TV RETREAT & FELLOWSHIP
CineStory Foundation
DEADLINES & SUBMISSION FEES:
Regular Deadline: September 4, 2023 ($65)
Late Deadline – October 1, 2023 ($75)
Extended Late Deadline – November 5, 2023 ($85)
Final Deadline: December 3, 2023 ($90)
INFO: The CineStory Foundation believes in helping writers find their voice. We’re entering a world in which the ways to tell stories are limitless. Those stories always begin with a blank page. Our goal with the Television Retreat is to educate writers about the unique world of TV storytelling, from the collaborative nature of writing for networks or streaming channels to the independent realm of creating and shooting series for the web.
Structured like the CineStory Feature Retreat, the CineStory Television Retreat takes place over three days in the beautiful mountains of Idyllwild, California. Attendees receive three one-on-one, one and a half hour sessions with CineStory mentors. During these sessions, mentors will give attendees feedback on improving the craft of the script(s) they submitted in advance and will also discuss with writers various aspects of the business of TV writing to help writers better understand TV writers’ various roles in the entertainment industry.
TV writers also will experience what it’s like to sit in a professional writers room run by an experienced mentor. In addition, mentors and writers will gather for meals, drinks, screenings, and other special events.
RETREAT DATES:
May 3 – 7, 2024
RETREAT FEE:
The retreat fee for the 2023 Feature Retreat is $2,200 for individual participants and $3,000 for teams (who participate in all retreat events as a team).
The retreat fee covers meals (a light breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and all retreat events, including informal sessions, one-on-one meetings, social gatherings (cocktail parties, etc.).
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Quarterfinalists – Late January
Semifinalists – Late February
Finalists – Mid March
Division Winners – Early April
Fellowship Winner – Mid April
TV DIVISIONS:
Original Drama – 1 hour series
Original Comedy – 30 minute series
Original Sci Fi/Fantasy – 1 hour series
Original Children/Family – 30 min series
Pilots only. For division details, please visit our TV Submissions page.
cinestory.org/retreat-fellowship-contests/tv-retreat-fellowship-contest/
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FilmHouse Residency
SFFILM
DEADLINE: September 8, 2023
INFO: Located in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood, FilmHouse—the only year-round filmmaker residency program of its kind in the United States—supports narrative and documentary films by making office space available to independent filmmakers actively engaged in various stages of production.
FilmHouse currently holds 21 filmmakers engaged in 12-month residencies, all working in early project stages of screenwriting and pre-production. Typically throughout the year there are roughly 10–20 visiting filmmakers from our other Artist Development programs that utilize FilmHouse work space.
SFFILM’s FilmHouse residency program provides Bay Area-based documentary and narrative filmmakers with artistic guidance, office space, a vibrant creative community, and support from established film industry professionals.
FilmHouse provides an environment where local filmmakers can gather with their colleagues, collaborate on projects together, share resources, get peer-to-peer feedback, find new networks, and more
FilmHouse residents get year-round access to a strong network of support from professional advisors, SFFILM Makers staff, visiting industry professionals, and established artists from the Bay Area and beyond
sffilm.org/artist-development/filmhouse-residencies/
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2024 Spring/Summer residencY
MacDowell
DEADLINE: September 10, 2023
INFO: The Fellowship application period for 2024 Spring/Summer residencies at MacDowell is now open.
There are no residency fees, and to defray expenses that accrue during an artist’s stay, MacDowell provides need-based stipends to cover rent, utilities, childcare, and lost income from taking time off from employment, as well as grants to travel to and from the residency.
MacDowell encourages artists to apply in any stage of their career, and from all backgrounds and countries, in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts.
If your proposed project does not fall clearly within one of these artistic disciplines, you should contact the admissions department for guidance at admissions@macdowell.org.
Spring/Summer residencies will take place between March 1, 2024 and August 31, 2024.
macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-fellowship
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SCREENWRITING LAB
Film Independent
DEADLINES / FEES:
Member: September 11, 2023 / $45
INFO: The Screenwriting Lab is a two-week workshop held in the first quarter of the year, designed to provide individualized story and career development for emerging screenwriters with a fiction feature screenplay.
Each Screenwriting Fellow will be paired with a Creative Advisor, with whom they’ll work one-on-one and in group sessions to further develop their project over the course of the program. The Screenwriting Lab also helps to further the careers of its Fellows by introducing them to film industry veterans who can offer guidance on both the craft and business of screenwriting. A variety of guest speakers may screen and discuss their own films and offer career insights, and a final pitch event offers further opportunity for individualized feedback and discussion with industry executives.
ELIGIBILITY:
The Screenwriting Lab is open to any writer applying with a completed draft of a feature-length project they wish to workshop during the program, with an eye toward production. More details available in the FAQ section below.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants must submit the following materials for consideration:
A cover letter detailing what drew you to apply to the Screenwriting Lab and why this is the right time for you to participate in the program (500 words max)
One complete, feature-length screenplay
An artist statement explaining the genesis of the story, your creative vision and intentions for the film (750 words max)
A look book (optional)
A logline (35 words) and synopsis for the film
Bios of attached key cast and crew, if any – Attachments are not required for consideration
Project status and history, including any relevant development history, awards received or labs and/or markets attended with the project
A narrative directing sample, if you plan on directing the film with which you are applying
FAQ:
Screenwriting Lab is for writers only; other collaborators are not invited to participate.
Writing partners/teams are welcome to apply and need only submit one application.
We are open to filmmakers at any level of experience.
International applicants are eligible; the script must be translated into English for consideration.
Adaptations are eligible; the applicant must retain rights to the underlying material.
At this time, documentary, short film and television projects are not eligible to apply.
We will reconsider projects that have previously been submitted, provided the writer(s) can demonstrate progress on the project and/or professional development.
Filmmakers may apply to multiple Film Independent Artist Development programs and there is no requirement to have participated in any one program before another.
Please note: Each applicant must be the author of the script he/she submits.
THE FINE PRINT:
Beyond the application fee, there is no cost or tuition to participate in any of Film Independent’s Artist Development programs.
Film Independent Membership is not required when applying to Artist Development Labs. However, all participants accepted into the Labs are required to join Film Independent at the standard annual General Membership rate of $95.
Applicants will be notified three to four weeks prior to the start of the program.
Applicants who are invited to participate in the program should plan to be in Los Angeles for the duration of the Lab. Film Independent is unable to subsidize any travel, lodging and/or visa expenses for any participants attending from outside of Los Angeles. Participants are expected to attend all sessions in person.
filmindependent.org/programs/artist-development/screenwriting-lab/
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LANI’S GARDENS ARTISTS' RESIDENCY
DEADLINE: September 15, 2023
APPLICATION FEE: $20 (Paypal: issilah@gmail.com | Venmo: @kehaulanimusic | CashApp: $LaniPark888)
FEE: $555/month
INFO: Lani’s Gardens Artists Residency’s mission is to serve BIPOC, LGBTQ+ & ally artists & their families by providing them with a transformative island residency experience and a beautiful space in nature to relax, recharge, rejuvenate and create. The residency is located on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Artists live in an off-grid, solar-powered, private & gated, close-to-nature, glamping artists' sanctuary with a round swimming pool, picnic table, fireplace, and meditation tipi and a permaculture food forest with over 100 medicinal and edible plants, berry bushes, flowers, and fruit trees.
ELIGIBILITY: Practicing artists of all backgrounds and at any stage of their career are eligible to apply for a Lani’s Gardens Artists’ Retreat residency. Artists must be at least twenty-one years old. Please note that all eligibility requirements must be met at the time of application. We invite applicants to apply in the following disciplines:
Writing (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and journalism)
Visual Arts
Dance
Theater
Music Composition
Architecture
Interdisciplinary Work
DIVERSITY STATEMENT: Lani’s Gardens Artists’ Retreat actively seeks to invite diverse artists. Lani’s Gardens Artists’ Retreat does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, religion, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, veteran status, medical conditions including HIV, or sensory, physical, or mental disability.
RESIDENCY SESSIONS:
September 1st
October 2023
November 2023
December 2023
January 2024
February 2024
March 2024
APPLICATION TIMELINE & QUALIFICATIONS:
Applications will be accepted annually starting September 1st, until October 1st, at midnight Hawai'i Time. Late applications will not be accepted. Applicants will be contacted by October 1st. To apply, please contact Lani at kehaulanimusic@gmail.com and ask for an Lani’s Gardens’ Artists’ Retreat Application form. For questions, please contact kehaulanimusic@gmail.com with the subject line “Residency.” Or, give us a call at (808) 430-5459.
Applicants are judged by the same criteria across disciplines. We are looking for artistic excellence, sustained impact, and boldness of vision.
REFERENCES:
All applicants are required to submit two professional references. Please provide the name, contact information, and a very brief description of the nature of your professional relationship for each reference. Lani’s Gardens contacts references only if the application advances. References would be contacted iby either email or phone and would not submit a formal letter.
WORK SAMPLES:
VISUAL ART - Submit 5 JPEG images that best represent your work. They can be no more than three MB per image.
MUSIC COMPOSITION - Submit two or three audio samples of representative work. Each should be no more than 30MB each and should be in MP3 format or in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link.
DANCE - Submit two or three works totaling no more than fifteen minutes of video. Each work sample should be submitted in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link.
THEATER - Submit either two or three videos or PDFs. If you submit via video, they should total no more than fifteen minutes together in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link.
POETRY - Submit eight to ten short poems or excerpts of poems. The total should not exceed 15 pages and should be in PDF format.
FICTION, NONFICTION, & SCREENWRITING - Submit two to three work samples in the genre that you wish to work in during your residency. The total should not exceed 20 pages, be double-spaced, and be in PDF format.
ARCHITECTURE - Submit two to three examples of previous design-based architecture projects in the form of PDFs, video, or a combination of the two. The applicant may submit work samples including but not limited to models, drawings, and images of completed work.
INTERDISCIPLINARY WORK - Submit three to five work samples. The work samples can be in one type of media or a mixture of media including images (jpegs should be no more than three MB each), PDFs, video (MP4/MOV should be no more than 250 MB), Vimeo link, YouTube link, or audio (MP3 should be no more 30MB each).
kehaulanimusic.typeform.com/to/gBdFe4lR
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BIPOC WOMEN FILM PRODUCTION GRANT
BendFilm
DEADLINE: September 15, 2023
INFO: On-screen representation affects cultural understanding of BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ characters. Barriers need to be broken down until equal representation is achieved on-screen and behind the camera.
BendFilm’s Grant will support a BIPOC women artist with $20,000 toward making their short or feature film. The grant supports storytellers who are working to tell creative and complex stories told from a point of view that is unique and authentic.
Filmmakers who have been underrepresented are less likely to have the funding support to produce their first films to jumpstart their careers. This grant breaks down the economic barrier to democratize the art form which in turn will:
Support the career of an underrepresented artist.
Increase the production of films that accurately portray underrepresented communities.
Lead audiences to a better understanding of themselves (if underrepresented) or to the life experience of someone unlike themselves.
HOW IT WILL WORK:
Preferred candidates will produce their film in Oregon, but that is not a mandatory requirement.
BendFilm programmers and independent reviewers will assess each application to narrow down the finalists.
Five (5) to ten (10) final candidates will virtually pitch their projects live to a panel of industry professionals (to be announced soon) during the 19th Annual BendFilm Festival between October 6-9th in-person and 10th-23rd virtually, 2022.
The panel will decide the winner of the $10,000 production grant and may provide mentorship during the filmmaking process at panelists discretion and interest.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Submit a proposal (details coming soon). Eligibility guidelines:
The director of the film must identify as a woman and person of color
The funded film must be made in accordance with the treatment that will be provided in the official RFP.
The film must be completed on deadline (details coming soon).
The project must credit Braemar Charitable Trust, the Oregon Film Office, and BendFilm as Associate Producers.
The film must be available to World Premiere during BendFilm’s 20th Annual Festival in October 2023.
FAQs:
Are there any limitations on how grant funds can be spent?
Yes. The film must be directed by a woman who is a black, indigenous, or a person of color . Preferred applicants will reside in Oregon and plan to shoot their film in Oregon.
How will applications be evaluated?
A team made up of BendFilm staff, Board Members and two (2) local filmmakers will evaluate initial applications for artistic merit and ensure all minimum requirements are met. Due to the volume of applications we are not able to provide specific feedback on projects that are not selected.
bendfilm.org/education/bendfilm-production-grant/
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Open Call For Proposals: Film Production Grant
Voices With Impact
DEADLINE: September 17, 2023 at midnight
INFO: Voices With Impact is a yearly short film production grant that funds 5 minute films that create transformative conversations around the topic of mental health. Each year VWI awards 10 filmmaking teams $7.5k to make a 5 minute short on specific underrepresented mental health topics.
This year we are looking for proposals on the topic of Serious Mental Illness, or Cliques & Echo Chambers.
FAQ:
We global you can apply from anywhere in the world!
We accept any genre of film proposal, from documentary to dark comedy, from drama to experimental animation.
The proposal must be for a film 5 minutes or less.
The 2024 submission window for film proposals is now open. The deadline is Midnight PT September 17 2023. Submissions will be juried by filmmakers and mental health professionals.
PROPOSAL GUIDE:
Your Contact Information (completed on webform)
Name of primary filmmaker (to be main point of contact) Email of primary filmmaker
Phone of primary filmmaker
Location of primary filmmaker (city, state or province, country) Which film content area are you applying for?
Your Previous Work (completed on webform)
Brief description and links (if available) of up to three relevant films and/or scripts that you’ve created (max. 150 words/project, 5 mins/clip)
Your Proposal
The following numbered items should be included in 1 document. You will share a downloadable link such as Google Drive or WeTransfer in the webform. We encourage you to make this proposal document look nice and appealing for our jurors.
Your Resume (We want to see what you've done in film here)
Names, bios, and credentials of any identified collaborators (director, director of photography, writer, producer, actors)
A Logline: a brief summary of your film idea (max. 75 words)
Project treatment: outline of story, plot, themes, filmmaking techniques. (max. 500 words)
Mood board or alternative visual inspiration.
Why you, why this film, and why now? (max. 250 words)
Explain:
a. WHAT mental health themes are explored in the film?
b.HOW are mental health themes explored in the film?
8. Connection with content area - how voices of people most impacted by Serious Mental Illness or Cliques & Echo Chambers you are exploring will be included in the film, whether it’s through the identities of the filmmaker/ filmmaking team, connection or affiliation with the population, or demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the population (max. 250 words)
9. What subject matter expert community organizations or partners might you work/consult with during production, or which organizations would you like to be connected with? (max. 150 words)
10. A realistic and reasonable line-by-line budget for how the $7,500 grant would be used, including any additional funding and funding sources if relevant.
11. Production schedule from November 1, 2022 through April 1, 2023 (including any resources, locations, collaborations, etc.)
voiceswithimpact.com/production-grant
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: ‘HOMEGROWN: A Part Of/Apart From.'
Firelight Media
DEADLINE: September 18, 2023 at 11:59pm PST
INFO: Firelight Media, Black Public Media, Latino Public Broadcasting, and Pacific Islanders in Communications invite emerging BIPOC filmmakers living in the U.S. territories and Hawai'i – and their diasporic communities – to submit proposals for season two of 'HOMEGROWN: A Part Of/Apart From.'
Eight selected filmmakers will receive $45,000 each to produce an 8-15 minute non-fiction short film, work with the producing partners from development through distribution, and receive mentorship by established independent filmmakers. Selected films will be distributed through public media with a planned release for winter 2024.
CREATIVE BRIEF:
Titled after a term coined by Michael Bevacqua, host of the Fanachu! podcast, our upcoming HOMEGROWN collection will focus on stories grappling with issues of sovereignty, agency, and the variety of ways communities negotiate what it means to be “a part of and apart from.”
We seek projects that disrupt mainstream narratives about the U.S. Territories and illuminate the living histories, cultures, and future visions of the regions. Projects can vary in scope/approach, and address topics including (but not limited to):
New forms of resistance
Land rights and reparations work
Climate change and migration
Cultural changemakers
Community portraits and rituals
Bureaucracy and its misuse
Healthcare & the body
Celebrations and joy
Voting rights
Historical inaccuracies
Militarization
Self determination
Home and identity
Solidarity across territories
Duality
Freedom
In preparation for another election cycle, HOMEGROWN: A Part of/Apart From explores how filmmakers, culture bearers, and communities are re-defining democracy through place-based storytelling.
Projects that address the following questions will receive priority consideration:
What does duality look like in your community?
In what ways does the past affect the present?
What socio-cultural values should be retained?
What communities would benefit from amplification?
Are there movements/people/events that have flourished that the rest of the country should know about?
How can difference be a propelling force?
The ideal candidates for the initiative are emerging filmmakers committed to unearthing never-before-told narratives rooted in their local community.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Project must be short form non-fiction, with a duration of 8-15 minutes
Project must be in development, pre-production, or early production
Applicants must identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color
Applicants must reside in or be a descendant of the U.S territories (Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands) and Hawai’i
Applicants must be able to complete the project by Winter 2024
Applicants must hold artistic, budgetary, and editorial control, and must own the copyright of the proposed project
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older by the time of submission
Applicants must be willing and able to work collaboratively with Firelight Media, PIC, the National Multicultural Alliance partners, PBS, local public media staff, and mentors
Only one proposal may be submitted per applicant
Currently enrolled graduate students may apply, but you must demonstrate your ability to deliver a short film with a demanding timeline and strict PBS reporting guidelines
Projects NOT Eligible:
Applicants cannot reside in New York or L.A.
Feature documentaries, series, or fiction projects
Projects in post-production or completed films
Projects that are student films or are related to coursework
Projects or production entities which are non-US-based, owned, or controlled
Branded content or promotional projects
firelightmedia.submittable.com/submit/
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OPEN CALL FOR MEDIA MAKERS
Black Public Media
DEADLINE: September 25, 2023
INFO: Each year, BPM issues an open call for feature-length documentaries and shorts (nonfiction or scripted) that are currently in pre-production, production, or post-production and intended for public media distribution. In addition to feature length documentaries and shorts, we accept proposals for pilot episodes of a broadcast length or shorts limited series. The limited series must be 3 to 5 episodes. Selected projects will receive production funding to advance the work. The submission dates and specific content priorities for the 2023 Open Call will be announced in August. Awards will be announced in December 2023.
OUR FUNDING PRIORITIES:
1) Climate Change
2) Environmental Justice
3) Democracy
Projects will receive funding as follows: One broadcast-length project will receive up to $100,000. One short project will receive up to $50,000. In addition, BPM may award invitations to participate in our 360 Incubator+, a hybrid professional development program or PitchBLACK, a forum to compete for up to $150,000 in production funding. Please note that all Black Public Media (BPM) funding awards are licensing agreements for public media distribution.
ELIGIBILITY:
To be eligible for the Open Call:
The applicant must (a) be the project’s producer or director, (b) be a US citizen, (c) have a minimum of three years professional producing and/or directing experience, or have a senior producer attached to the project;
Key creative personnel (producer, director, writer, or editor) must include a person of color;
The proposed content must be either a short (scripted or nonfiction) or broadcast-length documentary for public media distribution;
The project must be completed within 36 months of receiving the award;
The applicant must hold artistic, budgetary and editorial control, and must own the copyright of the proposed project;
Projects or production entities that are foreign-based, owned or controlled are NOT eligible. Neither are industrial, promotional or student films.
DEADLINE: Our deadlines are strict. We highly recommend that you start your application in plenty of time and “save” to complete your submission over time. As soon as the application window closes, a panel of media professionals across the industry will evaluate the proposals in a two-tier review process. The deadline for this year’s Open Call will be announced in August.
REVIEW CRITERIA:
The review panel will evaluate each proposal using the following guidelines:
The subject/story meets BPM’s mission to engage audiences around a critical social issue.
The synopsis demonstrates a compelling narrative that is unique and original.
The treatment clearly describes the visual and audio approach, narrative structure and overall style.
The team’s production experience will support the execution of the project.
The budget and production timeline matches the scope of the project presented.
The video sample demonstrates skill, creativity and ability of production team to execute the proposed project
The overall application is a professional proposal that demonstrates project readiness.
RIGHTS + RELEASES:
Projects selected for funding will receive a BPM funding contract. The contract is not a grant but a licensing agreement in which BPM is granted exclusive or shared domestic public television distribution rights as well as the exclusive or shared right to package, schedule and promote the program through public broadcasting. BPM makes no expressed or implied commitment to financially support a project until an agreement is signed by both the applicant and BPM. As a condition of the funding contract, producers must agree to BPM’s standard terms and conditions, including the following:
For broadcast projects, assignment to BPM of public television broadcast rights for four (4) years over national public television, off-air record rights, and internet streaming rights;
For web projects only, assignment to BPM of streaming rights for four (4) years;
Funding and/or Presentation credit to BPM and Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB);
Net revenues must be shared with BPM from the exercise of subsidiary or ancillary rights over a 15-year period;
Financial books and records related to the production must be maintained for three (3) years following the receipt of funds or net revenues by the producers.
Producers must comply with all equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination laws and policies, payola/plugola requirements and other applicable federal and state rules and regulations.
blackpublicmedia.org/for-media-makers/open-call/
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Proof of Concept Short Film Grant
Black Film Space / cliveRd
DEADLINE: September 26, 2023
APPLICATION FEE: $35 (Free for Black Film Space paying members)
INFO: Black Film Space is partnering with cliveRd, a studio focused on producing and building in media, on a Proof of Concept Short Film Grant.
We are seeking one short film script under 15 minutes/pages that aims to serve as a teaser/preview for a feature film or episodic series.
The grant total will be $9,000.
The project will be selected based on the filmmaker’s ability to present a strong script and treatment that shows great promise as a proof of concept for a feature film or episodic series. We will also consider other factors such as the merit of previous work and financial need.
APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS
Must have at least one visual sample that showcases previous work
Must present a completed script for their short film or episodic series.
Must present a completed treatment
Must present a detailed plan on how they will execute their project with details on production, casting, their team, post production, festival strategy, etc.
Must reside in the United States
At least one of the core team members on the team listed in the application must be of Black/African descent
Must submit a narrative, scripted film. Documentary films/non fiction works will not be considered
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANT RECIPIENT:
The production timeline for the completed short must be within six months of receiving the grant
Applicants must function in one of the following three roles: writer, director and/or executive producer, and the writer needs to be a part of the selection process
The filmmaker must be willing to exhibit their proof of concept short at Black Film Space’s Awards ceremony in the fall of 2024
CliveRd and Black Film Space must be credited as producers on the short film
Filmmakers must be available for follow up discussions with cliveRd on their progress of their short and their feature film/episodic series
Must be in pre-production and/or producing their feature film or episodic series within AT LEAST a year of receiving the grant
There is a possibility that cliveRd will show continued interest depending on the quality of the feature film/episodic series script and readiness of the filmmaker to complete their project.
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TV PILOT COMPETITION
ScreenCraft
DEADLINES: September 30, 2023
INFO: Our TV Competition has a history of getting writers signed, staffed, and have helped them land development deals for their own projects. It's one of our most successful competitions, period. Winners and finalists have signed with 3Arts, Management 360, CAA, Verve, Zero Gravity, and more.
MENTORS: We welcome Emmy-winning writer, creator, showrunner Damon Lindelof (WATCHMEN, THE LEFTOVERS, LOST) as our Grand Juror. Damon will meet with the grand prize winner of the program.
A Note To Entrants And Those Considering Entry During The WGA Strike:
At ScreenCraft, we stand in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America and its efforts to ensure fair compensation for writers.
ScreenCraft has publicly committed to pausing the sharing of writers’ work with struck companies and, if needed, coordinating with finalists and winners to see what alternate outreach they are comfortable with.
We’re all hoping the strike will be over soon, but if it isn’t, ScreenCraft will offer alternatives, postpone announcements, or otherwise work with writers to ensure they’re staying within the rules of the WGA strike.
GRAND PRIZE WINNER:
The overall grand prize winner will be welcomed to the ScreenCraft Writer Development Program and receive personal introductions and phone calls with one or more top Hollywood literary manager(s) who are looking for talented emerging Film & TV screenwriters.
ScreenCraft's relationships include companies like Blumhouse, Netflix, HBO Max, AMC, and over 150 other Hollywood managers, agents, producers, and development executives.
ScreenCraft has a proven track record for getting writers signed with managers, agents, and staffed in writing rooms.
Personal Introduction to industry professionals
Accepted into the ScreenCraft Writer Development Program
$1,000 Cash
An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
Free 6-month membership to The Tracking Board
RUNNER-UP PRIZES:
Winner:
$500 cash award
Accepted into ScreenCraft Development Program
An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
Free 6-month membership to The Tracking Board
Finalists:
An exclusive invitation to a Finalist+ workshop to position yourself and your writing to the industry
Free 6-month membership to The Tracking Board
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ARTISTS & WRITERS RESIDENCY
Vermont Studio Center
DEADLINE: October 1, 2023
INFO: Each month, VSC welcomes over 50 artists and writers from across the country and around the world to our historic campus in northern Vermont.
All of our residencies include:
A private room in modest, shared housing
24-hour access to a private studio space in one of our 6 medium-specific studio buildings
3 communal meals per day (plus fresh fruit, coffee/tea/cold beverages, and cereal available around the clock)
Most residents stay with us for 1 month, so our sessions adhere to a 4-week calendar however, residencies can be scheduled in 2-week increments ranging from 2 to 12 weeks if a shorter or longer stay better suits your needs. Although we accept residents for stays for 2 weeks, we recommend a minimum stay of one month for the fullest experience.
Each 4-week session includes:
Opening Night Dinner & Reception
7 Resident Presentation (“Res Pres”) Nights
2 Open Studios Nights
Public Slide Talks / Public Readings from our Visiting Artists & Writers
Visiting Writer Craft Talks (open to writers only)
Opportunities for studio visits/manuscript critiques with Visiting Artists/Writers
Most months, numerous other spontaneous events take place--intimate readings, pop-up shows, group hikes or swims, performances, site-specific installations, movie screenings, dance parties, and bonfires, to name a few.
All events in our monthly program are optional. Our program is designed to enhance your studio practice by providing opportunities to engage with a supportive creative community; you are welcome to participate in as many or as few of these activities as you like.
FELLOWSHIPS:
Voices Rising Fellowship - For Black American women fiction writers with demonstrable financial need. This fellowship was established in honor of women writers of color such as Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Zora Neale Hurston, whose voices have inspired so many. This award includes a $2,000 stipend.
Susanna Colloredo Environmental Writing Fellowship - For a writer whose creative work directly engages environmental issues, awareness, and the complex challenges facing the planet.
Harpo Foundation Native American Fellowship - This award supports exceptional Native American writers. This award includes a $500 travel stipend.
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WRITER-DRIVEN SHORTS
The Black List
DEADLINE: Extended to October 15, 2023
INFO: The “Writer-Driven Shorts” program, presented by the Black List x General Motors Marketing and Media Incubator Fund, will grant two emerging filmmakers with $100,000 in production funds to shoot a short film based on their feature scripts.
The short films that are produced as part of the program will aim to have a successful festival run and compete for awards consideration in 2024. GM will provide picture cars to the two filmmakers to use in their short films (if needed).
All genres are encouraged to submit for the Writer-Driven Shorts program, ranging from romantic comedy, action adventure, grounded dramas, fantastical sci-fi and more. In alignment with GM's sustainable, all-electric future and aspiration to be the most inclusive company in the world, films showcasing sustainability, electrification and/or diversity will be highly considered. Scripts with scenes of excessive violence, illegal drug or substance abuse, car crashes, unsafe driving and/or explicit sexual acts will not be considered.
Scripts are not required to include scenes with vehicles.
GM is committed to fighting climate change and achieving carbon neutrality in their operations and products by 2040. As such, the Writer-Driven Shorts program is particularly interested in identifying and supporting filmmakers whose scripts include compelling and optimistic climate storytelling. This opportunity is ideal for writers whose scripts promote hope and idealism–stories about characters who dream of and fight for a more sustainable and equitable future.
These kinds of stories can include (but are certainly not limited to!):
Rom-coms about rival chefs in the slow food movement
Family comedies about a sustainable road trip
Satires about the cutthroat world of local composting organizations
An imagined biopic about a scientist who stops the polar ice caps from melting
Action movies with electric car chases
As part of a broader commitment to a more equitable Hollywood, the Black List and the GM Incubator Fund will also grant fee waivers for one free month of hosting and two free evaluations on blcklst.com to the first 200 writers from traditionally underrepresented communities. Fee waivers will be distributed at the discretion of the Black List and GM - submitting writers will be asked to elaborate on why they qualify for a fee waiver during the final stages of the program submission process.
Writer/directors and writer and director teams are welcome to submit for this opportunity. A link to your project’s directing sample will be required when you submit for the opportunity. If you are a writer who has paired with a director for this project, you must submit a directing sample for your attached director. Please note that only filmmakers who have directed at least one narrative short film will be considered eligible. If you are a writer submitting for this opportunity who has not directed a short film, you must attach an eligible director to your project.
When the submission period ends, a short list of 20 filmmakers will be invited to submit additional materials. These materials include prior directing samples, production plans, lookbooks, and budgets so please be prepared with these materials should you make it to the next round and do not submit for this opportunity if you will not be able to provide any of the above.
Only feature-length scripts will be considered for this program. All shorts will be excerpts and/or adaptations of the selected feature-length scripts. The Black List does not accept short film scripts on the website. Only full-length, completed feature scripts will be accepted for consideration. Do not submit your short film script.
You must have at least one evaluation attached to your script to submit to this program. If you are unable to purchase an evaluation, please check if you qualify for a GM fee waiver for one free month of hosting and two free evaluations. You can read more about the Black List's evaluation requirements here.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Long List Notified: October 16, 2023
Short List Notified: November 15, 2023
Filmmakers Announced: December 15, 2023
REQUIREMENTS:
You must post an original screenplay on www.blcklst.com and opt-in to the Program during the Submission Period. Ideally, you will have directed at least one short film previously.
You must agree to (1) these Submission Requirements, (2) all terms relating to the Program posted on Black List’s website, which you should review and read in full, and (3) the Submission Agreement, which governs the submission of your script to Company and Black List. The Submission Agreement includes important, legally binding terms and conditions, including arbitration of any disputes, which you must read in full before accepting.
If requested, you must submit by a date determined by Company the following materials, which are also governed by the Submission Agreement:
A professional resume and personal statement;
Samples, production plan, look book and short script; o Contact and other personal information; and
Executed originals of the Submission Agreement.
If selected by Company for the Program, as a condition of your participation, you must agree to Company’s terms of such participation, which shall include, without limitation:
The selected candidate will receive a $100,000 grant to produce a short film based on candidate's feature screenplay or other submitted material.
If the candidate does not deliver a completed short film on schedule or otherwise fails to meet their obligations, which will include but will not be limited to identifying and detailing a budget for the use of the grant in the production of the short film (which budget shall be subject to Company's approval), providing a timeline for production (which timeline shall be subject to Company’s approval), and clearing all rights necessary for Company to exploit the short film free and clear of all obligations to third parties, Company shall be entitled to a refund of the grant money.
Company will receive "Producer" mentions in the short films produced in connection with the Be Unstoppable Film Project Program, and Company's name and/or logo will be included in each short film and in promotional communications about each short film.
If selected for the Program, the candidate will grant to Company the necessary rights, permissions and authorizations for Company to use the candidate's name, likeness and the short film produced in connection with the Program (including but not limited to stills, key art, and clips therefrom) in Company advertising, marketing, and promotional material in all media.
All rights or benefits granted by the candidate to Company or services provided by the candidate in connection with the Program shall be non-union.
At Company's request, you may be required to enter into a more formal agreement with Company regarding your participation in this Program, provided that until such time as a more formal agreement is entered into, these Submission Requirements shall remain binding.
You must be at least 18 years of age and not a minor in the state or country of your residence at time of submission.
If the submitted materials written by a team consisting of one or more writers, (i) each member of that writing team must comply with these Submission Requirements, including agreeing to the Submission Agreement described below and (ii) all members of the writing team must opt-out of the Program if any other member becomes ineligible (including as a result of failing to timely agree to the Submission Agreement or failing to timely provide the materials listed above).
The submitted materials must be wholly original to you and you must be the sole owner of all rights. The submitted materials must not in any way infringe upon the copyright of any person or entity or, to the best of your knowledge in the exercise of reasonable prudence, constitute libel, defamation or invasion of privacy or any other rights of any third party. You understand and agree that Black List will share any information that you provide in connection with the Program with Company.
blcklst.com/programs/writerdriven-shorts-presented-by-the-black-list-x-the-gm-incubator-fund