Background

Stowe Story Labs is a nonprofit dedicated to helping top emerging and established screenwriters, filmmakers, and creative producers get work made and seen. We do this through programs designed to help artists develop skills and projects. 

We look for people demonstrating talent, a collaborative nature, a good story worth developing, and the ability to develop the project presented, whether or not they have experience in film or television. We may as well reach out with questions as we go through the application process.

This application is for admission and consideration for fee-based, fellowship, and scholarship slots to our two online Producers' Labs. The Labs will take place remotely and will run:

• April 28 - May 1, 2026 (Zoom)
• October 27 - 30, 2026 (Zoom)

The Producers' Labs are designed to help emerging creative producers develop skills and knowledge to advance their projects and careers. It will be most helpful to producers who hope to produce their first or second micro-to-low budget ($100,000 - $2,500,000) feature film. You can learn more about our Producers' Lab here. 

Although we charge for our programming, we work to keep the cost of programming as low as possible. Part of that effort includes moving this popular program online, making it less expensive and easier to attend to talented emerging talents. In addition, we offer a number of partial scholarships and one fellowship through SAGindie. Details about our scholarships and fellowships can be found here.

* Dates subject to change

Application Process

The questions on the application ask about you, the project you are submitting, and your intent in making the film. Please answer questions as fully as possible.

If applying for scholarships and fellowships please include a statement of need where indicated.

There is not a separate application process for these opportunities. 

Each Lab is capped at 16 participants. 

Fees

The fee to attend an online four-day Producers' Lab in 2026 is USD$1,800.00. 

Changes

We will notify all applicants of fee or schedule changes if/when they occur. 

Misc. 

We do not provide feedback on projects through our submission process.

Please familiarize yourself with our programs and fellowships before applying. 

You can of course reach out to us at info@stowestorylabs.org if you have questions.

The Producers' Lab is oriented to emerging talents whose prime focus -- even if multi-hyphenates -- is creative production.

Our mission includes breaking down barriers to entry in this complicated industry. 

Dates and Deadlines

Application deadline is February 2, 2026 (11:59pm PT). Application fee is US $55.

Thank you for your interest in our Producers' Lab. Best of luck if you choose to apply. Please be assured we take the same care of your work and application in the review process as you have put into developing the work and making your application.

Team Stowe Story Labs

Applications are now being accepted for Stowe's online feature script writing program -- Feature Campus -- and our online TV writing program -- the Writers Room. 

The first run of the Feature Campus Program begins February 9, 2026.

The first run of the TV Writers Room Program begins February 16, 2026. 

* Dates subject to slight change based on mentor schedules.

Admissions are rolling and will be capped at 12 participants for each program. 

Applications will close when the program fully enrolls or on January 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM (PST).

The program fee to attend each program is U.S. $2,650. 

About the Feature Campus Program:

This program is designed for a new feature film project, not revisions to an existing project.

The writing sample should be a sample of a previous feature script you have written, or, if this will be your first script, please send a strong sample of something you have written in another format to help us evaluate your writing skills. 

Feature Campus will run Mondays for roughly twelve weeks and will run from 12 - 3 PM Eastern Time.

You can learn more about Feature Campus here.  

Stowe's David Pope leads Feature Campus.

About the TV Writers Room Program:

This program is designed for a new TV project, not revisions to an existing television project.

The writing sample should be a sample of a previous TV pilot you have written, or if this will be your first TV project, please send a strong sample of a feature script or some other material you have written in another format to help us evaluate your writing skills.

Part I delves into building a show. David Pope will take participants through building the fundamentals of a successful TV show and teach them how to apply these techniques to writing a new TV pilot.

Past contributors to Part One of the Program have included Screenwriter/Showrunner Clive Bradley (TRAPPED, and CASTLEVANIA: NOCTURNE), Creative Producer Alex Boden (SENSE 8, TOKYO VICE), Screenwriter (and Stowe Alum) Melody Cooper (LAW & ORDER SVU, POWERBOOK IV), and Screenwriter/Showrunner Mark Protosevich (SUGAR, I AM LEGEND). 2026 contributors to be announced.

Part II will focus on writing a show and will also be led by David Pope. It will run Sundays for roughly eight weeks and will run from 12 - 3 PM Eastern Time. 

You can learn more about the TV Writers Room here. 

Thank you again and best of luck in the review process.

Team Story Labs