The Writers Lab announced the selection of 16 writers for two intensives launching this fall in New York City and Los Angeles. The program, supported by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, is dedicated to elevating the work of women and nonbinary screenwriters over the age of 40.
The Los Angeles cohort will convene in October at Women In Film and American Film Institute, while the New York cohort will meet in November at Writers Guild of America East and Lincoln Center. Each three-day intensive will focus on tools and strategies for building sustainable careers, followed by a five-day writing residency to allow more writers to develop scripts and build industry connections.
The program's mentors for 2026 include Susan Cartsonis, Anya Epstein, Amy Fox, Pamela Gray, Rita Hsiao and others with credits including "The Affair," "Inside Out," "Mulan" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Industry jurors include actor Kyra Sedgwick and representatives from Tribeca Studios and The Writers Guild of America East.
New partners this year include Alliance of Women Directors, Women in Film LA, American Film Institute and Film at Lincoln Center. The Writers Lab plans to offer a third intensive in Canada in January 2027 and is developing an intensive in Australia for 2027.
