Director’s Cut: Emerging Screenwriter Fellowship

(Fall 2026)

Applications opening soon.

The deadline to apply for this fellowship is Sunday, August 2, 2026.

The Jacob Burns Film Center is thrilled to collaborate with New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts to bring an innovative film program to high school students in fall 2026. Led by NYU Tisch Adjunct Instructor Jeremy J. Kamps, the Director’s Cut: Emerging Screenwriter Fellowship will be a nine-week course consisting of fifteen engaging sessions on the JBFC Campus.

Through this intensive and fully funded program, ten students will gain a strong foundation in screenwriting, editing, and revision, and develop collaborative skills and close peer relationships within a workshop setting. At the end of the program, participants will have a finished screenplay for a short film, which will be performed at a table read by professional actors at the Jacob Burns Film Center Theater.

Students must apply for this program. Admission will be based on a thorough review of the completed application form, personal statement, creative résumé, and virtual group interview. There is no cost to participate in this program, and dinner will be provided on class nights. Complete application details are below.  All students accepted into the program will receive a generous stipend to cover transportation and lost wages. We encourage all students with an interest in screenwriting who are entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in the fall of 2026 to apply. The deadline to apply for this fellowship is Sunday, August 2, 2026.

The Director’s Cut: Emerging Screenwriter Fellowship includes several key features designed to nurture and support students’ growth:

• $1000 stipend for transportation and lost wages
• Access to industry-standard equipment and software
• Mentorship from NYU Tisch instructor
• Polished portfolio of professional-grade work for college applications and scholarship opportunities

PROGRAM DETAILS

Location: The Jacob Burns Film Center Media Arts Lab

*405 Manville Road, Pleasantville, NY 10570

Program Dates: October 6—December 3 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)*

*The course will NOT be held on November 5, November 24, and November 26. The culminating table read will take place on Tuesday, December 8.

Time: 4:30 PM—7:30 PM*

*The culminating table read and showcase on December 8, will take place from 5:00 PM—7:30 PM, followed by a reception from 7:30 PM—8:15 PM. These details are subject to change.

Capacity: 10 Students (Max)

Grade Level: Students entering grade 10, 11, or 12 in fall 2026

APPLY NOW

APPLICATION PROCESS/INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

• Step 1 – Requirements and Eligibility
• Step 2 – Online Application
• Step 3 – Verification
• Step 4 – Notification
• Step 5 – Confirmation

STEP 1: REQUIREMENTS AND ELIGIBILITY

• This program is open to all rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade high school students in fall 2026 who did not participate in the JBFC Emerging Screenwriter Fellowship in 2023, Director’s Cut: Emerging Screenwriters Fellowship in 2024, or the Director’s Cut: Emerging Screenwriter Fellowship in 2025.
• You must agree to be available and make the commitment to attend 2 classes per week from October 6, 2026 to December 3, 2026 (Tuesdays and Thursdays), from 4:30 PM—7:30 PM. The course will take place on the following days: October 6, October 8, October 13, October 15, October 20, October 22, October 27, October 29, November 3, November 10, November 12, November 17, November 19, December 1, and December 3. On Tuesday, December 8, 2026 a table read, showcase, and reception will be held from 5:00 PM—8:15 PM. The course will NOT be held on November 5, November 24, and November 26.
• The deadline to apply for the program is Sunday, August 2, 2026. Admission decision is based on a review of completed application form, including personal statement, creative résumé, and virtual group interview. All communications regarding your application, including your admission decision, will be communicated to you via the email address you have provided on your application. Please note: you will be receiving time sensitive communication via email that will require a response.

STEP 2: ONLINE APPLICATION

Please submit the following:

• A Completed Application Form (Google Form)
• Personal Statement
  • Please upload your Personal Statement to the application. Your Personal Statement should be a 500 word statement that demonstrates who you are, your values, and what inspires you.
• Creative Résumé
  • Please upload your Creative Résumé to the application. Your Creative Résumé should demonstrate your achievements, interests, and showcase anything that creatively expresses who you are as an individual. It does not have resemble a traditional resume.

STEP 3: VERIFICATION

• Our primary method of communication is email. Please be sure to allow emails from edujbfc@gmail.com and registrar@burnsfilmcenter.org to be viewed.
• Once your application is submitted, you will receive an automated email from edujbfc@gmail.com confirming your application has been received. If any information on your application is missing or incomplete, you will receive an email notifying you to submit those items.
• Once your application is verified as complete, ALL follow up emails will come from registrar@burnsfilmcenter.org. You will be evaluated by NYU Tisch and JBFC faculty and staff. Group Zoom interviews will be conducted and you may be asked to provide references to be contacted. Once all evaluations are complete, you will receive final status notification and further details will be provided to you about the course structure and stipend.

STEP 4: NOTIFICATION

• Final status notification will be sent via email from registrar@burnsfilmcenter.org.

STEP 5: CONFIRMATION

If accepted into the program, you will be asked via email to confirm your participation by the deadline found in your acceptance email.

APPLY NOW