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Academy Adds New Partners for Nicholl Fellowship Applications
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced new global partners for the 2026-2027 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting applications. The Writers Guild Foundation will now also serve as a public application channel for this screenwriting program.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has expanded its Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting program for the 2026-2027 application cycle by adding new partners. The program continues as an international talent development initiative supporting non-professional screenwriters.
New additions include the University of Southern California, Carnegie Mellon University, Morehouse College, The Writers Lab, Austin Film Festival, Storyhouse Dublin Screenwriting Festival, and many other institutions. This brings the program’s partner network to 55 organizations worldwide, encompassing universities, screenwriting labs, film festivals, and producer programs.
The Writers Guild Foundation has also joined the program this year as a public application partner. This platform will operate alongside the existing public application partner, The Black List.
Application Schedule Announced
For the 2026-2027 cycle, there will be two separate public application windows. Applications via The Black List opened on Monday, June 8, 2026, and will close on Monday, July 6, 2026, or once 2,500 applications are received.
Applications through the Writers Guild Foundation will open on Monday, June 22, 2026. These will close on Monday, July 20, 2026, or when the 2,000 application limit is reached.
Writers may only apply through one of the public application channels. Each platform will have a separate evaluation process, and applicants are advised to review the details on the respective websites.
How Will the Evaluation Process Work?
All scripts submitted by partners will be read and evaluated by Academy members to determine the finalists. Academy members on the 2026-2027 Nicholl Committee will select up to five fellows from the 10 finalists.
The Black List and Writers Guild Foundation will each recommend 25 and 20 scripts respectively. All other partners may refer up to two scripts each. Submissions from partner applications to the Academy are expected to open at the end of July and close by the end of August.
The fellowships will be announced in spring 2027. The Academy stated that fellows benefit from direct support, mentorship, networking opportunities, pitch workshops, media training, and professional development resources.
What Happened in Last Year’s Cycle?
In the 2025-2026 cycle, 40 partners submitted 101 scripts. Over 500 Academy members from 19 branches participated in reading these scripts and selecting finalists.
Of the 10 finalists chosen that year, five came from public applications via The Black List, and five were referred by partners such as Columbia University School of the Arts, Toronto Metropolitan University’s MFA in Scriptwriting & Story Design program, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab, and Urbanworld Festival. The 2025-2026 Nicholl Fellowships were awarded to three individuals and two writing teams.
The Academy also noted that supported scripts are archived and accessible through the Margaret Herrick Library.
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