We are seeking pilots and feature-length scripts that are beyond the first-draft stage but not quite yet at the finish line. We’re looking for writers who are committed to the revision process, and ready to use this program to help sharpen their scripts and bring them to the next level (which could include being staffed for the first time).​

​

Writers will be required to submit an application, which will ask you to include: 

• A full-length draft of the proposed script.

• A one-page pdf document Artistic Statement that includes your personal and professional background, artistic goals, etc.

• A one-page pdf document that includes your log line, the genesis of your piece, questions you’re grappling with, the goals you are presently working to accomplish, and the developmental history.

• A resume.

• Payment of the $35 application fee.

  • If this fee would make applying inaccessible to you, we encourage you to complete a fee waiver application form. Please note, waivers are extremely limited, and we take care to ensure that they go towards those who can most greatly benefit from their assistance. We appreciate your understanding and in the spirit of equity request that only individuals genuinely in need of this assistance apply.

INTERVIEWS:

• Finalists will be invited to interview with the S&F Artistic team (Ian Belknap, Isabelle Fereshteh Sanatdar Stevens, Pradanya Subramanyan).

• Applicants will be contacted if we wish to request a phone or video interview. If you do not receive a response from us by April 1, 2026, we encourage you to apply again next year. We look forward to engaging with your work in the future!

​

PROGRAM DATES:

July 6 - 12, 2026

• Participants will arrive in Poughkeepsie, NY on July 6, 2026.

• The Filmmakers’ Program will run from July 7, 2026 through July 12, 2026. 

• Participants will depart on July 12, 2026 in the afternoon.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• The program takes place at Marist University in Poughkeepsie, New York. 

• New York Stage & Film will provide housing in apartment-style student townhouses on the Marist University campus, which include:

  • Private Bedroom

  • Shared bathroom, kitchen, and living space

  •  Free in-unit laundry facilities

  • Free on-campus parking available

• Writers will receive a $500 stipend.

• We encourage writers across the United States to apply. After selections are made, there will be communication about travel and potential travel reimbursement. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

• Do you own the rights to my script?

  • No, writers retain all rights. Participants will be required to sign a letter of agreement prior to arrival noting inclusion of an end credit should your feature or pilot get produced, stating that the project was developed with support from New York Stage and Film Filmmakers’ Workshop. 

• Will you consider adaptations of existing material?

  • We will consider adaptations if you can provide proof that you own the rights to the underlying material. Applicants are responsible for all underlying rights. 

• My script has a producer attached. Can I still apply?

  • Attachments must be disclosed in the “Project Status” section of the application and are considered on a case-by-case basis. 

• I only have a treatment (or a partial script) will you accept that?

  • No. We only accept completed original pilots or feature films for consideration. 

• Why do you charge an application fee?

  • Our application fee covers the compensation of our script readers. We offer fee waivers to support artists with financial need. The form for fee waivers can be accessed here. Fee waivers can partially or fully cover the application fee, depending on need and impact.