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The New York Screenwriting Fellowship is for early-career, greater NYC-based screenwriters who are under-represented in the film industry and have demonstrated a rigorous commitment to their craft. Up to eight writers will be provided with both a screenwriting mentor and an executive mentor, as well as seminars, receptions, and other introductions, as they develop a new feature length screenplay during the Fellowship period. The goal of The New York Screenwriting Fellowship is to diversify the writers who have access to the meetings and projects that offer career sustainability.
Up to eight writers will be provided with both a screenwriting mentor and an executive mentor, as well as seminars, receptions, and other introductions, as they develop a new feature length screenplay during the Fellowship. The Fellowship will culminate with table reads of the participants’ works and a reception with leaders of the New York film industry.
The NY Screenwriting Fellowship is a partnership between FilmNation Entertainment and the Writers Guild of America East as they continue their championing of industry inclusion and fostering communities of writers. The NY Fellowship marks FilmNation’s and WGA East’s commitment to serving diverse, emerging talent and supporting New York City as a thriving hub of the entertainment industry. Final Draft is serving as the sponsor of the 2025 Fellowship and will provide NY Fellowship participants with software and other promotional materials.
If you have questions about the Fellowship or the application process, please send us an email at NYSF@wgaeast.org.
Application Process
The New York Screenwriting Fellowship is for early-career, greater NYC-based screenwriters who are under-represented in the film industry and have demonstrated a rigorous commitment to their craft. Up to eight writers will be provided with both a screenwriting mentor and an executive mentor, as well as seminars, receptions, and other introductions, as they develop a new feature length screenplay during the Fellowship period. The goal of The New York Screenwriting Fellowship is to diversify the writers who have access to the meetings and projects that offer career sustainability.
Note: The New York Screenwriting Fellowship is a hybrid program. Applicants accepted to the Fellowship are required to attend virtual and in-person seminars and group writing sessions a minimum of two sessions per week for the duration of the program (June through October). In-person meetings will take place at either the WGA East or FilmNation Entertainment offices in New York City.
The 2025 application period is March 3 – March 19, 2025. Fellows will be announced in May 2025.
Applicants must be referred by one of the following organizations:
- Almanack Screenwriters
- Austin Film Festival
- The Black List
- CUNY Brooklyn
- Dramatists Guild
- Ghetto Film School
- National Black Theatre
- NYWIFT
- ReelWorks
- Urbanworld
- WGAE Indie Caucus
- The Writers Lab
Meet the graduates!
Learn more about the extremely talented graduates from our 2023-24 New York Screenwriters Fellowship and the inaugural 2020 New York Screenwriters Fellowship.