.
PRIZES:
- Five finalists with the highest scoring comedy scripts will be nominated to the Screenwriters Colony Episodic Comedy in partnership with the Nantucket Film Festival.
- Two finalists with the highest scoring comedy and drama scripts will be performed at a professionally cast and directed live reading at Lincoln Center.
- Up to twelve applicants, either individuals or writing teams will be selected to participate in the six-month fellowship program. Fellows will receive a stipend, participate in educational and professional development programs offered by the WGAE, be matched with a showrunner based on their career interests and produce a table read of their script by union actors.
SUBMISSION PERIOD: Opens September 15, 2016
RADCLIFFE INSTITUTE FELLOWSHIPS
Harvard University
INFO: The Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program is a scholarly community where individuals pursue advanced work across a wide range of academic disciplines, professions, and creative arts (including Playwriting / Screenwriting).
Applicants in Playwriting / Screenwriting must have a significant body of independent work in the form. This will include, most typically, a play or screenplay produced or under option.
STIPEND: Up to $75,000 for one year with additional funds for project expenses. Some support for relocation expenses is provided where relevant. They work with fellows with families who have particular issues connected to relocating to smooth the transition. If so directed, Radcliffe will pay the stipend to the fellow’s home institution. Please note that they can only pay stipends to home institutions if they are US based. Fellows receive office or studio space and access to libraries and other resources of Harvard University during the fellowship year, which extends from early September 2017 through May 31, 2018.
Fellows are expected to be free of their regular commitments so they may devote themselves full time to the work outlined in their proposal. Since this is a residential fellowship, they expect fellows to reside in the Boston area during that period and to have their primary office at the Institute so that they can participate fully in the life of the community.
Applicants will be notified by e-mail in March of the results.
DEADLINE: September 15, 2016