THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE 2025 DEVELOPMENT TRACK IS 5:00 PM PT ON THURSDAY, MAY 16.
We accept all application materials electronically ONLY. You will have a chance to save a work-in-progress version of your application before officially submitting.
You must sign in or create an account to access the electronic application. When creating your account, please enter the name of the primary applicant (screenwriter) as the account owner. Additionally, please enter your project title in the Application Name field.
The development track has one open application that allows your fiction feature work-in-progress screenplay to be considered for the following programs, fellowships, and grants:
Screenwriters Lab (held annually in January)
Screenwriters Intensive (held annually in March, online)
Sundance Institute Comedy Fellowship (includes participation in either the Screenwriters Lab or Intensive)
Sundance Institute Horror Fellowship (includes participation in either the Screenwriters Lab or Intensive)
Sundance Institute Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (includes participation in either the Screenwriters Lab or Intensive) and Commissioning Grant
Our application includes questions to determine your eligibility for each program and fellowship, and you will automatically be considered for all programs and fellowships for which you are eligible. (There is no open application for the Directors Lab, which is typically populated by projects that have been supported through a previous development program.) For more information about each program and fellowship, please visit our website.
What you need to complete online IN ORDER by MAY 16, 2024, at 4:59 p.m. PT:
CONTACT INFO for the primary applicant, co-applicant if applicable (writers and directors only), and one additional member of the creative team, if applicable. (Please note that only the writer(s) and director(s) will attend the Screenwriters Lab.)
ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS — a series of questions about you and your project that will determine your eligibility for all of the development track programs and fellowships.
SLOAN FELLOWSHIP AND GRANT QUESTIONS (Sloan applicants only) — If your project is eligible for the Sloan Fellowship and/or Commissioning Grant, you must complete follow-up questions regarding the scientific or technological content of the material. If your project does not contain scientific or technological content, please do not answer these questions — they are optional.
BIOS (150 words max each) for the primary applicant, co-applicant if applicable, and additional creative team member if applicable.
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT (250 words max) Briefly introduce yourself and your project. Let us know where you are in the creative process and why you think this is the right timing for a lab.
SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS (150 words max each):
What are the key themes you’re exploring in your script?
How do you describe the intended tone, feel, and visual style of your script? You may include examples of other work as references or inspirations.
Why are you passionate about telling this story now? What gives it urgency?
Whom do you see as the audience for this film, and what do you want them to take away from it?
What is your personal connection to the material?
What steps are you taking to ensure that the characters and world of your film are authentically represented?
If this is a resubmission of material we’ve previously considered, how has the material changed since we last read it? (optional)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY/RIGHTS — Please give us any insight into the current rights status of the project. This is only required if your project is based on true events or characters.
LOGLINE (75 words max) — a one- to two-sentence description of your story.
SYNOPSIS (750 words max) — brief summary of the plot of your script. Please include all major characters and story points, including the ending.
FIRST 5 PAGES OF YOUR SCREENPLAY OR TREATMENT — You may submit a treatment for the Sloan Commissioning Grant ONLY. If a treatment is submitted and it is not eligible for the Sloan Commissioning Grant, the project will not be considered for any other development track programs or fellowships. Do not upload more than the first five pages.
APPLICATION FEE OF $40 — You should not pay the submission fee until you have completed all other application tasks and are ready to submit your application.
Next Steps
Applicants will be notified on a rolling basis as to whether their application has progressed to the next stage of the selection process. Please be prepared to submit the following materials, should you advance to the second round. You will be given approximately 10 days to two weeks from the date of notification to submit these materials and will be notified sometime in August 2024.
UPDATED SYNOPSIS — Since screenplays are often revised between the first and second rounds of our application, we request you submit an updated synopsis with the complete draft of your screenplay.
FULL SCREENPLAY OR TREATMENT — Upload a PDF file of the most current draft of your screenplay or treatment. You may submit a treatment for the Sloan Commissioning Grant ONLY. If a treatment is submitted and it is not eligible for the Sloan Commissioning Grant, the project will not be considered for any other development track programs or fellowships.
DIRECTING SAMPLE (optional) — If you are a writer-director or if a director is attached to the project, you will have an opportunity to submit a link to a directing sample or samples. Please include the title and run time for any sample submitted.
VISUAL MATERIAL (optional) — If you have visual materials, such as a lookbook or project deck, you may upload a PDF of no more than 40 MB.
All applicants will be notified about their status via email no later than August 30, 2024. Due to the high volume of submissions, we are unfortunately unable to provide feedback about individual projects. If you have additional questions, please visit the Development Track FAQ.
If you have further questions, please email featurefilmprogram@sundance.org.
Development Track Selection Process Timeline
April 11, 2024 Application Available Online
May 16, 2024 Application Closes (4:59 p.m. PT)
August 30, 2024 Second-round notifications complete
December 16, 2024 Final selection notifications complete
Giving Back:
Should you be selected to participate in the January Screenwriters Lab, Screenwriters Intensive, or other development track labs and fellowships, you will be asked to continue the spirit of giving back. We request that lab alumni whose projects are produced contribute to the Institute’s work to support new generations of emerging filmmakers.
For all supported projects, Sundance Institute will receive a screen credit in the end titles of the project, in the form “This film was supported by the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program,” together with the Institute’s logo.
For all projects supported at the January Screenwriters Lab, the following financial contribution provisions apply:
A. If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or less than one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000), no contribution is due to the Institute.
B. If the project is produced for a gross budget between one million five hundred thousand one dollars ($1,500,001) and three million dollars ($3,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in the amount of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
C. If the project is produced for a gross budget between three million one dollars ($3,000,001) and five million dollars ($5,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
D. If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or exceeds five million one dollars ($5,000,001), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in the amount of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
For all projects supported at the Directors Lab or both the Screenwriters Lab and the Directors Lab, the following financial contribution provisions apply in lieu of the provisions set forth above:
A. If the project is produced for a gross budget equal to or less than one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000), no contribution is due to the Institute.
B. If the project is produced for a gross budget between one Million five Hundred thousand one dollars ($1,500,001) and three million dollars ($3,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in an amount of four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
C. If the project is produced for a gross budget is between three million one dollars ($3,000,001) and five million dollars ($5,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in an amount of seven thousand dollars ($7,000), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
D. If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or exceeds five million one dollars ($5,000,001), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in an amount of nine thousand five hundred dollars ($9,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
2025 Development Track
THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE 2025 DEVELOPMENT TRACK IS 5:00 PM PT ON THURSDAY, MAY 16.
We accept all application materials electronically ONLY. You will have a chance to save a work-in-progress version of your application before officially submitting.
You must sign in or create an account to access the electronic application. When creating your account, please enter the name of the primary applicant (screenwriter) as the account owner. Additionally, please enter your project title in the Application Name field.
The development track has one open application that allows your fiction feature work-in-progress screenplay to be considered for the following programs, fellowships, and grants:
Screenwriters Lab (held annually in January)
Screenwriters Intensive (held annually in March, online)
Sundance Institute Comedy Fellowship (includes participation in either the Screenwriters Lab or Intensive)
Sundance Institute Horror Fellowship (includes participation in either the Screenwriters Lab or Intensive)
Sundance Institute Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (includes participation in either the Screenwriters Lab or Intensive) and Commissioning Grant
Our application includes questions to determine your eligibility for each program and fellowship, and you will automatically be considered for all programs and fellowships for which you are eligible. (There is no open application for the Directors Lab, which is typically populated by projects that have been supported through a previous development program.) For more information about each program and fellowship, please visit our website.
What you need to complete online IN ORDER by MAY 16, 2024, at 4:59 p.m. PT:
CONTACT INFO for the primary applicant, co-applicant if applicable (writers and directors only), and one additional member of the creative team, if applicable. (Please note that only the writer(s) and director(s) will attend the Screenwriters Lab.)
ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS — a series of questions about you and your project that will determine your eligibility for all of the development track programs and fellowships.
SLOAN FELLOWSHIP AND GRANT QUESTIONS (Sloan applicants only) — If your project is eligible for the Sloan Fellowship and/or Commissioning Grant, you must complete follow-up questions regarding the scientific or technological content of the material. If your project does not contain scientific or technological content, please do not answer these questions — they are optional.
BIOS (150 words max each) for the primary applicant, co-applicant if applicable, and additional creative team member if applicable.
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT (250 words max) Briefly introduce yourself and your project. Let us know where you are in the creative process and why you think this is the right timing for a lab.
SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS (150 words max each):
What are the key themes you’re exploring in your script?
How do you describe the intended tone, feel, and visual style of your script? You may include examples of other work as references or inspirations.
Why are you passionate about telling this story now? What gives it urgency?
Whom do you see as the audience for this film, and what do you want them to take away from it?
What is your personal connection to the material?
What steps are you taking to ensure that the characters and world of your film are authentically represented?
If this is a resubmission of material we’ve previously considered, how has the material changed since we last read it? (optional)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY/RIGHTS — Please give us any insight into the current rights status of the project. This is only required if your project is based on true events or characters.
LOGLINE (75 words max) — a one- to two-sentence description of your story.
SYNOPSIS (750 words max) — brief summary of the plot of your script. Please include all major characters and story points, including the ending.
FIRST 5 PAGES OF YOUR SCREENPLAY OR TREATMENT — You may submit a treatment for the Sloan Commissioning Grant ONLY. If a treatment is submitted and it is not eligible for the Sloan Commissioning Grant, the project will not be considered for any other development track programs or fellowships. Do not upload more than the first five pages.
APPLICATION FEE OF $40 — You should not pay the submission fee until you have completed all other application tasks and are ready to submit your application.
Next Steps
Applicants will be notified on a rolling basis as to whether their application has progressed to the next stage of the selection process. Please be prepared to submit the following materials, should you advance to the second round. You will be given approximately 10 days to two weeks from the date of notification to submit these materials and will be notified sometime in August 2024.
UPDATED SYNOPSIS — Since screenplays are often revised between the first and second rounds of our application, we request you submit an updated synopsis with the complete draft of your screenplay.
FULL SCREENPLAY OR TREATMENT — Upload a PDF file of the most current draft of your screenplay or treatment. You may submit a treatment for the Sloan Commissioning Grant ONLY. If a treatment is submitted and it is not eligible for the Sloan Commissioning Grant, the project will not be considered for any other development track programs or fellowships.
DIRECTING SAMPLE (optional) — If you are a writer-director or if a director is attached to the project, you will have an opportunity to submit a link to a directing sample or samples. Please include the title and run time for any sample submitted.
VISUAL MATERIAL (optional) — If you have visual materials, such as a lookbook or project deck, you may upload a PDF of no more than 40 MB.
All applicants will be notified about their status via email no later than August 30, 2024. Due to the high volume of submissions, we are unfortunately unable to provide feedback about individual projects. If you have additional questions, please visit the Development Track FAQ.
If you have further questions, please email featurefilmprogram@sundance.org.
Development Track Selection Process Timeline
April 11, 2024 Application Available Online
May 16, 2024 Application Closes (4:59 p.m. PT)
August 30, 2024 Second-round notifications complete
December 16, 2024 Final selection notifications complete
Giving Back:
Should you be selected to participate in the January Screenwriters Lab, Screenwriters Intensive, or other development track labs and fellowships, you will be asked to continue the spirit of giving back. We request that lab alumni whose projects are produced contribute to the Institute’s work to support new generations of emerging filmmakers.
For all supported projects, Sundance Institute will receive a screen credit in the end titles of the project, in the form “This film was supported by the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program,” together with the Institute’s logo.
For all projects supported at the January Screenwriters Lab, the following financial contribution provisions apply:
A. If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or less than one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000), no contribution is due to the Institute.
B. If the project is produced for a gross budget between one million five hundred thousand one dollars ($1,500,001) and three million dollars ($3,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in the amount of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
C. If the project is produced for a gross budget between three million one dollars ($3,000,001) and five million dollars ($5,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
D. If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or exceeds five million one dollars ($5,000,001), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in the amount of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
For all projects supported at the Directors Lab or both the Screenwriters Lab and the Directors Lab, the following financial contribution provisions apply in lieu of the provisions set forth above:
A. If the project is produced for a gross budget equal to or less than one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000), no contribution is due to the Institute.
B. If the project is produced for a gross budget between one Million five Hundred thousand one dollars ($1,500,001) and three million dollars ($3,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in an amount of four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
C. If the project is produced for a gross budget is between three million one dollars ($3,000,001) and five million dollars ($5,000,000), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in an amount of seven thousand dollars ($7,000), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.
D. If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or exceeds five million one dollars ($5,000,001), the owner will make a contribution to the Institute in an amount of nine thousand five hundred dollars ($9,500), which will be paid to the Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the project.