Objective

Each year, the Academy Nicholl screenwriting competition awards up to five $35,000 fellowships to amateur screenwriters. To enter, submit a feature length screenplay and entry fee via the online application when the competition is open for submissions. Fellowship winners are invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars, receive individualized Academy member mentorship and are expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during their Fellowship year.

Deadline/Entry Fees

Expired. Previous Deadline: 05/03/2021

Notification: All entrants will receive notification of their status by e-mail sent by early August of each year. Quarterfinalist letters are e-mailed by early August. Semifinalist letters are e-mailed by early September.

Rules

No applicant may have earned more than $25,000 writing for film or television. Scripts should be in standard form, approximately 90-120 pages. Only PDF screenplays submitted through online application are accepted. Equal collaborations by exactly two writers are eligible. Adaptations of another person's work are not eligible, even if that work is in the public domain or if the entrant has acquired rights to the work.

Please see website for complete rules and guidelines.

Awards

Up to five $35,000 fellowships are awarded each year to promising new screenwriters. From the program’s inception in 1986 through 2020, 181 fellowships totaling $4.75 million have been awarded.