TikTok and Sundance Institute today announced a new micro-series writing program through Sundance Collab, Sundance Institute’s digital learning and community platform, to support the next generation of creator-led short-form storytelling for digital audiences. Launching today, the initiative builds on a successful partnership earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and expands TikTok’s support for micro-series through education and creative development.

The four-week live online course will focus on scriptwriting for micro-series, and is designed to equip creators with the tools, frameworks, and industry guidance to develop serialized, story-driven content. The program will bring together a selected cohort of participants, reflecting the broad reach of TikTok’s creator community and Sundance Collab’s accessible digital learning platform for storytellers.

A leading institution for filmmaker education and development, Sundance Collab is widely recognized within the industry for supporting emerging talent and helping shape the careers of renowned filmmakers. Together, the partnership reflects TikTok’s continued investment in micro-series storytelling while aligning with Sundance Collab’s mission to support the discovery and development of independent artists and audiences.

On June 3 at the Vertical Media Summit, TikTok’s Head of Entertainment Partnerships, Dawn Yang, spoke about the partnership and the growing momentum behind micro-series as audiences increasingly embrace the format.

“TikTok has become a home for serialized storytelling, where original micro-series find audiences faster and more authentically than ever before,” said Dawn Yang, Head of Entertainment Partnerships at TikTok. “Following the success of Screen Time, produced by HOORAE Digital, we’ve seen how powerful community-driven discovery can be in helping stories break through, and we’re excited to partner with Sundance Collab in continuing to champion original voices.”

“At Sundance Collab, our mission has always been to empower independent voices across all mediums. The micro-series format is genuinely exciting to us because its constraints produce exactly the kind of creative pressure that generates the most original work. Partnering with TikTok allows us to bring this opportunity to writers around the world entirely for free, removing the barrier between curiosity and action. We want creators to see this format not as a lesser version of film or television, but as its own distinct craft that is wide open for new voices to define,” said Patty West, Director, Sundance Collab.

Applications are now open globally on the Sundance Collab website. Participants can apply through Wednesday, July 1.