Apply

Episodic Program

Apply

Episodic

Program

Offering one of the few training grounds for independent voices to develop an original series and pilot script, the Sundance Institute Episodic Program provides artists with the tools, training, and industry access to move their projects and careers forward.

The proposal checklist outlines the application requirements for the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund’s Winter 2021 grant cycle. The application is now open and the deadline is July 26th 2021

Episodic Lab

The Sundance Institute Episodic Lab is a six-day program at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah that offers writers the opportunity to workshop a pilot script, while developing their writing and pitching skills. Working with accomplished showrunners, nonwriting creative producers, and executives, the Fellows participate in one-on-one story meetings, craft workshops, and simulated writers’ rooms, which together provide an elevated creative strategy for their material from key industry players in positions to advance their projects and careers.

READ OUR FAQ >

Program Overview:
The Sundance Episodic Program is an entry point and sustaining force for emerging episodic writers and creators across all scripted platforms. Through a rigorous Lab experience and customized year-round support, the program provides artists with the tools, training, and industry access to move their projects and careers forward.

Activities and Initiatives:
Episodic Lab: The Episodic Lab is an immersive six-day experience at the Sundance Resort that offers writers an opportunity to workshop an original pilot and develop their writing and pitching skills. Working with accomplished showrunners, producers, and executives, the Fellows participate in one-on-one story meetings, pitching sessions, craft workshops, and writers’ rooms, which altogether provide creative and strategic tools to develop their pilots and navigate the industry.

Continuum of Support:

A unique attribute of Sundance Institute Labs is the high touch mentoring and support our Fellows receive long after the Lab has completed. This allows the Fellows to fully realize the potential of their work, hone their skills in a dynamic and supportive environment and position themselves for the best possible outcomes for their projects. This includes ongoing creative and strategic advice from the Episodic team and Advisors and targeted introductions to agents, managers, writers, producers, and executives.

Episodic Advancement Fund:

The Advancement Fund provides up to $10,000 in grants to support proof of concept videos, development of the pilot post-Lab, and travel costs associated with scheduled meetings and opportunities. The Fund will provide dollars to build and sustain momentum for writers already supported by the Labs.

Episodic Pitch Parlor:

Once all drafts are polished, the program will host a public facing staged event that will feature a sample of the projects from the Episodic Lab to further expose the work and creators to the industry, celebrate their voices and thank our supporters.

Year-round Gatherings:

The Episodic Program hosts a series of events throughout the year to build a community of working writers in the episodic space. These include alumni and industry mixers; craft workshops; and sessions focused on pitching, staffing and building creative skills.

Spring Intensive:

Recognizing that artists approach us at all stages of their early careers, we will design and lead an inaugural two day intensive workshop serving an additional cohort of 10-12 diverse writers who were finalists for the Lab.

Support for the Sundance Institute Episodic Program

As of September 2021

The Sundance Institute Episodic Program is made possible by Founding Supporters Lyn and Norman Lear and Cindy Harrell Horn and Alan Horn. Leadership Supporters are AMC+, Epix, MRC, Netflix, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, STARZ, and XRM Media.

Donate copy lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapib.

Application	The 2022 Episodic Lab application is currently closed. The 2023 application will be open from February 8–March 8, 2023.
Dates	Fall 2023
Size of Lab	Approximately 10 projects per lab
Location	Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah
Eligibility	Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at time of application. The project must be the applicant’s original creation or adapted from optioned source material. The project must be written in the English language, but it does not need to be intended to be fully produced in English. The project should be new, or if previously submitted, it must be materially different from any and all versions previously submitted to Sundance Institute. Projects may not be already produced, sold to a third party, or distributed online or otherwise. Applicants cannot have sold an episodic project (pilot or pitch) to a studio or network in the past that has been shot. The project shall not infringe the copyright or any other proprietary right of another individual or entity. The creator/applicant is responsible for all rights pertaining to the project.
The Application Process	Applicants are required to submit an original pilot script, their bio, a series logline, a series overview, their personal statement, a thematic statement, additional creative questions, and (optional) links to samples of previous work, along with a $40 nonrefundable processing fee. For further details on the application process, please see our FAQ section.
Description	The Sundance Institute Episodic Lab is a six-day program at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah that offers writers the opportunity to workshop a pilot script, while developing their writing and pitching skills. Working with accomplished showrunners, nonwriting creative producers, and executives, the Fellows participate in one-on-one story meetings, craft workshops, and simulated writers’ rooms, which together provide an elevated creative strategy for their material from key industry players in positions to advance their projects and careers.

Application	The 2021 Episodic Lab application is currently closed. The 2022 application will be open from February 9–March 9, 2022.
Dates	November 11–14, 2021, and April 9–12, 2022.
Size of Lab	10 projects per lab
Location	TBD
Eligibility	Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at time of application. The project must be the applicant’s original creation or adapted from optioned source material. The project must be written in English but does not need to be intended to be fully produced in English. The project should be new, or if previously submitted, it must be materially different from any and all versions previously submitted to Sundance Institute, It cannot be already produced, not already sold to a third party, or distributed online or otherwise. The project shall not infringe the copyright or any other proprietary right of another individual or entity. The creator/applicant is responsible for all rights pertaining to the project.
Application Process	There are two rounds in the application process: in round one, applicants are required to submit the first five pages of an original pilot script, their bio, a series logline, a series overview, their personal statement, a thematic statement, and (optional) links to samples of previous work, along with a $40 nonrefundable processing fee. If selected for round two, applicants are notified by email and have two weeks to submit their full pilot script, and up to three additional project ideas. For further details on what the application process entails, please see our FAQ section below.
Description	The Episodic Lab: Idea to Pilot is designed to identify emerging independent voices, with the goal of developing an original episodic project from its inception. The program focuses on the craft of outlining, writing, and revising episodic material. During the lab, fellows participate in workshops with accomplished showrunners to sharpen their episodic storytelling skills. After the lab, fellows receive strategic and creative support from Sundance Institute staff and creative advisors. Part one of the Episodic Lab: Idea to Pilot will take place November 11– 14, 2021. For part two of the lab, fellows will reconvene in April with a new writing sample to participate in one-on-one story meetings, simulated writers’ rooms, and group conversations with industry mentors about project development, pitching, and the episodic landscape. Part two will take place April 9–12, 2022.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh

Apply

Episodic Program

Episodic Lab

READ OUR FAQ >

Support for the Sundance Institute Episodic Program

Donate copy lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

News & Stories

Ryan Coogler and Friends: Creating a Soundscape on Film

A Game Plan for Submitting Your Work to a Film Festival

Meet the 20 Mediamakers Selected for the new Sundance Institute Humanities Sustainability Fellowship

Apply

Attend

Explore

Support

About Sundance

Contact Us

Episodic Lab

Still have questions about the Episodic Lab? Read our FAQ

Episodic Lab: Idea to Pilot

Still have questions about the Episodic Lab: Idea to Pilot? Read our FAQ.

Endowment Support

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh

Apply

Episodic Program

Episodic Lab

Support for the Sundance Institute Episodic Program

Donate copy lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

News & Stories

Episodic Lab

Still have questions about the Episodic Lab? Read our FAQ

Episodic Lab: Idea to Pilot

Still have questions about the Episodic Lab: Idea to Pilot? Read our FAQ.​

Endowment Support

Still have questions about the Episodic Lab: Idea to Pilot? Read our FAQ.