FRED ROGERS PRODUCTIONS WRITERS' NEIGHBORHOOD
DEADLINE: May 2, 2026 at 12:00am PT
INFO: The Fred Rogers Productions Writers' Neighborhood for emerging writers focuses on how to build and sustain a career as a freelance writer in children's media. Program participants will learn from the current writers, story editors, head writers, and producers working on the children's series FRP currently produces for PBS KIDS, including Donkey Hodie, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and Alma's Way, as well as other top industry creatives.
We look forward to bringing in a diverse group of talent because building one's career is not just about "who you know," but also "who knows you."
FRP values the enrichment that results from working with partners having diverse experiences and backgrounds. Accordingly, BIPOC writers and writers who are members of other traditionally underrepresented communities in the children’s media industry are encouraged to apply.
PROGRAM GOALS FOR FRP WRITERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD:
Help to bring new voices and perspectives to children’s media by seeking out and providing training and support to new and emerging writers as they build freelance careers.
• The nine-week intensive program will focus on expanding the fellows' professional development:
Help writers understand the landscape of children’s media in the U.S.
Fellows will begin to structure or polish their brand as a freelance writer (in terms of presentingtheir portfolio in person and via social media)
Resumé polishing assistance
Templates for emails for introducing themselves, pitching for a job, and follow-up from an in-person meeting at an event
Master the art of networking
Gain a better understanding of the overall production process
Understand the creative structure of a show —what head writers and producers look for when seeking new writers through case studies of FRP’s series
Improve pitching skills (coaching for introducing themselves virtually or in person)
Learn the voice of a new show and writing for different genres (e.g., animation, live-action, puppets)
Gain insights from other leading industry creatives including head writers, producers, and executives
• In addition, writers who complete the program will receive:
Group meet-ups with FRP staff and guest experts for six months (virtually)
Mentorship from an expert in children's media (three, 45-minute sessions)
An invitation to pitch to write for an FRP show (within one year of completing the program)
A membership to an industry association
• FRP will also:
Offer participants an honorarium and pay for travel and accommodations to Pittsburgh, PA
Publicize writers to our network through social media, direct email, in-person social events, etc.
Host a virtual panel with participants after the program is completed
SUBMISSION MATERIALS*
The candidate's basic information (including their name and age), up-to-date contact information (including an email address, address, and phone numbers)
A copy of the candidate's resumé; NO PHOTOS PLEASE
A reply of 400 words or less for two prompts
An original writing sample
*See FAQs for more details about the submission materials.
writersneighborhood.fredrogers.org
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DOCUMENTARY LAB OPEN CALL
Firelight Media
DEADLINE: May 4, 2026
INFO: The Documentary Lab is Firelight Media’s longest-running artist program. This 12-month fellowship is designed to nurture filmmakers of color working on their first or second non-fiction feature film. The Documentary Lab provides holistic support for fellows’ projects and careers through professional development, customized mentorship, and a $25,000 project grant. Throughout the fellowship, filmmakers build a network within the documentary ecosystem, connecting with Firelight alumni and forging industry relationships across the field.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW: The Firelight Media Documentary Lab is a 12-month fellowship program that supports filmmakers of color in the United States in directing their first or second feature-length documentary film. The Documentary Lab provides filmmakers with a $25,000 grant toward their projects as well as customized mentorship from prominent leaders in the documentary industry, professional development, and networking opportunities.
In 2026, the Documentary Lab will only accept projects in post-production. In an effort to be responsive to the changing landscape in the documentary field, all the projects in the fellowship will be aligned at a similar stage, allowing the 12-month program to focus on story development and project feedback to help move films significantly closer to completion.
Filmmakers should be prepared to have intentional conversations about how to reach their ideal audiences and be strategic about moving their films out into the world. Competitive applicants will be making artful and innovative documentary films that focus on stories about communities of color, offering new narratives about the most pressing issues of our time. All types of long-form documentary projects – historical, investigative, personal, vérité, hybrid, and experimental – are eligible for the Documentary Lab program.
Over the last decade, the Documentary Lab has grown from a mentorship program into a robust talent incubator that has supported approximately 150 emerging filmmakers of color and granted over $2.3 million toward productions. The fellowship brings together a cohesive cohort and connects them to an extraordinary community of Firelight Media alumni, while also building relationships across the independent documentary field.
The timeline and eligibility guidelines for the upcoming Fellowship are below.
ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES:
Only the director of the film is eligible to apply and participate in the program. Co-directors may participate if they meet all eligibility requirements. If you’re applying with your co-director, please indicate that in your application. We cannot accept more than 2 directors per project.
This program is intended for filmmakers of color based in the United States or U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. Samoa, Guam/Northern Mariana Islands).
The project must be a long-form/feature-length documentary; the fellowship does not accept short documentaries, series, or fiction projects.
Applicants must be emerging documentary filmmakers directing their first or second feature-length documentary.
New for 2026: We are only accepting films that are in POST-PRODUCTION. The film must be a work in progress. Completed films, or films in development, production, or pre-production, are not eligible. Be sure to review FAQs if you have further questions regarding your eligibility.
FILMMAKERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT THROUGH ANY OF FIRELIGHT MEDIA’S ARTIST PROGRAMS IF:
The filmmaker is applying with a project that is a student film or related to ongoing coursework.
The filmmaker is re-applying to a program they previously received support from.
The filmmaker is contracted with another Firelight Media artist program and has not completed the final deliverables by the time they are selected for this program.
The filmmaker is employed by Firelight Media, Firelight Films, or is a member of the board of directors.
The filmmaker does not hold the majority of the intellectual property of the film.
APPLICATION TIMELINE:
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Application Open Call Ends (The Submittable application will automatically close at 11:59 PM ET on Monday, May 4, 2026. No late submissions accepted.)
May-July 2026 - Two Rounds of Application Review & Advisory Board Panel Meeting
August 2026 - Finalist Interviews & Final Notifications
September 2026 - Cohort Orientation
September 2027 - End of program
firelightmedia.tv/documentary-lab
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2026 DET Writing Program
Disney Entertainment Television
SUBMISSION PERIOD: May 4 - June 1, 2026
INFO: The Disney Entertainment Television (DET) Writing Program is a highly selective, annual TV staffing program. The goal is to staff emerging and diverse television writers on DET scripted series. Program Writers are contract employees of Disney for one year (or until they staff on a show), and receive mentorship, professional development, and unprecedented access to the company and its creative executives, producers, showrunners, and program alumni. In 2020, the Eunetta T. Boone Comedy Writers Scholarship was created to provide a dedicated writer within the program with special staffing consideration on a Disney Branded Television series. In 2024, the FX John Singleton Scholarship was created, providing one writer special staffing consideration on an FX Networks series.
Established in 1990, the one-year writing program is widely recognized as one of the entertainment industry’s most successful of its type. It has kickstarted the careers of many established and award-winning writers, producers and showrunners, including Saladin Patterson, Raamla Mohammed, Peter Saji, Zahir McGhee, Dailyn Rodriguez, Luvh Rakhe, Sierra Ornelas, and Claudia Forestieri, among many others.
The Program has had a nearly 100% staffing rate each year. It also has a long history of being the only staffing/writing initiative in the entertainment industry to employ its writers contractually as full-time employees prior to staffing.
sites.disney.com/ctdi/writingprogram/
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TULSA ARTIST FELLOWSHIP
📍Tulsa, OK
DEADLINE: May 7, 2026 at 6:00 pm CT
INFO: Tulsa Artist Fellowship supports artists as vital contributors to Tulsa’s cultural life.
We invest in long-term creative practice, offering artists the time, resources, and community to develop ambitious work rooted in Tulsa.
Our approach is artist-centered and flexible, grounded in the understanding that meaningful creative work takes time—and that artists thrive when trusted to define their own paths.
Tulsa Artist Fellowship is a place-based, durational award supporting visionary artists and arts workers across disciplines.
Open to artists and arts workers with at least five years of field experience, the Fellowship selects up to ten awardees, who will be announced live on November 6 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Each awardee is provided a comprehensive support package that includes a $150,000 stipend, housing support, fully subsidized studio space, and access to shared art-making facilities.
Awardees commit to developing ambitious, community-engaged work that contributes to Tulsa’s cultural life and advances the Fellowship’s mission to support independent arts practitioners.
Program details may evolve to best support participating artists and the Fellowship’s mission.
Competitive applications will demonstrate:
A rigorous and innovative arts practice
A meaningful connection to making work in Tulsa
A forward-thinking, achievable project with strong community engagement and impact
AWARD STRUCTURE:
Each Fellow is supported through a comprehensive three-year award package designed to strengthen artistic development, stability, and well-being.
Financial Support
$150,000 project development and artistic practice stipend (over 3 years)
$36,000 housing support (over 3 years)
$1,500 studio move-in stipend
$3,600 studio assistant support (over 3 years)
$3,600 health and wellness support (over 3 years)
Community & Connection
Cohort gatherings and shared meals
Open studio events and public programs
Opportunties to engage with visiting arts professionals
Studio Workspace
Access to a fully subsidized private studio (337–583 sq ft)
Shared facilities include a ceramics studio with kilns, a woodshop, metal equipment, a media lab, an archival printer, a roof terrace, a performance rehearsal space, a podcast recording studio, and meeting rooms with video and audio capabilities
(Estimated value: $36,000 over 3 years)
Wellness & Care
YMCA membership for household
Caregiver reimbursements for key Fellowship activities
APPLICATION MATERIALS:
All applications are completed online and free to submit. Detailed instructions are provided in the application portal.
Basic information, including contact details, residence, citizenship, identity, and household information
Artistic background, including resume/CV, website, social media platforms, biography (up to 250 words), and collaborator information
(Collaborators must submit individual applications)Artistic Practice Statement (up to 500 words) and Fellowship Statement (up to 500 words)
Three-year project proposal, including project title, description (up to 500 words), role statement (up to 200 words), and optional visual or media support materials
Proposed use of the fellowship stipend, estimated budget for the $150,000 award, including living expenses, artistic production, and project-related costs.
Three professional references from the arts field
tulsaartistfellowship.org/award
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ARTIST AS CATALYST LA
The Peace Studio |📍Los Angeles, CA
DEADLINES:
Priority - May 8, 2026
Last call - May 15, 2026
INFO: Artist as Catalyst (AAC) is a three-day immersive experience designed to equip young storytellers, artists, and cultural catalysts (ages 18–30) with the tools, opportunity, and community to use their craft in the service of peace-building.
Throughout this multi-day intensive, participants engage in a dynamic blend of workshops, keynotes, collaborative labs, and community events—all within a diverse and generative environment. AAC brings together some of LA’s most influential artists, cultural leaders, activists, and peace builders, featuring world-class talent and thinkers who are at the forefront of their fields.
This program balances artistic excellence with restorative practices, providing catalysts from various disciplines the opportunity to network, make lasting connections, and collaborate on a group-based “Peace Project.” Participants also have the chance to apply for micro-grants to further develop their ideas in partnership with their cohort.
By centering story as a tool for connection and impact, AAC nurtures a new generation of artists prepared to shift culture and catalyze meaningful change.
PROGRAM DATES: June 12 - 14, 2026
LOCATION: Santa Monica, CA
TUITION: This program is fully funded for all accepted participants.
PARTICIPANT PROFILE: Los Angeles-based artists & cultural leaders, ages 18-30
We welcome creative people of all disciplines to apply. This program is right for you if you agree with the three statements below:
I am creative.
I believe I am capable of making positive change in the world through the stories I tell.
I believe there is strength and power in community.
2026 THEME: The Power is In The People
"This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal." - Toni Morrison
The power to shift culture is in the hands of the people, our stories, and our connection to one another. No matter where we are on our artistic journey you hold the power within you to think critically, craft, and create. There is power in making tangible art, of telling true stories, and it will be what sustains us through any era of societal unrest and uncertainty. Our collective work, collaborative economics, along with our innovation and tenacity will outlive any artificial intelligence threatening our cultural landscape and wellness. Our humanity cannot be reproduced or replicated. Our uniqueness is what makes us whole and irrefutable. Sharing our offerings, skills, assets, and abilities with one another makes our collective power undeniable. We are the original technology. However we contribute our ability to tell stories, no matter the industry, is our way to disrupt oppressive systems that agitate our peace. As an artist, it is our duty to answer the call on our life by sharing our gifts. Who are you and what can you offer? We are constantly evolving, elevating, learning and changing. When we bring our full selves to the collective, there is nothing we cannot do. The Power is in the People.
The Peace Studio is committed to offering equitable opportunity to all. For accommodation requests or any questions, please contact aacla@thepeacestudio.org.
thepeacestudio.org/what-we-do/leadership-development/artist-as-catalyst
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2027 Development Track
Sundance Institute
DEADLINE: May 12, 2026 at 4:59 pm PT
APPLICATION FEE: $45 (you should not pay the submission fee until you have completed all other application tasks and are ready to submit your application).
INFO: Feature fiction filmmakers in the early stages of a screenplay, apply now for the 2027 Development Track to be considered for multiple programs, fellowships, and grants.
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. Additionally, please name your application with your Project Title.
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 online in March)
Sundance Institute Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (includes participation in either the Screenwriters Lab or Intensive) 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.
CONTACT INFO for the primary applicant, co-applicant if applicable (writers and directors only), and one additional member of the creative team if applicable. (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.
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT (250 words max) — Briefly introduce yourself and your project. Let us know where you are in the creative process and why you think this is the right timing for a lab.
SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS (150 words max each):
What are the key themes you’re exploring in your script?
How do you describe the intended tone, feel, and visual style of your script? We encourage you to include examples of other work as references or inspirations.
What do you most want to work on in your script? What needs the most attention creatively?
Why are you passionate about telling this story now? What gives it urgency?
Whom do you see as the core audience for this film, and what do you want them to take away from it?
What is your personal connection to the material?
What steps are you taking to ensure that the characters and world of your film are authentically represented?
If this is a resubmission of material we’ve previously considered, how has the material changed since we last read it? (optional)
USE OF GENERAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE — If you have used generative AI in the process of completing this application or in any submission materials, or if you plan to use generative AI to realize any part of the film’s story or artistic vision, describe how and to what extent.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY/RIGHTS — Please give us any insight into the current rights status of the project. This is 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) — A brief summary of the plot of your script. Please include all major characters and story points, including the ending.
FIRST FIVE PAGES OF YOUR SCREENPLAY OR TREATMENT — ONLY applicants who wish to be considered exclusively for the Sloan Commissioning Grant are eligible to submit treatments. 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. If you wish to be considered for opportunities besides the Sloan Commissioning Grant, you must submit the first five pages of the screenplay, not a treatment. Whether you are submitting a screenplay or a treatment, 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 2026.
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.
PROJECT UPDATES (optional) — Please provide any relevant significant updates to your project since your first-round application that you would like us to be aware of (e.g., additions or changes to the creative team, meaningful changes to timeline, etc.).
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. If you wish to be considered for opportunities besides the Sloan Commissioning Grant, you must submit the screenplay, not a treatment.
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, 2026. 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, 2026 Application Available Online
May 12, 2026 Application Closes (4:59 p.m. PT)
August 31, 2026 Second-Round Notifications Complete
December 15, 2026 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.
For all supported projects, Sundance Institute will receive a screen credit in the end titles of the project in the form of “This film was supported by the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program,” together with the Institute’s logo.
For all projects supported at the January Screenwriters Lab, the following financial contribution provisions apply:
If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or less than one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000), no contribution is due to the Institute.
If the project is produced for a gross budget between one million five hundred thousand one dollars ($1,500,001) and three million dollars ($3,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in the amount of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
If the project is produced for a gross budget between three million one dollars ($3,000,001) and five million dollars ($5,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or exceeds five million one dollars ($5,000,001), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in the amount of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
For all projects supported at the Directors Lab or both the Screenwriters Lab and the Directors Lab, the following financial contribution provisions apply in lieu of the provisions set forth above:
If the project is produced for a gross budget equal to or less than one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000), no contribution is due to the Institute.
If the project is produced for a gross budget between one million five hundred thousand one dollars ($1,500,001) and three million dollars ($3,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in an amount of four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
If the project is produced for a gross budget between three million one dollars ($3,000,001) and five million dollars ($5,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in an amount of seven thousand dollars ($7,000), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or exceeds five million one dollars ($5,000,001), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in an amount of nine thousand five hundred dollars ($9,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
apply.sundance.org/prog/2027_development_track/
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Creative Residency Program
Martin House |📍Buffalo, NY
Deadline: May 13, 2026
INFO: The Martin House Creative Residency Program is a project-based residency that provides creative individuals a designated time and space to develop new works of the imagination inspired by one of the great examples of 20th century architecture.
The primary goals of the program are to:
Nurture creativity by offering individuals from multiple disciplines a thought-provoking environment in which to produce works and present them to our community.
Expand interpretation of our site through active solicitation of diverse perspectives and voices.
Provide audiences an opportunity to discover and engage more fully with the Martin House and the creative arts.
Strengthen the Martin House and the region as a center for architecture, art, design, and culture.
The residency is a competitive program that is open to applicants who seek the resources to support ongoing projects or the creation of new work. Creative makers who are selected to participate will generally spend 2-4 weeks onsite either consecutively or incrementally within the specified residency term. Length of stay is project-based and determined by the needs of the applicant and in alignment with the Martin House schedule.
Residents are also expected to deliver a free public program, performance, exhibition, or other creative presentation in order to share their Martin House-inspired work with the larger public.
Residency proposal must relate directly to the Martin House. End-products may revolve around any of the themes central to the site. Subjects of inquiry may relate to architecture, art, art history, landscape, building and design, social history, state and local history, issues of gender, race and class, modernism, urbanism, housing and gentrification, business and industry, the history of technology, cultural studies, engineering and applied sciences, for example.
The Martin House Creative Residency Program is made possible through the Herer Family Charitable Fund.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
Applications are accepted in two distinct categories:
Artists: The residency program supports the development and presentation of creative works representing a wide range of artistic styles and practices.
Researchers: The program also provides opportunities for writers, researchers, scholars, critics, and cultural theorists to publish texts or produce projects in various fields, specifically as they relate to Frank Lloyd Wright and the Martin House.
Individuals in all stages of their creative practice may submit proposals to the residency program from the following arts and humanities disciplines, including but not limited to: architecture, design, historic preservation, literature, music, dance, theater, film, and related areas of exploration. Creative makers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives are especially encouraged to apply.
Acceptance is competitive and based on the review of applications by a selection committee. The panel is composed of external jurors and a selection of Martin House staff. Applications will be rated on the following evaluation criteria:
Artistic and intellectual merit of the proposal as covered in the project description, work samples, resume, and previous creative experiences.
Feasibility of the completion of the project as proposed and within the time and resources offered.
Relevance of the project to the Martin House and the stated goals of the Martin House Creative Residency Program.
Quality of the proposed public engagement program, performance, exhibition, or presentation inspired by the Martin House.
BENEFITS OF THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM:
Residents will have wide-ranging access to our architectural campus composed of three Wright-designed homes set within a historic landscape, as well as an award-winning contemporary glass structure conceived by architect Toshiko Mori as an exhibition and visitor space.
Residents will receive a stipend of $5,000. 50% of the stipend will be provided upon arrival to Buffalo; the other 50% will be offered upon completion of the project. Travel expenses of up to $1,000will also be provided to residents who are from outside the Buffalo-Niagara region. Additional funding for materials will not be provided.
Individuals selected to participate will room on campus at the Gardener’s Cottage as part of their residency.
Residents will have heightened access to Martin House collections and collections information. Other locally-accessible research resources are available through:
University at Buffalo Archives Darwin D. Martin + Frank Lloyd Wright Collections
Buffalo + Erie County Public Library Special Collections
Buffalo History Museum Research + Artifact Collections
The Creative Residency Program is an opportunity for the Martin House to respond to and engage with our community. We anticipate that it will lead to more robust interpretations of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Martin House, and the people who once lived and worked here so as to expand the dialogue as to what great architecture is and why it matters.
martinhouse.org/events/residency/
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MOONSHOT PILOT ACCELERATOR
Moonshot Initiative
DEADLINES / FEES:
Late: May 13, 2026 ($69)
Final: May 27, 2026 ($79)
INFO: In this highly competitive virtual accelerator program for TV writers, 6-8 fellows will receive three weeks of industry training before having the opportunity to pitch to major studios, production companies, representatives, and producers. The entire accelerator, including training and pitching, will occur online.
The goal of this program is to launch the careers of our fellows. Already, our past fellows have:
sold a project to a production company met through the accelerator
gotten staffed on TV series — in one instance, been hired by another alum
received representation from an accelerator meeting
had projects in development with producers they met during the accelerator
had a project optioned by a production company
secured follow-up meetings with executives
gotten hired as writing support staff on an existing series
and made many valuable industry contacts.
This program aims to increase the representation of women and gender-expansive people on screen and in writers rooms.
moonshotinitiative.org/pilot-accelerator
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2027 Residencies
Ragdale |📍Lake Forrest, IL
DEADLINE: May 14, 2026 at 11:59pm CST
APPLICATION FEE: $35
INFO: 18-day residency session for individuals. Based on personal financial considerations, artists determine their own residency fee and may opt to pay according to our suggested sliding scale. No financial aid application is required. Admitted residents are responsible for their own travel to and from Ragdale.
Ragdale awards a limited number of fellowships each year. All qualified applicants may apply for fellowships through this application. A fellowship award includes an 18-day fee-waived residency for individuals and a stipend of at least $1000. All applicants who apply for fellowships will be considered. Please note that applicants may be awarded a residency without a fellowship award. Fellowship awards are disclosed upon acceptance.
ELIGIBILITY:
Ragdale encourages applications from artists representing the widest possible range of perspectives and demographics, and to that end, emerging as well as established artists are invited to apply. While there are no publication, exhibition, or performance requirements for application, applicants should be working at the professional level in their fields.
Ragdale encourages artists of all backgrounds to apply and does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of age, disability, gender, origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
GUIDELINES:
All applicants submit electronic materials through the Submittable application portal. Do not email or mail any application materials. Please note the following requirements to complete your application. A completed online application form includes:
An artist statement explaining your work, vison, or story (one page or less)
A brief work plan that outlines your studio needs (one page or less)
A one to two-page CV or resume
A works list outlining work samples
Work samples that show work from the past 2-3 years. All media is acceptable. Most electronic file types and sizes are accepted
If you would like to be considered for a fellowship, we require an eligibility statement of 500 words or less for each fellowship you would like to be considered for. An eligibility statement explains how you qualify for the selected fellowship and how a fellowship would support your work at this time
Letters of recommendation are not required or accepted
WORK SAMPLES:
Work sample requirements
Written work: 20 pages of written work (in up to eight files).
Visual work: 8 images (in up to eight files), plus an image list that includes the following information: title, year, media, dimensions, and an optional short description of each work.
Time-based work: Up to 10 minutes of audio or video per application (in up to eight files or links*), plus a works list that includes the following information: title, year, media, and an optional short description of each work. *A pdf with hyperlinks is an acceptable alternative to file uploads. Please include a password if applicable.
Please note: For proposals with more than one type of media: please be fair to reviewers and to fellow applicants; use your best judgement as to what is equivalent. For example, if you plan to submit written work and photos, you may submit 10 pages of written work and 4 photos.
EVALUATION:
Applications are reviewed by Ragdale’s Curatorial Council jury and staff. Evaluations of work are based on the following criteria:
Work samples: Documented works are original, inventive, and exciting.
Work samples indicate relevance in their contemporary field.
Work sample presentation: Work samples are high-quality and technically proficient in execution, and are professionally presented and documented.
Artist’s experience: Artist statement and CV/Resume reflects continued development of ideas, serious inquiry into subject matter, and exceptional aesthetic investigation in the chosen medium.
Work plan: Artist demonstrates they will maximize the benefits of a residency at Ragdale. What is the reason for seeking time and space in this particular residency program and is there a sense of urgency reflected in the goals described?
NOTIFICATION:
Notifications are sent to applicants via email by September. Final packets, including scheduled session dates, are sent by October.
COLLABORATIONS:
Artists collaborating on a project must submit individual application forms and appropriate work samples, along with a joint description of the work they intend to do at Ragdale. Clearly specify your work and living space needs, i.e., how many private studios and/or sleeping quarters are needed. You may also submit an example of a previous collaborative work (either completed or in progress). Any specific questions about collaborations can be directed to the Residency Manager before applying. Collaborators must be accepted to the residency separately in order to attend as a group.
TIMELINE
May 14: 2026 Residency Application Submission Deadline
September: Notifications of residency or fellowship award sent.
October: Accepted residents' final welcome packets with session dates sent
QUESTIONS?
All inquiries should be directed to admissions@ragdale.org.
ragdale.submittable.com/submit
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FULLY-FUNDED FELLOWSHIPS
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA)
DEADLINE: May 15, 2026
INFO: Residencies can be transformative to an artist’s process and the effect on an artist’s career profound. A residency at VCCA gives artists the time and space to explore and go deeper into their work. Away from the constraints of “the real world” and in an accepting environment of talented peers, one can dream and create with the feeling that anything is possible.
VCCA’s Mt. San Angelo location in Amherst, Virginia, typically hosts 360 artists each year in residencies of varying lengths (no minimum; up to six weeks) with flexible scheduling. A residency at Mt. San Angelo includes a private bedroom with private en-suite bath, a private individual studio, three prepared meals a day, and access to a community of more than 20 other artists in residence.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, VCCA is surrounded by natural wonders and hiking trails. Many local sites and additional inspiration can be found in short drives to Lynchburg (20 minutes), Charlottesville (1 hour), Roanoke (1.5 hours), or Richmond (2 hours).
The following fully-funded fellowships are expected to be available for the Spring 2027 residency period at Mt. San Angelo in Amherst, Virginia.
CHRISTINA CHIU LATINX WRITERS FELLOWSHIP
Who: Writers, with preference given to those of Latin American descent
What: Residency of up to two-weeks at Mt. San Angelo
When: Spring 2027 (January – April)
BARBARA CROOKER CAREGIVING FELLOWSHIP
Who: Artists in any discipline who are caregivers to an ill or disabled family member
What: Residency of up to two-weeks at Mt. San Angelo
When: Spring 2027 (January – April)
RICHARD E. CYTOWIC NONFICTION FELLOWSHIP
Who: Writers of long-form nonfiction, with preference given to writers who are gay, residents of Washington D.C., or caregivers to an ill or disabled family member
What: Residency of up to two-weeks at Mt. San Angelo
When: Spring 2027 (January – April)
GOLDFARB FAMILY FELLOWSHIP
Who: Writers of creative nonfiction
What: Two-week residency at Mt. San Angelo
When: Spring 2027 (January – April)
GREATER OPPORTUNITY FELLOWSHIPS
Who: Artists in any discipline who have not previously been in residence at VCCA, with preference given to those who self-identify as people of color
What: Residency of up to two-weeks at Mt. San Angelo
When: Spring 2027 (January – April)
MONTANA FELLOWSHIP
Who: Artists in any discipline who live in Montana
What: One-month residency at Mt. San Angelo
When: Spring 2027 (January – April)
TAHIRA ZAHEER FELLOWSHIP FOR SOUTH ASIAN WRITERS
Who: Writers, with preference given to those who are South Asian
What: Residency of up to two-weeks at Mt. San Angelo
When: Spring 2027 (January – April)
vcca.com/apply/fully-funded-fellowships/
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Anne LaBastille Memorial Writers Residency
Adirondack Center for Writing |📍
DEADLINE: May 18, 2026
APPLICATION FEE: $30
INFO: The Adirondack Center for Writing offers a two-week residency annually in autumn to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers at a lodge on Twitchell Lake in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. Six residents will be chosen: three from the Adirondack region (aka “The North Country”… see FAQ below for specifics) and three from anywhere in the world. Quality of written submissions is the primary consideration when accepting applications.
The residency is generously provided by the estate of Anne LaBastille, who wrote books capturing challenges of the region, including Woodswoman and Beyond Black Bear Lake from her cabin on Twitchell Lake. During the residency, writers will paddle to the site of her property and explore the lake with locals.
The Lodge at Twitchell Lake provides an abundance of physical space, and each resident has their own bedroom and bathroom. There are plenty of writing spaces in and around the property. Internet access is available.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Cover Letter: In the space provided in Submittable (no attachments), include a brief, third-person bio and a work plan detailing your goals for this residency.
Writing Sample: Please send up to 10 pages double spaced, or 2,500 words max of your best writing in the genre you will working in at the residency. Prose: 10 pages max. Poetry: 10 poems max. NOTE: Make sure your name does not show up anywhere in your writing sample. Writing samples that include your name will not be considered. Quality of written submissions will be our primary consideration when accepting applications.
Application Fee: $30. Your application fee ensures that the residency can remain free to selected residents.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Residency Dates: September 20 – October 4, 202
Notification: July 2026
Contact info@adirondackcenterforwriting.orgor 518-354-1261 with any questions.
adirondackcenterforwriting.org/residency/
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2026 Film Grant
Islamic Scholarship Fund
DEADLINE: May 29, 2026
INFO: ISF is proud to sponsor the first American Muslim Film Grant supporting Muslim filmmakers to change the narrative and tell their own stories.
ELIGIBILITY: All Muslim filmmakers are eligible for consideration. We review and consider the submission of all candidates regardless of experience, career status, or individual achievements.
Project may be a narrative feature length, short film, animation, or documentary. Web series are not accepted. Pilots are accepted.
Filmmaker must film at least 50% of the project in the U.S.
At least one member of the creative team (producer or director) must be Muslim Storyteller
The content must have American Muslim characters or American Muslim themes
Filmmaker must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Projects must be in production, post production or distribution (except for the social justice category)
Projects must be consistent with ISF's mission of art changing public policy and public opinion.
Applicants must own the copyright of the proposed project.
Applicants must be 18 years of age, and be citizens or legal residents of the United States or its territories.
AWARD BENEFITS:
Grant amounts ranging between $5,000 and $20,000 are awarded to each category (narrative, special projects, and documentary)
Creative support from an industry professional during creative process
Networking opportunities with industry professionals
ISF screening after completion of the film
Please email film@islamicscholarshipfund.org with any questions or concerns.
islamicscholarshipfund.submittable.com/submit/353805/2026-film-grant/eligibility
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PROOF OF CONCEPT SHORT FILM GRANT
Black Film Space x cliveRd.
DEADLINE: May 31, 2026
INFO: Black Film Space is collaborating again with cliveRd. to support and fund projects made by independent Black filmmakers.
Our Proof of Concept Short Film Grant is seeking one short film script under 20 minutes/pages that aims to serve as a teaser/preview for a feature film with narratives that feature nature.
In order to be a competitive applicant your film must include a nature element.
This can include, but is not limited to:
Nature as a setting
Nature as a character
Nature as a supporter and/or obstacle for the characters in your project
Nature as a theme
The grant total will be $8,000, in addition, the winner will have the option to shoot at a private estate in Jamaica—an exclusive, complimentary location provided by cliveRd. The location can be used to tell the stories of multiple peoples not just of Jamaica. Some examples of how the location could be be used include:
Characters getting lost in a wooded area
A battle fought in the mountains
A project about characters on a beach
A project about characters on a farm
The project will be selected based on the filmmaker’s ability to present a strong script that shows great promise as a proof of concept for a feature film. We will also consider other factors such as the merit of previous work, and financial need.
Before applying, we strongly recommend reviewing this page in full and attending—or watching the orientation replay—to ensure you submit a competitive application.
APPLICANT GUIDELINES:
Applicants must have the following:
At least one visual sample that showcases previous work
Present a completed script for their short film
Present a completed treatment for their feature film
Present a detailed plan on how they plan to execute their film with details on production, casting, their team, postproduction, their festival strategy, etc.
Must be able to receive grant funds through a United States based bank account
Must be in pursuit of their feature film 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 script and readiness of the filmmaker to complete their feature
Must submit a narrative, scripted film. Documentary films/non fiction works will not be considered
GRANT WINNER REQUIREMENTS:
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
The filmmaker must be willing to exhibit their proof of concept short at Black Film Space’s Awards ceremony the following year in September 2027
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
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rideback rise fellowship
Rideback RISE
DEADLINE: May 31, 2026
INFO: Based in Los Angeles, Rideback RISE is a prestigious creator and content accelerator that offers visionary, intersectional film and television storytellers (“Fellows”) a substantial economic stipend, as well as access to development funds for the purpose of optioning IP and/or creating visual proof-of-concept materials. The 12-month Fellowship provides expert one-to-one mentoring and programming year-round, as well as resources and benefits to support Fellows as they each develop and refine a specific television or feature film project before it is taken out to market. Fellows are experienced writers but may also be multi-hyphenates who will be supported in their directing work.
Rideback RISE is soliciting applications for the fourth year of the Rideback RISE Fellowship. Based in Los Angeles, Rideback RISE is a prestigious creator and content accelerator that offers visionary, intersectional film and television storytellers (“Fellows”) a substantial economic stipend, as well as access to development funds for the purpose of optioning IP and/or creating visual proof-of-concept materials. The 12-month Fellowship provides expert one-to-one mentoring and programming year-round, as well as resources and benefits to support Fellows as they each develop and refine a specific television or feature film project before it is taken out to market. Fellows are experienced writers but may also be multi-hyphenates who will be supported in their directing work.
In a supportive and collaborative environment, Fellows work closely with the RISE team and receive valuable feedback notable industry luminaries and experts, all while getting to know each other and becoming familiar with each others’ projects. This is an opportunity for exceptional storytellers who desire to tell commercial stories aimed at a wide audience through their own distinct voice, and point of view.
OUR MISSION: Rideback RISE was founded in 2022 by producer Dan Lin (THE LEGO MOVIE, IT, ALADDIN, SHERLOCK HOLMES, WALKER). Rideback RISE is a 501c3 non-profit organization with backing from leading institutional partners such as the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Doris Duke Foundation.
Rideback RISE’s core mission is to support and empower mid-career underrepresented artists and creators to create commercial film and television across genres in order to create cultural impact. Rideback RISE believes that entertainment can bridge cultures, unite people, and be a catalyst for social change.
RISE offers financial, creative and strategic support to each of our participating creators customized to their specific discipline. RISE equips Fellows to create commercial content that can enter the cultural zeitgeist and ultimately reshape majority opinions.
THE PROGRAM: The RISE Fellowship runs for 12 months, from January to December, and covers creative, business and personal/leadership elements. Each of the Fellows will be paired with a high-level Creative Mentor (e.g., an experienced showrunner, filmmaker, etc.) as well as a Business Mentor (producer, executive, etc.) with whom they will work for the duration of the Program.
Fellows will be selected based on their storytelling and writing abilities, the authenticity of their voice, the strength and commercial viability of their ideas, their willingness to maximize the impact of the resources provided, and their overall suitability for the program.
Program activities will include, but will not be limited to, the following:
Creative development on each Fellow’s project, including in-depth work on story and character all the way through to a fully spec'd out script
The entire pitching process, from logline to full market-ready written and verbal pitch
Advice on how to attach cast and other talent
Identifying possible buyers for their projects and facilitating meetings with executives
Navigating possible financiers/buyers and distribution
Expert guidance and background on the state of the industry
In-person lectures and appearances by industry luminaries in a variety of fields, including directing, producing, legal, casting, marketing, etc.
Help with platforming projects at the end of the Program to a studio, production company or other collaborator who is best positioned to help the Fellow continue to advance it
Unlocking entrepreneurial resources and strategic career guidance
Fellows will be based at Rideback Ranch, a creative campus in LA’s Historic Filipinotown that provides a dedicated workspace and amenities, and is home to several leading entertainment companies.
There will also be a number of creators who may be invited to join the RISE Circle, an additional part of the annual RISE cohort. RISE Circle members attend much of the creative and practical programming year-round in addition to lighter-touch support on their projects.
As stated above, the Fellowship also provides access to the Rideback RISE IP and Visual Development Fund, which Fellows may tap to option underlying rights (novels, remakes, podcasts, documentaries, newspaper or magazine articles, true stories, short films, video games, graphic novels etc.) or create proof-of-concept materials—e.g., concept art, visual teaser for their project or even a short.
The curriculum will focus on and emphasize collaboration, mentorship, networking, industry access and community. A key feature of RISE is community: Fellows will familiarize themselves and share their feedback on each others’ projects in the form of regular “brain trust” sessions. RISE’s goal is to create market ready content that will attract financing and be produced, and to help Fellows build sustainable careers.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
The Fellowship focuses on self-identified POC storytellers.
Applicant must be at least 21 years of age before the start of the Fellowship Program (i.e., before Dec 4, 2026).
Applicant must be a writer and may or may not also be a director, actor, performer or producer.
Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, or a Permanent Resident with unrestricted authorization to work in the United States of America.
Applicant must have representation with a guild-registered talent agency and/or management company.
scrybe.to/applications/rideback-rise-fellowship
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Call for Submissions: “Liberation Poetics: Caribbean Feminisms Against Imperialism, from Cuba to Palestine”
Intersect Antigua-Barbuda
DEADLINE: June 1, 2026
INFO: Imperialism is far-reaching, stretching across borders, and harming people across difference: from martyred people of the soil to stolen oil. This is a crucial period in which Caribbean feminists, emboldened by and spirited with a decolonizing, Queeribbean sensibility, must rise to meet this moment.
With this in mind, we invite you to submit critical essays, fiction, plays, poetry, posters, screenplays, art, and photography that address the urgency of leveraging Caribbean feminisms as a primary antagonism against imperialism and fascism.
We invite participants to submit pieces that address imperialism, from the perspective of gender, race, color, class, nation, and/or sexuality, in any of the following broad topics:
Queering resistance
Resisting the masculinization of revolution
Rootedness in Caribbean identity, poetics of relation, opacité, antillanité, creolité: Moving across the Afro-, Indo-, and Indigenous Caribbean
Caribbean feminist perspectives and stories on grief, trauma, healing, and joy
Ancestral insurgencies: lessons from past movement shakers and revolutionaries
We also invite participants to consider the following writing prompts:
How do the attention economy, new media, and generative AI technologies depoliticize, distort, and fracture relation?
How can Caribbean feminist thought be in dialogue and praxis with Sudanese and Congolese feminist thought and movements as they agitate against violent imperial extraction?
What does a turn to the ‘Queeribbean’ offer as an antagonism against imperialism’s political, religious, and cultural conceits?
Whose stories, from plant, animal, and human life, are not being told in this moment?
Access the full call for submissions for the complete list of topics and prompts. Read excerpts from Maurice Bishop’s 1980 speech against imperialism here.
intersectantigua.com/blog/call-for-submissions
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: TV WRITING LAB
SeriesFest x Next50
DEADLINE:
Regular - June 3, 2026
Late - July 14, 2026
INFO: SeriesFest is thrilled to announce this year’s TV Writing Lab in partnership with Next50 Foundation! We’re looking for emerging episodic writers to join us for an exclusive Writers Retreat in the fall of 2026 in Colorado.
The TV Writing Lab in partnership with the Next50 Foundation seeks unproduced 20-45 minute pilots that challenge the perception of aging and scripts must be void of stereotypes traditionally associated with aging.
Seeking series that move beyond outdated or one-dimensional portrayals. Instead of familiar tropes, we’re excited to see nuanced, authentic, and surprising representations of older adults.
Intergenerational stories are not only welcome—they’re encouraged!
AWARDS & PRIZES:
Three Series Projects will be selected to take part in a 3-day intensive in the fall of 2026 led by Call to Adventure Media where their pilot scripts will be workshopped by industry mentors and experts. Activities include one-on-one meetings, small group workshops, mini writers’ rooms, and networking opportunities.
What is included: Accommodations and Ground Transportation in Colorado
What is not included: Airfare and Meals
IMPORTANT DATES:
Oct 3 Notification Date
Nov 3–5 TV Writing Lab
SUBMISSION MATERIALS:
Pilot script (all genres are welcome) Between 18 – 40 pages
Seeking stories that thoughtfully challenge and expand perceptions of aging—think along the lines of Grace and Frankie, Hacks, or Shrinking. Show us dynamic, complex characters and fresh perspectives that reflect the richness of life at every stage.
Scripts must not include stereotypical portrayals of aging
The ‘frail’ and helpless older adult or sickly elder in need of constant care
Grumpy curmudgeon
Sweet grandparent with no character or lines
Series Format Deck
The Series Format Deck is a 2-15 page document that includes a logline, series regular and recurring character descriptions, and Season One story arch or future episode descriptions.
Writer’s Bio & Resume
ELIGIBILITY:
To be eligible for the contest, entrants must be aged 21 years or older. Limit one entry per person. Each entry must include only one (1) script. Entries must be written in English. Scripts must not be encumbered by any obligation to, or option held by a third party.