2026 Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship in Screenwriting

The Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship in Screenwriting is a one-year developmental fellowship awarded to a single emerging screenwriter between the ages of 18 and 25. Sponsored by the Writers Guild Initiative and hosted on blcklst.com, the fellowship offers a $10,000 stipend to support the development of an original feature-length screenplay and includes a mentorship with a prominent screenwriter. In its 18th year of operation and 10th year of partnership with The Black List platform, the program continues to serve as a platform for nurturing unique, diverse voices in screenwriting by offering both funding and professional guidance. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, between 18 and 25 years old by December 31, 2025. They must not be represented by an agent or manager at the time of application, and they must host a full-length feature screenplay on blcklst.com for at least one week during the submission window from September 30, 2025, to January 9, 2026. Only feature-length screenplays are eligible; the program does not accept TV pilots, shorts, plays, or manuscripts. Importantly, applicants must write a new screenplay during the fellowship year; the submitted script serves only as a writing sample to assess the writer’s potential. Submission requirements include a personal statement, professional resume, contact details, a logline and 250-word synopsis of the submitted script, a two-page pitch of the screenplay the applicant intends to write during the fellowship, and a signed submission agreement. Writers may submit a revised version of a previously submitted script only if it has been substantially updated since its last submission. The Black List will curate a shortlist of ten projects in late January 2026, which will be forwarded to the Writers Guild Initiative for final consideration. The winner will be selected by March 2026 and announced in Spring 2026. The recipient will also be invited to the 2026 Writers Guild Initiative Gala. This fellowship is a recurring opportunity issued annually. It places a premium on authenticity, strong character development, and personal storytelling. The screenwriter retains full rights to their new script, ensuring creative ownership while benefiting from guided mentorship and professional exposure. For inquiries, applicants are directed to the program help page.

Writers must submit a new script, not a revision of the submitted one, and ensure that all previous ratings may influence selection.