Professional Development & Funding Opportunities for Screenwriter
Workshops, Contests, Labs, Residencies, Professional Development, Mentorship Programs
Canadian Opportunities
Below is a list of some of the film and screenwriting training, workshops, residencies, mentorship programs in Canada:
Banff - residencies and development programs for film and tv
Canadian Film Centre (want you out of school for a couple of years – acting, directing, producing, editing, writing for film and tv)
Caribbean Tales - creates, markets and distributes educational programs and products intended to promote racial equality in Canada.
CineCentral - filmmaker society (Nanaimo, BC)
Cineworks - an independent filmmakers society—an artist-run production and exhibition centre that supports independent filmmakers and media artists.
CinVic - an artist-run society which provides independent filmmakers and media artists with affordable and accessible development opportunities, programming, and equipment (Victoria)
Corus Writer's Apprentice Program (Canada)
Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize (WGC)
NFB - National Film Board - Programs, TV, Short Film, Feature
Northwest Territories Film Commission - promotes the NWT as a production location for feature films, documentaries, television programs, commercials, as well as still shoots.
Pacific Screenwriting Program - Building a vibrant screenwriter community in British Columbia by providing a training ground for BC’s aspiring and active screenwriters. Combining real-world story-room experience, mentorship, bootcamps, workshops and information sessions, the program equips writers with the skills, experience, and connections necessary to establish a sustainable career in the province’s dynamic screen industry.
The Canadian Academy Directors Program for Women - an initiative that came from the Academy’s desire to reach gender parity and ensure the greater representation of women and women-identifying directors working in today’s screen-based media industry.
TIFF Industry - Master classes and workshops, Talent Lab
Whistler Talent Programs (Screenwriters Lab, Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship, MPPIA Short Filmmaker Award, Women in Focus Mentorship, Producers Lab, Power Pitch, WIDC/WFF Industry Immersion
Women in Film & Television - Toronto
Women in the Director's Chair - provides professional and creative development to mid-career Canadian women directors of screen-based fiction.
International Opportunities
Lauri’s List of Screenwriting Fellowships, Labs, Grants, and Opportunities (Canada, US, International)
Transgender Film Centre - TFC Career Development Lab - US
Screenwriting Contests
Contests can be a good way to get feedback, have something to put on a CV, or get some recognition. However they can be costly and sometimes can be scams.
Here’s a list of some of the best screenplay contests from Moviebytes.
You can find screenplay contests at Film Freeway (double check to see that these contests are legit - not all are).
There are some opportunities available on the Blacklist site.
Here are some that I recommended.
Canadian
The Comox Valley International Film Festival - feature and short film script competition (Vancouver Island)
International
Austin Film Festival Screenplay Contest
Bluecat
Edinburgh International Scriptwriting Competition
Launch Pad
Graduate School
American Film Institute (AFI)
Columbia
Concordia
Humber (post graduate certificate)
SFU
Toronto Metropolitan University
University of Victoria
University of British Columbia
UCLA
USC
York
*I don't recommend applying for for-profit film schools such as Vancouver Film School or Toronto Film School. They are very costly and you can get lower cost educational opportunities through continuing education or private workshops.
Continuing Education & Private Workshops
Corey Mandell (Screenwriting Courses Online)
Chang School of Continuing Education, Ryerson University, Film Studies Certificate (film production)
Daniela Saioni (TV & Film Writing, Directing)
Humber College Continuing Education
LIFT - courses and equipment rentals (Toronto)
ProPath Screenwriting (Private workshops and consulting)
University of Toronto, Continuing Education
Ryerson University Continuing Education
Second City and Comedy Bar offer courses (Toronto)
Many universities and colleges offer continuing education screenwriting and film classes.
Funding Opportunities
Creative BC: Equity + Emerging Development - Reel Focus BC
NFB: Filmmaker Assistance Program - BC and Yukon
Tell me about your favourite professional development opportunities.
