ACADEMY NICHOLL FELLOWSHIPS IN SCREENWRITING
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
DEADLINE / ENTRY FEE: May 2, 2022 by 11:59pm PT / $90
INFO: Each year, the Academy Nicholl screenwriting competition awards up to five $35,000 fellowships to amateur screenwriters. To enter, submit a feature length screenplay and entry fee via the online application when the competition is open for submissions. Fellowship winners are invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars, receive individualized Academy member mentorship and are expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during their Fellowship year.
QUALIFICATIONS: Up to five $35,000 fellowships are awarded each year to promising new screenwriters. From the program’s inception in 1986 through 2021, 186 fellowships totaling $4.78 million have been awarded.
FELLOWSHIP OBLIGATIONS:
Up to five fellows in the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition will be invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars in November.
Fellowship recipients will be expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during the fellowship year.
Fellowship payments will be made quarterly subject to satisfactory progress of the recipient’s work, as judged by the Academy Nicholl Fellowships Committee.
The Academy reserves the right to grant no awards if, in the opinion of the Academy Nicholl Fellowships Committee, no entry is of sufficient merit.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Original feature film screenplay (no shorter than 70 pages and no longer than 160 pages) in PDF format only
Completed online application form
Writers must create an account at the Nicholl website to enter the competition. PDF scripts must be uploaded and all other requirements met no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on May 2, 2022.
JUDGING:
The first and quarterfinal rounds are judged by industry professionals who are not members of the Academy. The semifinal round is judged by Academy members drawn from across the spectrum of the motion picture industry. The finalist scripts are judged by the Academy Nicholl Committee.
To further the Academy’s commitment to encouraging and valuing diversity in the industry, the Nicholl Fellowships Program takes measures to ensure that our selection process is as fair as possible and without bias.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
All entrants will receive email notification of whether they've advanced to the Quarterfinals in early August. Semifinalist notifications are emailed in early September.
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2023 Development Track
Sundance Institute
DEADLINE: May 12, 2022 at 11:59pm PT
APPLICATION FEE: $40
INFO: We accept all application materials electronically ONLY. You will have a chance to save a work-in-progress version of your application before officially submitting.
You must sign in or create an account to access the electronic application. When creating your account, please enter the name of the primary applicant (screenwriter) as the account owner.
The development track has one open application that allows your fiction feature work-in-progress screenplay to be considered for the following programs, fellowships, and grants:
Screenwriters Lab (held annually in January)
Screenwriters Intensive (held annually in March online)
Sundance Institute Comedy Fellowship
Sundance Institute Horror Fellowship
Sundance Institute Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and Commissioning Grant
Our application includes questions to determine your eligibility for each program and fellowship, and you will automatically be considered for all programs and fellowships for which you are eligible. (There is no open application for the Directors Lab, which is typically populated by projects that have been supported through a previous development program.) For more information about each program and fellowship, please visit our website.
What you need to complete online IN ORDER by MAY 12, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. PT:
CONTACT INFO for the primary applicant and up to two additional members of the creative team. Please note that only the writer(s) and director(s) will attend the Screenwriters Lab.
ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS — a series of questions about you and your project that will determine your eligibility for all of the development track programs and fellowships.
SLOAN FELLOWSHIP AND GRANT QUESTIONS (Sloan applicants only) — if your project is eligible for the Sloan Fellowship and/or Commissioning Grant, you must complete follow-up questions regarding the scientific or technological content of the material. If your project does not contain scientific or technological content, please do not answer these questions — they are optional.
BIOS (150 words max each) for the primary applicant, co-applicant if applicable, and additional creative team member if applicable.
COVER LETTER (500 words max) introducing yourself and your project. There are no strict requirements for this letter, but we’d like to get a brief idea of who you are, what your script is about, where you are in the creative process, and how you think the lab process could be helpful to you.
ARTISTIC STATEMENT (500 words max) describing your creative vision for the project. What themes are you most interested in exploring in your work, and what do you want an audience to take away from your film? How do you envision the realization of this script in terms of story, character, tone, and/or visual style? Is there a budget level you have in mind? Who do you see as the audience for this film? Why are you passionate about telling this story now? If this is a resubmission of material we’ve previously considered, how has the material changed since we last read it?
PERSONAL CONNECTION (500 words max)
What is your personal connection to a) the story you are telling, and b) the specific communities your story is about? How are you working to make sure that the characters and world of your film are authentically represented, and that the community you're writing about has a voice in the creative process?
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY/RIGHTS — only required if your project is based on true events or characters.
LOGLINE (75 words max ) — a one- to two-sentence description of your story.
SYNOPSIS (750 words max) — brief summary of the plot of your script. Please include all major characters and story points, including the ending.
FIRST 5 PAGES OF YOUR SCREENPLAY OR TREATMENT — You may submit a treatment for the Sloan Commissioning Grant ONLY. If a treatment is submitted and it is not eligible for the Sloan Commissioning Grant, the project will not be considered for any other development track programs or fellowships. Do not upload more than the first five pages.
NEXT STEPS:
Applicants will be notified on a rolling basis as to whether their application has progressed to the next stage of the selection process. Please be prepared to submit the following materials, should you advance to the second round. You will be given approximately 10 days to two weeks from the date of notification to submit these materials and will be notified sometime in August 2022.
UPDATED SYNOPSIS — Since screenplays are often revised between the first and second rounds of our application, we request you submit an updated synopsis with the complete draft of your screenplay.
FULL SCREENPLAY OR TREATMENT — Upload a PDF file of the most current draft of your screenplay or treatment. You may submit a treatment for the Sloan Commissioning Grant ONLY. If a treatment is submitted and it is not eligible for the Sloan Commissioning Grant, the project will not be considered for any other development track programs or fellowships.
DIRECTING SAMPLE (optional) — If you are a writer/director, or if a director is attached to the project, you will have an opportunity to submit a link to a directing sample or samples. Please include the title and run time for any sample submitted.
VISUAL MATERIAL (optional) — If you have visual materials such as a lookbook or project deck, you may upload a PDF of no more than 40 MB.
All applicants will be notified about their status via email no later than August 31, 2022. Due to the high volume of submissions, we are unfortunately unable to provide feedback about individual projects. If you have additional questions, please visit the Development Track FAQ.
If you have further questions, please email featurefilmprogram@sundance.org.
Development Track Selection Process Timeline:
April 14, 2022 Application Available Online
May 12, 2022 Application Closes (11:59 p.m. PT)
August 31, 2022 Second-round notifications complete
December 15, 2022 Final selection notifications complete
Giving Back:
Should you be selected to participate in the January Screenwriters Lab, Screenwriters Intensive, or other Development Track Labs and Fellowships, you will be asked to continue the spirit of giving back. We request that lab alumni whose projects are produced contribute to the Institute’s work to support new generations of emerging filmmakers.
If the Project is produced for a gross budget equal to or less than $1,500,000, no contribution is due to the Institute.
If the Project is produced for a gross budget between $1,500,01 and $3,000,000, the Owner will make a contribution to the Sundance Institute in an amount of $4,500.
If the project is produced for a gross budget between $3,000,001 and $5,000,000, the Owner will make a contribution to the Sundance Institute in an amount of $7,000.
If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or exceeds $5,000,001, the Owner will make a contribution to the Sundance Institute in an amount of $9,500.
All payments are due within 10 business days of the start of principal photography. Any revenue that is designated to the Sundance Institute is allocated to the Feature Film Program and is used on an annual basis to provide critical support for the labs. Your ability to give back really makes a difference.
Finally, if selected for the June Directors or Screenwriters Lab, the Sundance Institute will receive a credit line and logo placement in the film’s end titles, “This film was supported by the Sundance Institute Feature Film Film Program.”
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2023 ARTIST RESIDENCY
Marble House Project
DEADLINE: May 15, 2022
INFO: Marble House Project is a multidisciplinary artist residency program that fosters collaboration and the exchange of ideas, by providing an environment for artists across disciplines to live and work together. The residency integrates sustainable practices, including small-scale organic food production and waste conservation. Residents sustain their growth by engaging with the grounds while working on their artistic practice. Marble House Project is founded on the belief that the act of creating, whether in the studio or in nature, is how human potential expands and community thrives.
Marble House Project accepts approximately 60 residents and is open to artists living in the United States and abroad. You must be at least 21 years old. Residencies run from the end of February through November, scheduled into six three-week residencies and one two-week family-friendly residency for artists with children. Please note that if you apply to the family friendly residency, it is a specific date within the artist in residency application. Each session accommodates eight artists and is specifically curated to bring together a diverse group of creative workers, to maximize potential for collaboration and dialogue while in residence and beyond.
RESIDENCY DATES FOR 2023
February 28th - March 21
March 28th - April 18th
April 25th - May 16th
June 6th - June 27th
July 11th - July 25th FAMILY FRIENDLY RESIDENCY WITH CHILDREN ONLY
October 2 - October 23rd
October 30th - November 20th
All residents live together in the historic, eight-bedroom Manley-Lefevre house, a communal space organized around responsibilities-sharing systems which highlight sustainability and community. All residents will be paired and asked to cook for shared dinners three times over the course of their residency, Monday-Friday. A substantial amount of the food we provide comes from our organic garden, which also serves as a space for gathering and an educational tool. Residents are invited to help with planting, harvesting, and maintenance. While not required, our hope is that you will spend some time in the garden alongside your studio practice. Each session culminates with ARTSEED, our public open house Saturday event. Artists are invited to share their work with our community through artist talks, readings, performances, and open studios.
Marble House Project provides private bedrooms, food, private studio space, and artist support. We are not able to cover costs related to travel or materials. There is no fee to attend the residency.
Applications are accepted in all creative fields including but not limited to writing, dance and choreography, performance, music composition and sound, film and video, visual arts, and culinary arts. Applications are reviewed by a jury of alumni, staff, and outside experts, and artists are selected based on quality of work, commitment to practice, and project description. Please choose the application that best describes your work. Two artists may apply together as a collaborative, and should complete one application. Within each application you will be asked to select the session dates best for you. You may choose the family friendly residency only if you will be bringing your children. Family friendly applicants may select additional dates if willing to attend without your children.
Marble House Project does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. For exact dates, more information or questions about the residency, visit our FAQ page. If you still have questions you may contact info@marblehouseproject.org.
Personal information is not shared with our jury and will remain confidential. This includes email, home address, phone number and any information regarding your family, anything else you would need to tell us and how you heard about Marble House Project. Please make sure to remove this information from your resume. All of our outreach questions also remain confidential and blind to our jury.
We look forward to viewing your application.
marblehouseproject.submittable.com/submit
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New Voices Fellowship
Humanitas
DEADLINE: May 18, 2022
ENTRY FEE: $45
INFO: New Voices Fellowship is 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.
Through mentorship, workshops, conversations on professional development, and networking opportunities, New Voices equips early career writers with the tools needed to advance their careers. Since 2010, 50 fellows have completed the New Voices program and advanced to become showrunners, producers, directors, and staff writers.
Former New Voices fellows include Will Pascoe (Absentia), J. Holtham (Supergirl, Jessica Jones), Jeanine Daniels (Snowfall), Rashaad Ernesto Greene (The Chi, Searching for Alaska), Carlito Rodriguez (Empire), Emily Silver (Finding Carter), Martin Zimmerman (Ozark), and more.
NEW VOICES FELLOWSHIP COMPONENTS:
Mentorship: Fellows are paired with award-winning showrunners for one-on-one mentorship focused on their project. Written notes are provided over a series of meetings. Former mentors include: Alan Ball, Jenny Bicks, Janine Sherman Barrois, Matt Carlson, Carter Covington, Liz Craft, Sarah Fain, Tom Fontana, Gary Glasberg, Gary David Goldberg, Marc Guggenheim, Hart Hanson, Chris Harris, Felicia Henderson, Winnie Holzman, David Hudgins, Jason Katims, Jay Kogen, Bill Lawrence, Ali LeRoi, Melanie Marnich, Nancy Pimental, Rashad Raisani, Robin Schiff, David Shore, Patrick Sean Smith, Robin Swicord, Pam Veasey, Ben Watkins, and David Zuckerman.
Workshops Series: The Humanitas staff and the New Voices Advisor invite fellows to join a series of conversations and workshops focused on the most pressing issues facing emerging television and screenwriters. Topics have included The Art of the Pitch, Navigating Notes, Understanding the Executive Perspective, Working through Writer’s Block, Early Career Do’s and Don’ts, Staffing Meeting Tips, and more.
Professional Development & Networking: In addition to the community cultivated through the New Voices Conversation and Workshops Series, New Voices aims to present fellows with at least one meaningful networking opportunity per year.
Once the New Voices Fellowship has concluded, the fellows’ creative materials and contact information are distributed to the Humanitas agents and managers network.
Stipend: Each New Voices fellow receives a $7,500 stipend.
REQUIRED SUBMISSION MATERIALS:
Original 30- or 60-minute pilot, or feature film screenplay
Logline
Brief synopsis (1 paragraph)
Bio, résumé, and short artist statement that speaks to professional aspirations.
Completed release form.
ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants must be 21 years of age or older at time of application.
Applicants do not need to be U.S. permanent residents and/or citizens but must be residing in the U.S. during the fellowship.
Applicants must be available to participate actively in all dimensions of fellowship programming, including mandatory workshops, virtual gatherings, and virtual public programs.
The New Voices Fellowship is for emerging television and screenwriters who:
1) are unrepresented (writers are unrepresented with no current manager, agent, or attorney acting in this capacity),
2) have not been staffed as a writer, and
3) have not received payment for screen or television writing services prior to the submission period.
Applicants may submit one application and script per year.
Former New Voices Fellows are not eligible to reapply.
While the New Voices Fellowship accepts materials from all writers, writers with diverse backgrounds and social identities historically underrepresented in media are highly encouraged to apply.
humanitasprize.org/new-voices-2022
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Sloan Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
DEADLINE: May 20, 2022 at 5:00 pm PST
INFO: The Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as part of their mission to champion films that explore scientific or technological themes or characters. SFFILM will award fellowships to filmmakers in the screenwriting phase of developing a screenplay that tells a story related to science or technology.
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. The residency program provides filmmakers with artistic guidance, office space, a vibrant creative community, and mentorship from established filmmakers and members of the independent film industry. To strengthen the film’s portrayal of science or technology, each fellow will be connected to a science advisor with expertise in the subjects at the center of their screenplays, as well as leaders in the Bay Area’s science and technology communities.
APPLICANT CRITERIA:
Applicant may not be an SFFILM or Sloan employee or member of any SFFILM or Sloan boards.
Applicant must be at least 18 years old
All grant recipients and co-applicants must become SFFILM members at the Film Fan level or above prior to SFFILM distributing funds to the project.
Primary applicant must be in a key creative role for the film: screenwriter, director, or producer.
PROJECT CRITERIA:
Project must be feature length.
Project cannot be a work for hire.
Project must be consistent with SFFILM’s mission and represent an imaginative contribution to the moving image art form
There must be realistic scientific or technological content at the center of the screenplay.
Writers must have the intention of working with scientific advisors to ensure the accuracy or their stories.
Science-fiction and speculative stories are, in almost every case, ineligible. In some rare cases, a futuristic story might be eligible if it involves science or technology that is truly on the cusp of being introduced to society.
APPLICATION CRITERIA:
Filmmaker clearly articulates the intended goals for the grant.
Filmmaker demonstrates how the grant will impact short- and long-term professional and artistic goals.
Applicant directly answers all questions on the application and does not go over the word count. Applications that go over the word count will be considered ineligible.
GRANTEE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Financial Stipulations:
The fellowship winner will receive a grant of $35,000.
Funds must be used for living expenses and if not from the Bay Area, travel to and from the Bay Area.
Winner must reside in the Bay Area for a minimum of two (non-contiguous) months, for no less than two weeks at a time.
While fulfilling the two-month Bay Area residency requirement, the filmmaker must agree to live within a 20-mile drive of FilmHouse (644 Broadway San Francisco, CA 94133).The fellow must agree to spend a minimum of three half days at FilmHouse, and to attend a minimum of two FilmHouse events per month.
Transportation to and from the residency is the responsibility of the fellow.
Additional Requirements:
Applicant will sign an agreement with the SFFILM
Fellows are asked to help us in our marketing efforts by filling out a questionnaire and providing links to trailers and/or reviews. Unless otherwise specified for confidentiality reasons, the logline submitted for the original application will be used in our press release.
Additional Notes:
Only one application per project will be accepted.
While we encourage filmmakers to apply to the San Francisco International Film Festival, winning a fellowship from
SFFILM does not guarantee acceptance into any of the aforementioned programs.
HOW TO APPLY:
To begin the application process, navigate to the “Apply Now” page to review the required items for submission. If you have not yet created an account for the SFFILM Grant Platform, please do so (please note: this is separate from your SFFILM member account).
Prepare your answers ahead of time in a separate document before submitting in case there are any problems with your submission. Leave time for technical issues, please do not wait until the last minute to submit your application.
If you are a member of SFFILM, your application fee is waived. If you are not a member of SFFILM, there is an application fee that must be paid in order for your submission to be considered. To pay the application fee, enter your credit card information at the end of the application after you hit “submit.” Email grants@sffilm.org if you have any technical questions.
Here is a sample of a few of the questions you will find in the online application:
Bio. (200 words or less)
Logline. In a couple of sentences, please describe the crux of your film. (75 words or less)
Project synopsis. (300 words or less)
Trailer or other work sample. (We will watch no more than 5 minutes of submitted footage)
What scientific research have you conducted thus far?
To date, what support have you received for this project?
List all sources such as awards, residencies, grants, donations, investments, and in-kind.
List the names and roles and other key (2-3) individuals involved in the project. Please briefly describe their qualifications.
Additional application materials are required as follows:
Current script sample: Ten pages of the script you are applying with. The ten pages do not need to be the first ten pages. Please select what you believe to be the best ten pages.
Script sample explanation: This should introduce the script pages from the project for which you are applying and provide context as well as any other pertinent information that would be helpful for the review panel to consider, such as which draft of the film this is and why you selected this passage.
REVIEW PANEL: SFFILM will convene panels to evaluate applications and award fellowships at its sole discretion. The review panel to decide the winners is comprised of panelists that are producers, filmmakers, industry professionals, science advisors, and qualified SFFILM staff amongst others. Winners will be announced in a press release and on the SFFILM website.
https://sffilm.org/sloan-science-in-cinema-filmmaker-fellowship/
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BlackStar Pitch
BlackStar Film Festival
DEADLINE: May 31, 2022
INFO: BlackStar Pitch is back! Pitch your short non-fiction project at the 2022 BlackStar Film Festival to an illustrious panel of funders, distributors, and producers – for the chance to win an artist grant, industry mentorship, and more.
Eight filmmakers will be selected based on their applications to pitch their works-in-progress in front of a virtual audience and panel of judges during this year's festival. The first-place pitch will receive an artist grant from Warner Bros. Discovery’s OneFifty. The grant will assist the filmmaking team in completing their pitch materials and the OneFifty team will provide consultancy and general guidance on moving the film towards completion. This includes giving formal feedback and notes at the rough and fine cut stages and developing a plan to pitch the completed short.
A second-place winner will receive an invitation to be a part of IF/Then Shorts’ FINISH LINE program. IF/Then Shorts will be available to the filmmaking team as consulting producers on distribution and exhibition opportunities, as well as for general guidance on moving the film towards completion. This includes giving formal feedback and notes at the rough and fine cut stages, and developing a distribution plan for the completed short.
The winner of the Pitch will be announced during the virtual awards ceremony on August 8th.