Screenwriters Lab
A residential script development program from the Sundance Institute supporting independent screenwriters working on character-driven feature film scripts.
Overview
The Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab is a five-day residential workshop held twice yearly in the mountains of Utah, supporting independent screenwriters who are developing feature-length fiction scripts. The lab pairs selected fellows with a team of established screenwriter and director advisors for intensive one-on-one sessions focused on story, character, structure, and voice. It is one of the most respected and competitive screenwriting development programs in the world.
The lab's alumni include some of the most significant independent filmmakers of the past three decades. Scripts developed at the Sundance Screenwriters Lab have gone on to production at all budget levels, from micro-budget independent films to studio features, and the selection carries substantial credibility with producers, financiers, and development executives.
What It Offers
Selected screenwriting fellows receive:
- Five days of residential lab programming in Utah, with all travel, accommodation, and meals covered by Sundance
- Multiple one-on-one script feedback sessions with a rotating team of established advisor-writers and directors
- Group sessions focused on craft elements including structure, character development, dialogue, and thematic clarity
- Access to Sundance Institute staff and program resources
- Entry into the Sundance Institute alumni community, which provides ongoing career support and professional connections
- Eligibility for consideration for the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program's additional support, including the Directors Lab for projects where a writer-director wants to develop their directing approach alongside the script
The lab does not directly provide production financing. It is a development program, not a grant.
Eligibility
Applicants must be independent screenwriters working on an original feature-length fiction script that centers on character and human experience. The script must be in a genuine development stage -- ready for intensive feedback -- but not yet attached to a studio or production company with resources to develop it independently.
The lab is open to both US and international screenwriters. Applications are reviewed twice yearly for two separate lab sessions. Selection is highly competitive; applicants who are not selected in a given cycle are encouraged to reapply in future cycles with the same or a revised project.
The Sundance Selection Effect
Like the Documentary Filmmakers Lab, a Sundance Screenwriters Lab selection meaningfully changes a project's trajectory. Producers and development executives treat lab selection as a quality signal, and many scripts developed at the lab attract representation and production interest during or shortly after the lab period. For screenwriters without established industry relationships, the lab can serve as a primary industry introduction.
Who Should Apply
Independent screenwriters working on character-driven feature scripts who are ready for intensive professional feedback and who want to develop their project within the most respected script development environment in American independent film.
See Also
For understanding how script development connects to production financing, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack. For planning a development-to-production timeline, use the Production Schedule Calculator.
