The Sundance Institute has unveiled its 2026 Screenwriters Lab and Screenwriters Intensive fellows, aimed at nurturing creativity among emerging filmmakers. This announcement comes after a rigorous selection process that scrutinized over 3,800 submissions. The selected fellows represent a diverse array of voices and storytelling styles.
2026 Screenwriters Lab Details
The Screenwriters Lab is scheduled to occur from January 17 to January 21 at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah. This event, rooted in the legacy of founder Robert Redford, offers a collaborative environment for the eleven selected screenwriters to refine their original scripts with guidance from seasoned industry advisors.
Notable Advisors and Facilitators
The lab’s leadership includes:
- Michelle Satter – Founding Senior Director of Sundance Institute’s Artist Programs
- Ilyse McKimmie – Deputy Director of Feature Film Program
- Artistic Director: Jessie Nelson
Creative advisors feature prominent figures such as Michael Arndt, Barry Jenkins, and Lulu Wang, among others.
Screenwriters Intensive Overview
Following the lab, an online Screenwriters Intensive is set for March 5-6. Thirteen writers will collaborate on nine projects aimed at developing their first fiction features.
Alumni Impact
Previous participants of the Screenwriters Intensive include notable filmmakers such as:
- Tory Kamen (Eleanor the Great)
- Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men)
- Roger Ross Williams (Cassandro)
This year’s cohort is praised for its cinematic vision and range of perspectives, as highlighted by Ilyse McKimmie.
2026 Lab Participants
The following screenwriters and their projects have been selected for the Screenwriters Lab:
- Sarah Friedland (The Queue, USA): An adaptation of a Vladimir Sorokin novel exploring societal needs.
- Aditi Brennan Kapil (Love Person, USA): A unique romance born from a series of misconstrued emails.
- Taylor Sanghyun Lee (Rounds, USA): A story focusing on forgiveness in the aftermath of a violent event.
- Naishe Nyamubaya (Black Snake, Zimbabwe): A family’s exploration of cultural identity.
- Bec Pecaut (The Terrible Child, Canada): A teenager grappling with her father’s illness and personal growth.
- Joanna Rothkopf (Attachment, USA): A mother’s dangerous obsession with a children’s entertainer.
- Philip Thompson (Dance Monkey Dance, USA): A found-footage documentary about a Black comedian’s challenges.
- George Watsky (yellowwood, USA): A couple navigates an unexpected pregnancy through a tech experiment.
- Cecelia Wheeler (Clear-Cut, USA): Siblings reconcile during a road trip.
- Said Zagha (Black Harvest, Palestine, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar): A father’s struggle with vengeance after a tragic loss.
- Renee Zhan (BAOBAO, UK): A daughter confronts unexpected family changes upon her return to China.
Selected for Screenwriters Intensive
The following artists are participating in the Screenwriters Intensive:
- Nicole Daddona and Adam Wilder (CACS, USA): Two cacti navigate human life.
- Julien Figueroa (Hatepark, USA): A teen’s summer of identity discovery.
- Allison Janae Hamilton (Floridaland, USA): A college student faces her family’s fading legacy.
- Gulet Isse (Khutbah, USA): A high school senior balances aspirations with family traditions.
- Daeil Kim and Don Cabreana (Stem, South Korea, USA): A scientist confronts ethical dilemmas in stem cell research.
- Esteban Pedraza (Swayneos, USA, Colombia): A woman’s journey exploring transformation through marriage.
- Matthew Rosenbaum and Nicolette Johnson (Badstar, USA): A surreal narrative surrounding childhood and space exploration.
- Samina Saifee (Amerigirl, USA): A young girl seeks friendship at summer camp.
- Sylvie Weber and Anouk Shad (Río Masacre, Austria, Dominican Republic): A boy’s connection to cultural legacy in the Caribbean.
Sundance Institute continues to honor its commitment to independent storytelling through these initiatives, highlighting the importance of diverse voices in cinema.
