Film Independent Screenwriting and Episodic Labs
Lab (2026)Prestige 78/100
Two respected Film Independent development labs: one for a feature script, one for a TV pilot.
Deadlines & fees
Closed for this cycle
Both labs are closed. The Screenwriting Lab 2027 call opened on 29 June 2026 and closed on 31 August for non-members and 14 September for Film Independent members. The Episodic Lab 2026 call opened on 15 December 2025 and closed on 2 February 2026 for non-members and 16 February for members. Film Independent has not announced dates for either next call.
Dates and fees checked against the official site 23 Sept 2026.
Key facts
- Formats
- Feature, TV Pilot
- Genres
- Action, Adventure, Animation, Biography, Comedy, Crime, Documentary, Drama, Family, Fantasy, History, Horror, Music, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Sport, Thriller, War, Western
- Eligibility
- Emerging writers
- Required materials
- Completed feature draft (Screenwriting Lab) or completed half-hour or hour pilot (Episodic Lab), Application materials
The applicant must be the author of the submitted script. The Screenwriting Lab requires a completed feature draft; the Episodic Lab requires a completed half-hour or hour pilot that has not been pitched to a studio or network.
Results
2026 Episodic Lab cohort; 2026 Screenwriting Lab cohort
View results with a free accountPrizes
Lab participation with one-to-one and group development from creative advisors, plus industry introductions. Not a cash-prize contest.
Judging
Competitive selection, with creative advisors assigned to selected fellows.
The PreList verdict
Film Independent's labs trade prize money for craft. The Screenwriting Lab is a two-week workshop in Los Angeles each spring where a small cohort works on their features with professional mentors; the Episodic Lab does the same for pilots each August. Nobody hands you a cheque, but alumni consistently describe the labs as the place their script actually got better, and Film Independent's programme network (including its Spirit Awards ecosystem) is a real community to join.
The honest part: the economics are membership-shaped. Applications cost US$65, or US$45 for members, free for Filmmaker Pro members, and accepted participants must hold a membership (US$105 a year). The labs are in-person in Los Angeles with no travel support, which quietly filters who can attend. Applications need a completed draft, and the Episodic Lab requires a pilot that has never been pitched to a studio or network.
The Screenwriting Lab's 2027 window is open now: it closes 31 August 2026, or 14 September for members. Enter if you are within reach of LA and want development rather than laurels. Skip it if what you need this year is a credential to put in query letters; that is what the contests on this list are for.
Dylian Salvatore, Founder of The PreList. Updated 23 Sept 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much do Film Independent lab applications cost?
US$65 for non-members and US$45 for members, with one free application a year for Filmmaker Pro members. Accepted participants must hold a Film Independent membership, currently US$105 a year.
When does the Screenwriting Lab close?
The 2027 cycle closes on 31 August 2026, with a member extension to 14 September. The Episodic Lab typically opens around December and closes in February.
What do participants get?
A two-week in-person workshop in Los Angeles developing your feature with professional mentors, plus ongoing access to Film Independent's artist development network. There is no cash prize and no travel support.
Is your script right for Film Independent Screenwriting and Episodic Labs?
Find out free, before you spend anything. Upload your screenplay and The PreList checks whether its format can enter this lab, whether you meet the country rules and any regional limits, and scores the script. Pro adds a written read on how well it fits.
Similar competitions
All labs
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Script Pipeline TV Writing Contest
Contest (2027)
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Lab (2026)
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Free, paid, six months of mentored development. And a production company takes a first option over everything you write on it.
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FOX Entertainment Writers Incubator
Programme (2027)
Closed for this cycle
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Programme (2027)
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Pitches only, no screenplay accepted. Two and a half thousand dollars and development on a script you have not written.
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For organisers
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