Feature Film Program

Development Track

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)
• FilmTwo Fellowship (Intensive held annually in March; for filmmakers developing their second fiction feature)
• Sundance Institute | Comedy Central Comedy Fellowship
• Sundance Institute Asian American Fellowship
• Sundance Institute Feature Film Program Latinx Fellowship
• Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant and Fellowship (for projects with scientific and/or technological content)

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.)

Applications for the 2021 development track are closed.

Development Track Programs and Fellowships

• Screenwriters Lab

  Description:
  The Screenwriters Lab is a five-day writers’ workshop that gives independent screenwriters the opportunity to work intensively on their feature film scripts with the support of established writers in an environment that focuses on the art and craft of screenwriting and creative risk taking. Through one-on-one story sessions with creative advisors, fellows engage in an artistically rigorous process that offers indispensable lessons in craft to facilitate the deep exploration needed to fully realize their material.

  In light of COVID-19, the 2021 Screenwriters Lab will take place digitally on Sundance Co//ab.

  Eligibility:
  The Screenwriters Lab supports writers, writer/directors, and writer/director teams developing their first or second fiction feature film. If you have previously had more than one fiction feature produced, you are not eligible to apply. International projects must have a director attached.

  Size:
  12 projects are selected for the Screenwriters Lab.
  

  Location:
  Hosted digitally

  Dates:
  January 11–15, 2021

  Cost:
  The cost of airfare, accommodations, and meals for up to two participants per project is normally covered. (However, note that the 2021 Screenwriters Lab will be hosted digitally, so travel is not needed.) Beyond the application fee, there is no fee to participate.

  In return for participation in a Screenwriters Lab, fellows are obligated to sign an agreement stipulating that (a) they will make a contribution to Sundance Institute of 0.25% of the portion of their film’s final budget that exceeds $1,000,000 (this number may increase to 0.5 or 0.75% through participation in a Directors and Screenwriters Lab and/or Institute-affiliated grant support exceeding $10,000), (b) Sundance Institute will receive 1% of 100% of the film’s net receipts, and (c) Sundance Institute will receive a credit line and logo placement in the film’s end titles.

• Screenwriters Intensive

  Description:
  In collaboration with the Outreach and Inclusion Program, the Screenwriters Intensive provides emerging screenwriters with the opportunity to hone their craft in a two-day concentrated workshop. The program supports 10 to 12 writers or writer/directors developing a fiction feature screenplay and includes a hands-on writing workshop, a screening of a recent Sundance Film Festival film followed by an in-depth conversation with the filmmaker, and two one-on-one script feedback sessions with creative advisors. Like the residency labs , the Screenwriters Intensive focuses deeply on the creative process and fosters community among the participants.

  In light of COVID-19, the 2021 Screenwriters Intensive will take place digitally on Sundance Co//ab.
  

  Eligibility:
  The Screenwriters Intensive supports writers, writer/directors, and writer/director teams from underrepresented communities who are developing a first fiction feature screenplay. Typically, the majority of artists selected for the Screenwriters Intensive are U.S. based, but international artists may be considered for the program.

  Size:
  10 projects are selected for the Screenwriters Intensive.

  Location:
  Hosted Digitally

  Dates:
  March 4-5, 2021

  Cost:
  Beyond the application fee, there is no fee to participate. Travel to and accommodations in Los Angeles are not covered, although a small travel stipend is provided to help offset costs for participants who aren’t based in LA.

• FilmTwo Fellowship

  Description:
  The FilmTwo Fellowship is a specialized artist development program dedicated to supporting filmmakers who are developing their second fiction features. The program supports 10 to 12 writer/directors or writer/director teams, with priority given to women and artists from underrepresented communities.

  FilmTwo fellows have access to a customized support track that is based on their individual needs and includes:

  • FilmTwo Intensive—Fellows are invited to participate in a two-day workshop at Sundance Institute’s Los Angeles offices, which includes a dedicated writing workshop with esteemed screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury (Nashville), industry mentorship sessions, and one-on-one creative meetings. Intensive activities directly address the challenges of making a second feature. For those fellows who live outside of the Los Angeles area, a travel stipend will be offered to offset direct costs to the artist.
  • Project Support Continuum—FFP staff provide fellows with year-round customized creative and tactical support, including feedback on screenplay drafts and rough cuts, assistance in securing resources, advice on festival and release strategies, and strategic introductions and letters of recommendation to other support programs and potential funders and collaborators.
  • Each FilmTwo fellow is eligible for the Sundance Institute | Universal Fellowship, which includes a cohort of up to four FilmTwo fellows who receive a grant and the opportunity to meet with key Universal executives across all of the studio’s business groups.

  
  

  In addition to these services, FilmTwo fellows will also be considered for participation in various FFP labs and activities on an individual basis, including:

  • Screenwriters Lab (hosted digitally for 2021)
  • Creative Producing Summit (hosted digitally for 2021)
  • Catalyst (Sundance Mountain Resort, UT)
  • Women’s Financing Intensive (New York or Los Angeles)

  Eligibility:
  Applicants must have had one fiction feature screenplay produced as a writer or writer/director and must be developing a second fiction feature screenplay, ideally with an early draft completed. Projects must have a director attached. Typically, the majority of artists selected for the FilmTwo Fellowship are U.S. based, but international artists may be considered for the program.

  Size:
  10 to 12 projects are selected for the FilmTwo Fellowship.

  Location:
  Los Angeles, CA

  Dates:
  March 2021, exact dates TBD

  Cost:
  Beyond the application fee, there is no fee to participate. Travel to and accommodations in Los Angeles are not covered, although a small travel stipend is provided to help offset costs for participants who aren’t based in LA..

• Sundance Institute | Comedy Central Comedy Fellowship

  Description:
  The Sundance Institute Comedy Fellowship, made possible by Comedy Central, provides targeted support to the next generation of diverse, culturally relevant comedic voices. The fellowship supports one Screenwriters Lab project and one Episodic Lab project annually and includes a $10,000 unrestricted grant and customized mentorship from FFP staff and Comedy Central executives.

  Eligibility:
  Writers or writer/directors developing their first or second fiction feature film that have applied to the 2021 development track are eligible for the fellowship.

  If you have questions regarding the Sundance Institute | Comedy Central Comedy Fellowship, please read the development track FAQ below. Still don’t see your question answered? Email us at featurefilmprogram@sundance.org.

• Sundance Institute Asian American Fellowship

  Description:
  The Sundance Institute Asian American Fellowship aims to further the presence of Asian American voices in independent film as an extension of Sundance Institute’s ongoing commitment to support a diverse group of emerging artists. Made possible in part by the A3 Foundation, the fellowship supports an Asian American writer or writer/director in the development of their feature screenplay through participation in the Screenwriters Lab, Screenwriters Intensive, or Creative Producing Summit.

  Eligibility:
  Writers or writer/directors developing their first or second fiction feature film and of Asian American descent or with significant themes and/or characters portraying the Asian American experience in their screenplay are eligible to apply.

  If you have questions regarding the Sundance Institute Asian American Fellowship, please read the development track FAQ below. Still don’t see your question answered? Email us at featurefilmprogram@sundance.org.
  

• Sundance Institute Feature Film Program Latinx Fellowship

  Description:
  The Sundance Institute Fellowship supports one U.S.-based Latinx writer or writer/director through participation in either the Screenwriters Lab or the Screenwriters Intensive.

  Eligibility:
  In order to be eligible for consideration, applicants must be a writer or writer/director of Latinx descent based primarily in the United States and developing a first or second fiction feature screenplay.

  If you have questions regarding the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program Latinx Fellowship, please read the development track FAQ below. Still don’t see your question answered? Email us at featurefilmprogram@sundance.org.
  

• Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant and Fellowship

  Description:
  To support the development of screenplays with scientific or technological themes, Sundance Institute and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation provide opportunities for both emerging and established filmmakers through granting and fellowships. Established in 2005, the Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant and Fellowship is an annual cash award for a science- or technology-related project that is at an early stage, such as a full treatment or early screenplay draft. Additionally, one fellowship is awarded annually to an emerging screenwriter to support the ongoing development of a feature-length fiction screenplay with science or technology themes through participation at a Screenwriters Lab.

  Eligibility:

  • Projects must incorporate real scientific and/or technological themes and/or characters. Stories that are sci-fi, speculative, or futuristic in nature are not eligible.
  • Projects must be a feature-length fiction film (no documentaries).
  • Project must be live action (no animation).
  • Projects must be in the English language, and applicant must reside in the U.S.
  • For the grant only, screenwriters can be at any stage of their career, with no prior produced work or many produced works. The submission may range from detailed treatment to full screenplay.
  • For the fellowship, screenwriters must have no more than one produced feature screenplay, and only the complete draft of a screenplay may be submitted (no treatments).
  • If the treatment/screenplay is based on source material, the screenwriter must have an option on, or be in the process of optioning, the source material.

  If you have questions regarding the Alfred P Sloan Commissioning Grant and Fellowship, please read the development track FAQ below. Still don’t see your question answered? Email us at featurefilmprogram@sundance.org.

• Directors and Screenwriters Lab (by invitation only)

  Description:
  During the month-long Directors and Screenwriters Lab, eight fellows work with an accomplished group of creative advisors and professional production crews, rehearsing, shooting, and editing key scenes from their scripts. Through this intense, hands-on process, fellows workshop scenes, collaborate with actors, and find a visual language for their film in an atmosphere where experimentation and risk-taking is encouraged. The Screenwriters Lab immediately follows the Directors Lab, providing fellows with a rigorous schedule of one-on-one story sessions with advisors to further advance their scripts.

  Eligibility:
  There is no open application available for the Directors and Screenwriters Lab, which is typically populated by projects that have already been supported via a prior Institute program such as the Screenwriters Lab, intensive, or grant. The lab supports first-time fiction feature directors; application to the development track is the best way to put your project into the pipeline of eventual consideration for the Directors and Screenwriters Lab.

  Size:
  Eight projects are selected for the Directors and Screenwriters Lab.

  Location:
  Sundance Mountain Resort, UT

  Cost:
  The cost of airfare, accommodations, and meals for up to two participants per project is covered. Beyond the application fee, there is no fee to participate.

  In return for participation in a Directors Lab, fellows are obligated to sign an agreement stipulating that (a) they will make a contribution to Sundance Institute of 0.5% of the portion of their film’s final budget that exceeds $1,000,000 (this number may increase to 0.75% through Institute-affiliated grant support exceeding $10,000), (b) Sundance Institute will receive 1% of 100% of the film’s net receipts, and (c) Sundance Institute will receive a credit line and logo placement in the film’s end titles.

  Additional questions? Read the development track FAQ.

• Development Track FAQ
  1. What’s the difference between the Screenwriters Lab, Screenwriters Intensive, and FilmTwo Fellowship? Why might I be selected for one over the other?
     Each program has its own specific eligibility requirements:
     • The Screenwriters Lab is for first- or second-time fiction feature writers, writer/directors, or writer/director teams.
     • The Screenwriters Intensive is for first-time fiction feature writers or writer/directors who come from underrepresented communities, including women, artists of color, LGBTQ+ artists, and artists with disabilities. The Screenwriters Intensive focuses on supporting artists at an earlier stage of their career and/or at an earlier stage of development with their project.
     • The FilmTwo Fellowship is for second-time fiction feature writer/directors or writers working with second-time directors, with priority given to artists from underrepresented communities. Although FilmTwo fellows are selected with a project in development, the program is designed to support an artist at a specific stage of career development, with primary focus placed on creative and strategic efforts toward professional advancement.
  2. Am I eligible for future Sundance Institute support if I am selected for a development track program or fellowship?
     All development track program fellows are eligible to be considered for additional Feature Film Program labs and activities, including the Directors Lab (first-time fiction feature directors only), the Creative Producing Summit, Catalyst Forum, Women at Sundance’s Financing and Strategy Intensive, and ongoing creative and strategic support from Feature Film Program staff.
  3. How do I submit an application?
     Applications for the 2021 Screenwriters Lab, Screenwriters Intensive, and FilmTwo Fellowship are now closed.
  4. What does the application include?
     In the first round, an application includes the following components:
     • Cover letter (500-word limit): Please introduce yourself and your project. There are no strict requirements for this letter, but we’d like to get a brief idea of who you are, what your script is about, where you are in the creative process, and how specifically you think the lab process could be helpful to you.
     • Artistic statement (500-word limit): Please describe your creative vision for the project. What is your personal connection to the material? What themes are you most interested in exploring in your work, and what do you want an audience to take away from your film? How do you envision the realization of this script in terms of story, character, tone, and/or visual style? Is there a budget level you have in mind? Who do you see as the audience for this film? Why are you passionate about telling this story now? If this is a resubmission of material we’ve previously considered, how has the material changed since we last read it?
     • Logline (75-word limit): A one- to two-sentence description of your project.
       
     • Synopsis (750-word limit): A brief summary of the plot of your script. Please include all major characters and story points, including the ending.
     • Bio(s) (150-word limit per bio): You may include bios for up to three members of the creative team, although only the screenwriter(s) and director, if involved with development, will attend the lab.
     • Description of scientific or technological content (Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and Commissioning Grant applicants only): Please give a brief description of the thematic core and scientific ideas being explored. Please include what scientific research and consultation you would like to put this particular grant toward; this can include specific scientists or fields of research.
       
     • The first five pages of your screenplay or treatment: Please do not submit more than the first five pages. NOTE: 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.
       
     • Demographic info: In an effort to measure and improve our commitment to supporting artists from diverse backgrounds around the world, we ask each applicant a series of demographic questions. Your responses will not affect your submission to our programs or be sold or shared with anyone at any time.
  5. What materials will be requested from me if I advance to the second round? What is the deadline to submit second round materials?
     If you advance to the second round of consideration, you will be asked to upload the complete draft of your screenplay. For the Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant only, you may upload a complete draft of your treatment. In addition, you will be given the opportunity to include a link to a directorial sample, although this is not required. Typically, you will be given 10 days to two weeks from the date of notification to submit second round materials.
  6. If I advance to the second round, am I a finalist?
     We don’t use designations like “finalist” or “semi-finalist.” Approximately 1,000 to 1,200 complete screenplays are considered as part of the second round.
  7. I’m an international filmmaker based outside the U.S. How can I apply?
     Whether you’re based in the U.S. or internationally, you may apply using the development track application found here. The Screenwriters Lab always includes both U.S.-based and international filmmakers. Typically, the majority of artists selected for the Screenwriters Intensive and the FilmTwo Fellowship are U.S. based, but international artists may be considered for both programs.
  8. What are the dates of the 2021 Screenwriters Lab, Screenwriters Intensive, and FilmTwo Fellowship?
     Screenwriters Lab: January 11–15, 2021
     Screenwriters Intensive: March 4-5 2021
     FilmTwo Fellowship: March 2021, exact dates TBD
  9. Is it possible to get an extension? What’s the final, final deadline?
     Unfortunately we cannot grant extensions. the final deadline to submit an online application was 6:00 p.m. PT on June 11, 2020. Applications for the 2021 Screenwriters Lab, Screenwriters Intensive, and FilmTwo Fellowship are now closed.
  10. How can I apply to the Directors Lab?
      There is no open application process for the Directors Lab, which is typically populated by projects that have already been supported via a prior Institute program such as a Screenwriters Lab, Intensive, or grant. The Directors Lab supports first-time fiction feature directors; application to the development track is the best way to put your project into the pipeline of eventual consideration for the Directors Lab.
  11. May I apply with more than one script?
      You may submit up to three projects, but we encourage you to choose one project that is your priority in terms of moving forward. Please note that for each script, you must complete a separate application, and submit a separate application fee.
  12. I have a project I want to submit, but it’s still in treatment form or a partial draft. If I don’t think I will be able to have a draft in screenplay format in time to submit, can I submit my treatment or partial draft for consideration?
      No. We need to receive a completed draft of a screenplay to consider your project. This does not mean the final draft; however, we do ask that the script is in standard format. The only exception to this rule is the application for the Sloan Commissioning Grant, which will consider treatments.
  13. May I re-apply with a script that I’ve submitted to Sundance Institute previously?
      Under certain circumstances, yes. We strongly recommend you only re-apply with material we’ve considered previously if you’ve made significant revisions to the script.
  14. How long (or short) should my script be?
      While there is no “correct length,” a typical screenplay is 90–120 pages. In most cases, if your script is significantly longer or shorter than that range, we will suggest you do more revisions before submitting it for consideration.
  15. Do you consider scripts written in a language other than English?
      Although we will support scripts that will eventually be produced in a language other than English, your script must be translated into English before you submit it.
  16. Do you consider adaptations?
      Yes, we will consider scripts based on existing material, as long as you have secured the underlying rights to the source material.
  17. May I apply with a script that has been submitted or supported elsewhere?
      Yes, we have no restrictions on material that has been submitted to or supported by other artist development programs.
  18. I don’t have much experience. Does that affect my chances of being selected?
      No. We seek to foster exciting emerging voices, regardless of prior professional film experience.
  19. How far along should my screenplay be when I submit? Can I submit a rough draft? Are you looking for a polished draft?
      You must have a completed draft of your screenplay to apply, but we expect that it will still be a work-in-progress. The ideal time to apply to the lab is when you’ve taken your screenplay as far as you can go on your own, and need the fresh, intensive perspective the lab provides to brainstorm solutions to stubborn challenges, get “unstuck,” or take the material to a next level.
  20. May I submit letters of recommendation? Should I have my industry contacts call on my behalf?
      No. Final selections are based on the screenplay and supporting application materials alone, and recommendations will not influence our decisions.
  21. How should I address my cover letter?
      “Dear Sundance” or “To Whom It May Concern” are both fine.
  22. How will I be notified about acceptance? Will I be notified if I’m not selected?
      All lab notifications are made via email. You will hear from us either way, whether selected or not.
  23. I haven’t received notification yet, but my friends have—what’s wrong? When will I know if I’ve made it to the second round?
      Email notifications are made on a rolling basis. You will hear whether you have advanced to the second round of the application by August 31, 2020. Second round notifications about final selections for development track programs will be made by December 15, 2020.
  24. Can Sundance Institute help produce my film? What kind of grants/support/production help can I apply for?
      Sundance Institute is a nonprofit organization, and as such we do not produce nor finance films. Feature Film Program grants are reserved for artists already supported by one of our programs such as a lab or intensive. The only grant for which there is a public application is the Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant and Fellowship. Applications for this annual grant are accepted through the online application for our development track.
  25. Will my ideas be protected?
      Sundance Institute only shares your script with a small group of trusted readers and, if you advance in the selection process, with a selection committee composed of Sundance Institute alumni. Even so, we recommend that all applicants who send their work out into the world register their scripts with the Writers Guild of America for a nominal fee; you do not need to be a WGA member to utilize its registration service.
  26. What does the program cost?
      Aside from an application fee, we do not charge for participation in our programs. For the Screenwriters Lab in Utah, we cover the cost of travel, accommodations, and food for up to two participants per project. For the Screenwriters Intensive and the FilmTwo Fellowship, travel and accommodations are not covered, but we do offer a small stipend to Fellows coming from outside Los Angeles to help offset those costs, when those programs are conducted in LA.
  27. When I apply for or am selected for one of your programs, does Sundance Institute own my screenplay?
      No. Sundance Institute does not take possession of any lab fellow’s intellectual property. However, in return for participation in a Screenwriters Lab, fellows are obligated to sign an agreement stipulating that (a) they will make a contribution to Sundance Institute of 0.25% of the portion of their film's final budget that exceeds $1,000,000. (this number may increase to 0.5 or 0.75% through participation in a Directors Lab and/or Institute-affiliated grant support exceeding $10,000), (b) Sundance Institute will receive 1% of 100% of the film’s net receipts, and (c) Sundance Institute will receive a credit line and logo placement in the film’s end titles.

  Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant and Fellowship FAQ

  1. What’s the difference between the commissioning grant and the fellowship?
     The commissioning grant focuses on projects in earlier stages of development—from full treatment form to early screenplay drafts. If your script is in a later stage of development, we can consider it for a Screenwriters Lab Fellowship. If you are not sure, please choose either within the application, and we will evaluate based on the status of the project for either the grant or fellowship. Please remember that the Screenwriters Lab Fellowship is only available to first- or second-time feature screenwriters.
  2. Do I need to have a science advisor already on board my project?
     No science advisor is required in order to apply for this grant. However, you are encouraged to include information about any that you may be collaborating with or would like to collaborate with in the “Brief description of the scientific ideas being explored” section of the application.
  3. Why can't I submit a science-fiction project?
     The goal of this particular grant is to focus on stories grounded in current (or past) science and/or technology. Although we understand some cutting edge science can be construed as science fiction, please use your best judgement in deciding whether or not to apply. For example, stories taking place in the future or involving science that is clearly not yet achievable would be considered science fiction.
  4. Can I submit my documentary project?
     This grant and fellowship is only available to fiction (scripted) features.
  5. Can I re-apply with the same project as last year?
     Yes, although we encourage you to re-apply with the same project only if you have made significant revisions. If you do re-apply, please articulate what has changed in terms of story, attachments, and/or strategy since the previous submission. It is important for our selection committee to understand the movement forward from a previous submission.
  6. Can only Americans apply?
     International applicants may apply, but all submitted projects for the Sloan Commissioning Grant or Fellowship must be intended to be filmed in English and submitted to us in English.
  7. Do you accept scripts that have been supported via other Alfred P. Sloan Foundations grants and awards?
     Yes, we have no restrictions on material that has been supported through prior grants, awards, and workshops.

  Still don’t see your question regarding the Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant and Fellowship answered here? Email us at featurefilmprogram@sundance.org.

Post-Production Track

Due to the pause in the Film Music and Sound Design Lab and the Editing Residency, we will not be offering a Post-Production Track application in 2021. We will continue to support a curated selection of projects in post-production with editing support provided remotely and online.

• Editing Residency

  Description:
  The Editing Residency brings the director and editor of two fiction feature films in picture edit together at the Directors Lab for one week in June, along with a dedicated editing creative advisor and other advisors. The goal is to provide an immersive space to work on the edit and significantly advance the cut over the course of a week.

  As part of our response to the COVID-19 situation, we have made changes to our 2020 Post-Production Track programs. For summer 2020 only, we will not be holding in-person Labs and we will not be accepting applications for the Editing Residency. Applications for directors to participate in the Film Music and Sound Design Lab (to be hosted virtually) will be accepted by invitation only.

  Eligibility:
  Filmmakers must be in picture edit on a fiction feature film; by the start date of the residency, filmmakers must have completed a first cut but still have significant time allotted in the schedule before picture lock. Priority is given to first- or second-time directors that are alumni of Institute programs or the Festival. To apply, filmmakers must submit a rough cut or substantial sequences along with the shooting draft of the screenplay.

  Size:
  Two projects are selected per residency.

  Location:
  Hosted digitally

  Dates:
  June 2–June 10, 2020

  Cost:
  The cost of airfare, accommodations, and meals for up to two participants per project is normally covered. (However, note that the 2020 residency will be hosted digitally, so travel is not needed.) Beyond the application fee, there is no fee to participate.

  Additional questions? Read the post-production track FAQ below.

• Film Music and Sound Design Lab

  Description:
  The Film Music and Sound Design Lab provides a group of eight emerging composers with valuable firsthand experience composing for film. The Feature Film Program offers four directors in post-production on a fiction feature the opportunity to pair up with one of the composer fellows to collaborate and explore the role of music in their work. (The Documentary Film Program provides the same opportunity to four directors in post-production on a documentary film.) Each filmmaker/composer team also works closely with an in-house sound designer in an environment where music, score, and sound design are treated as integrated aspects of the overall story world of the film. With leading film composers, directors, music editors, and music supervisors serving as creative advisors, lab fellows work closely together in a supportive atmosphere designed to promote experimentation and collaboration. Please note: The post-production track application is for directors with a feature in post-production only; composers wishing to be considered for the Music and Sound Design Lab must apply through the Film Music Program application.

  As part of our response to the COVID-19 situation, we have made changes to our 2020 Post-Production Track programs. For summer 2020 only, we will not be holding in-person Labs and we will not be accepting applications for the Editing Residency. Applications for directors to participate in the Film Music and Sound Design Lab (to be hosted virtually) will be accepted by invitation only.

  Eligibility:
  

  • Directors must be in picture edit on a fiction feature film and must have completed at least a first cut by the start date of the lab. Priority will be given to first- and second-time fiction feature directors.
  • Directors may or may not have a composer attached to the film; however, only the director will travel to the lab, so directors will be paired with one of the composer fellows even if another composer is attached. (The lab collaboration with a composer is for the workshop only, and directors are not obligated to use any material generated at the lab in the finished film.)
  • To apply, filmmakers must submit a rough cut or substantial sequences of the film with the shooting draft of the screenplay.

  Size:
  Four fiction films in post-production are selected per lab.

  Location:
  Hosted digitally

  Dates:
  July 27–August 14, 2020

  Cost:
  The cost of airfare, accommodations, and meals for one participant per project is normally covered. (However, note that the 2020 lab will be hosted digitally, so travel is not needed.) Beyond the application fee, there is no fee to participate.

  Additional questions? Read the post-production track FAQ.

• Post-Production Track FAQ
  1. Do I have to apply to both the Editing Residency and the Film Music and Sound Design Lab?
     No. You can choose to apply to only one of the programs, or you can be considered for both simultaneously. The application allows you to indicate which programs you want to apply for.
  2. Can I be selected for both the Editing Residency and the Film Music and Sound Design Lab?
     Yes, it’s possible to be selected for both programs.
  3. Which members of the team attend these programs?
     The director and editor of a project attend the Editing Residency. The director of a project attends the Film Music and Sound Design Lab.
  4. Do you support international projects?
     Yes. However, if selected for the Editing Residency, international artists may be asked to cover a portion of their airfare to the program.
  5. I’m a director and I’m already working with a composer on my film. Can he/she come to the Film Music and Sound Design with me?
     No. The Film Music and Sound Design Lab has a separate application for composer fellows, which can be found here. Selected directors will be paired with one of the Film Music composer fellows even if another composer is attached to their film. The lab collaboration with a composer is for the workshop only, and directors are not expected or obligated to use any material generated there in the finished film.
  6. How far along in post-production should I be when I apply?
     In order to apply, you need to submit a link to a cut of your film. Ideally we would prefer to see a completed cut, but if you’re not yet at that stage, you can submit significant edited scenes or sequences. We require you submit a minimum of 20 minutes of edited material.
     
     For the Editing Residency, by the start date of the residency filmmaking teams should have completed at least a first cut of the film, but still have significant time allotted in the schedule before picture lock. For the Film Music and Sound Design Lab, by the start date of the lab filmmaking teams can be anywhere in the process between a completed first cut and picture lock.
  7. Who watches the cut of my film?
     Feature Film Program staff are the only people who view the cut of the film during the selection process. Once a project is selected, the cut will also be shared with the Film Music Program staff. At no point is the cut shared across the Institute (including Sundance Film Festival programming staff), and FFP staff are not involved with programming the Festival.
  8. What does it cost to attend the program?
     Aside from the application fee, there is no fee to attend. Travel, accommodations, and meals are normally covered for two participants per project for the Editing Residency and one participant per project for the Film Music and Sound Design Lab. (However, note that the 2020 residency and lab will be hosted digitally, so travel is not needed.)
  9. What are the technical requirements and specifications for the Editing Residency?
     We can support most standard editing software (e.g. Avid, Final Cut, Premiere). Selected projects will liaise with our technical director in advance of the residency to ensure an appropriate setup is provided that allows filmmaking teams to continue working with existing media and systems.

FFP Fund: Ongoing Alumni Support

Every year, Sundance Institute provides more than $400,000 in financial support to Feature Film Program alumni through a robust program of fellowships and direct artist granting designed to give lab-supported projects momentum at critical junctures in their development, pre-production, post-production, and distribution/marketing stages. These fellowships and grants are funded through a group of partnerships with very generous foundations, film industry companies, and individuals committed to the work of sustaining artists and advancing their work along their entire journey to connect with audiences. The Feature Film Program staff work together with our partners to award funds, considering impact, timing, urgency, and quality of work as key criteria.

International Work

Between all the programs, FFP has supported international artists from over 60 countries making their first and second feature films, including:

• Morelia | Sundance Screenwriters Lab

  Application	By invitation
  Dates	October (exact dates TBD)
  Size of Lab	Six to eight projects
  Location	Morelia, Mexico
  Eligibility	Filmmakers from Latin America working on their first or second feature screenplays
  Description	The Feature Film Program’s first international lab was established in the early ’90s with producer Berta Navarro and supported an exciting new generation of Mexican filmmakers, including Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo del Toro. We are very pleased to return with the Morelia Screenwriters Lab, organized in collaboration with Berta and the Morelia Film Festival, an opportunity for the Institute to re-establish ties to our closest neighbor and support a new generation of artists in Mexico.

• NHK Screenwriting Workshop (Japan)

  Application	Not currently accepting applications.
  Dates	Early August 2020 (To be announced)
  Size of Lab	Three projects
  Location	Tokyo
  Eligibility	Independent screenwriters working on their first or second feature screenplay
  Description	A collaboration with longtime partner NHK, this screenwriting workshop takes place each summer in Tokyo. In its inaugural year, Joan Tewkesbury (Nashville), screenwriter and veteran advisor at the Directors Lab, crafted a three-day program for three promising Japanese filmmakers. Filmmakers including Erin Cressida Wilson (Secretary, Chloe) and Bill Wheeler (The Reluctant Fundamentalist, The Hoax) have designed programs for the workshop in recent years.