These are the MAJOR TV writing and screenwriting fellowships, programs, schemes, and labs for new/emerging writers in the US. More and more are being created everyday so at some point everyone will have done a fellowship and they will become meaningless. I swear some people have made them up. (For a list of literally everything go to the bottom.)
I’ve done the Disney TV Writing Program and BAFTA Breakthrough USA. I’ve sat on the panels, committees, and juries for several, including BAFTA Breakthrough/Newcomers/Roclifee, 1497 Writers Lab, and Filmmarket Hub’s Pilot Contest.
I’ve also coached people who got into the semi-finals, finals, or were selected for Disney, Sundance, CBS, WB, BAFTA Breakthrough, Film Independent, Nickelodeon, and more.
Download notable fellowships and contests for 2023-2024 below:
- 1497 Writers Lab (Features only): https://www.1497.org/1497-features-lab
- Asian/Pacific American (APA) Development Accelerator Program: https://giantleapaccelerator.com/glmapplication/
- BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition: https://www.bafta.org/supporting-talent/rocliffe (Runs 2X/year. Submissions for Film, Television Drama, Children, Family & YA Media, and Television Comedy scripts.)
- CAPE New Writers Fellowship: https://capeusa.org/programs/cnwf/
- Paramount (Fmk Viacom, CBS Writers) Mentoring Program: https://www.cbscorporation.com/diversity/diversity-institute/writers-mentoring-program/
- Cinestory: https://cinestory.org/retreat-fellowship-contests/tv-retreat-fellowship-contest/
- Circle of Confusion Writers Discovery Fellowship***: http://www.circleofconfusion.com/fellowship/
- Disney ABC TV Writing Program (aka the Disney Fellowship): http://www.disneyabctalentdevelopment.com/writing_program.html
- Film Independent Episodic Lab: https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/artist-development/episodic-lab
- Film Independent Screenwriting Lab: https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/artist-development/screenwriting-lab/
- Fox Writers Incubator Initiative: https://www.foxcareers.com/Search/JobDetail/R50016511/fox-writers-incubator-initiative-fox-entertainment
- Hillman Grad Mentorship List: https://www.hillmangrad.com/application
- Humanitas New Voices: http://humanitasprize.org/awards/new-voices/
- IFP Episodic Lab: https://www.ifp.org/apply/labs/screen-forward-lab/#.X6MGPFNKjmE
- Imagine Impact: https://impactcreativesystems.com/
- Inevitable Foundation Screenwriting Fellowship: https://inevitable.foundation/fellowship
- Macro Episodic Lab: https://episodiclab.staymacro.com/
- NBC Late Night Writers Workshop: http://www.nbcunitips.com/late-night-writers-workshop/
- NBC Writers TV Writers Program (via Coverfly): https://writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/nbc-tv-writers-program
- Netflix Animation Apprenticeship: https://angel.co/company/netflix/jobs/1594464-unannounced-series-writing-apprentice
- NHMC Writers Program: http://www.nhmc.org/writersprogram
- The Academy Nicholl Fellowships (features only): https://www.oscars.org/nicholl
- Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship: https://www.nickanimation.com/writing-program
- The Orchard Project Episodic Lab: http://secure.orchardproject.com/content/orchard-project-episodic-lab
- Sesame Street Writers Room: http://sesamewritersroom.org/
- South Asian Salon Mentorship Program: https://thesalon.xyz/mentorship
- Sundance Episodic Storytelling Lab: http://www.sundance.org/programs/episodic-storytelling
- Sundance Institute Feature Film Program*: https://www.sundance.org/programs/feature-film
- The Writers Lab NYC: http://thewriterslab.nyc/
- Tribeca Film Institute All Access: https://www.tfiny.org/programs/detail/tribeca_all_access
- Universal Writers Program: https://www.universaltalentdevelopment.com/writers
- Warner Brothers Writers Workshop: https://writersworkshop.warnerbros.com/
- Warner Media Access (fka HBO Access Writing Fellowship): https://warnermediaaccess.submittable.com/submit
- Women in Film/Blacklist Episodic Lab for Women Writers: https://blcklst.com/help/category/34
These are screenwriting and TV writing fellowships for those who have broken in or are more established: - BAFTA Breakthrough US: http://www.bafta.org/supporting-talent/breakthrough/breakthrough-usa
- The Orchard Project Episodic Lab: http://secure.orchardproject.com/content/orchard-project-episodic-la
- Sundance Episodic Storytelling Lab: http://www.sundance.org/programs/episodic-storytellin
- Rideback Rise TV Incubator (Rise and Circle): https://ridebackrise.org/ or https://writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/ridebacktv (The program targets writers [no writing teams] with credits of either Executive Story Editor, Co-Producer, Producer, Supervising Producer or Co-Executive Producer.) Apply here: https://ridebackrise.org/apply.html
- Royal Society of Literature (Both UK, and International Writers): https://rsliterature.org/about-us/fellows/
UK-based TV writing schemes:
- BAFTA Breakthrough UK: http://www.bafta.org/supporting-talent/breakthrough/bafta-breakthrough-uk
- BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition (Semi-Fellowship): https://www.bafta.org/supporting-talent/rocliffe
- BBC Writers Room: https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/
- Channel 4: https://careers.channel4.com/4skills/industry-talent-schemes/4stories
- Universal Global Writers Program (features): https://writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/global-writers-program
Documentary/Non-Fiction:
- Concordia Fellowship: http://concordia.studio/concordia-fellowship/
And here’s a list of literally every fellowship you could think of.