The Sundance Institute has unveiled the selected filmmakers for its 2026 Screenwriters Lab and Screenwriters Intensive, featuring an impressive cohort chosen from more than 3,800 submissions.
The Screenwriters Lab is set to commence this Saturday at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah, a location of significant historical importance as the birthplace of the Institute’s labs in 1981. This year, the sessions will celebrate the legacy of founder Robert Redford. Leading the lab will be Michelle Satter, the founding senior director of Artist Programs at the Sundance Institute, alongside Ilyse McKimmie, deputy director of the Feature Film Program. Artistic direction is under Jessie Nelson, with contributions from notable creative advisors such as Michael Arndt, Barry Jenkins, and Lulu Wang.
Satter expressed excitement about the new group of filmmakers, stating, “We’re excited to champion this new cohort of bold filmmakers developing their original stories in our January Screenwriters Lab.” The eleven selected fellows, comprising talents like Sarah Friedland and Aditi Brennan Kapil, will refine their screenwriting abilities in a collaborative environment designed to nurture the future of independent filmmaking.
In parallel, the Screenwriters Intensive will occur online from March 5-6, aimed at supporting 13 writers working on nine first-feature projects. Notable alumni from previous years include Reinaldo Marcus Green and Laurel Parmet. This year’s intensive fellows are a diverse group, including Nicole Daddona and Adam Wilder, and others who will benefit from the intensive’s unique lens on storytelling.
McKimmie noted the breadth of perspectives presented by this year’s intensive fellows, highlighting their distinct cinematic visions. “What they have in common is unforgettable cinematic vision, and we couldn’t be more excited to support them every step of the way,” she remarked.
The Feature Film Program’s labs have a longstanding reputation for fostering independent filmmakers, with several past participants achieving critical acclaim. In 2025, four directors who refined their skills at these labs released films that garnered attention: Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, Chloé Zhao, and Nia DaCosta. Additionally, past alumni include renowned directors like Quentin Tarantino and Dee Rees.
Highlighting the continual significance of the program, five Feature Film Program-supported projects are scheduled to premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, reinforcing the Institute’s commitment to showcasing innovative storytelling in cinema. Recent successes by FFP-supported films, such as Hasan Hadi’s award-winning “The President’s Cake,” illustrate the impact of the Sundance community in elevating independent narratives to international acclaim.