The Diverso Fellowship
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*ACCEPTING ALL PILOT AND FEATURE SCREENPLAYS*
ABOUT
DIVERSO is a student-run film nonprofit dedicated to changing the face of entertainment by empowering the next generation of underrepresented storytellers.
In partnership with THE WRITERS GUILD FOUNDATION, we have created The Diverso Fellowship: a paid fellowship program for minority student screenwriters.
Vetted by a rigorous committee of industry professionals, three talented students will be selected to spend ten weeks over the summer of 2025, attending panels and classes with renowned industry professionals, learning from the best by shadowing writers' rooms, and receiving mentorship to refine their scripts and prepare for professional opportunities, including staffing or representation.
Selected students will receive a $5,000 stipend to support a part-time commitment over 10 weeks. Fellows are expected to make a 20-hour commitment each week and are required to attend all Fellowship events, including educational panels, mentor meetings, script workshops, and more. The fellowship will be hosted virtually over the summer (tentatively set for June 15th - August 24th).
Our program is made possible by our incredible sponsors: WarnerBros Discovery, Madison Wells Media, Lin Manuel-Miranda’s Miranda Family Fund, the Writers Guild Foundation, and more.
INFO SESSIONS
To give you all the tools you need to succeed and send us your best applications possible, we will be hosting two info sessions with members of our team + previous fellows, where we will be answering all of your questions.
Please follow us on social media @diversoorg to stay tuned for specific dates and times!
PRICES AND DEADLINES
Early Bird Pricing (From January 6th - January 26th)
Pilot (under 70 pages) --> $25
Feature (75 pages+) --> $30
Regular (From January 27th - February 6th)
Pilot (under 70 pages) --> $30
Feature (70 pages+) --> $35
Benefits
1. $5,000 stipend
2. 1-1 mentorship
*Fellows will be matched with experienced writers in the industry based on their personalized style and experience. Mentors will provide both career and script guidance. Previous Diverso mentors include:
Joe Robert Cole, BLACK PANTHER
Charise Castro Smith, ENCANTO
Nahnatchka Khan, FRESH OFF THE BOAT
And many more.
3. Educational virtual panels with top industry professionals
*Previous speakers include:
The Daniels, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Lin-Manuel Miranda, HAMILTON
Jessica Gao, RICK & MORTY
Amy Aniobi, INSECURE
Barry Jenkins, MOONLIGHT
Meg LeFauve, INSIDE OUT
Kemp Powers, ACROSS THE SPIDERVERSE
4. Script development workshops
5. Shadowing in writers’ rooms
*Past shows have been from Disney+, AppleTV+, and The CW
6. Access to a network where you will build lifelong relationships with like-minded peers and alumni
Announcements
No announcement dates listed.
Rules
At the program's request, Coverfly will automatically remove your title page for you if you include one when submitting to this program.
Please read all instructions and FAQs carefully before you begin your submission process.
Submission Instructions:
-Applicants can only submit once per category (either one pilot or one feature). Multiple submissions under one category could disqualify your application.
-At the program's request, Coverfly will automatically remove your title page for you if you include one when submitting to this program.
-Applicants must be underrepresented writers currently enrolled in a university, college, or community college as an UNDERGRADUATE or GRADUATE student (Class of 2024 Graduates are eligible).
-Please ensure your submission has a cover sheet with only the TITLE of the screenplay. The author's name must NOT appear anywhere in the script in order to preserve anonymity in the judging process.
-Please specify genre when submitting material.
***As a nonprofit dedicated to breaking underrepresented voices into the industry, we understand that financial resources can often be an obstacle to pursuing a career in film and television. Please reach out to hello@dvrso.org to request a fee waiver if the submission pricing poses an issue for your current financial situation.
FAQ
What are you looking for?
We are looking for pilot and feature screenplays–both live-action or animated–of all genres, including horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action, drama, comedy, and more.
This is your chance to showcase YOUR VOICE and YOUR UNIQUE VISION! Do not limit yourself in thinking about what we may want or prefer. Your love and passion for the material will shine through.
We can’t wait to read how you see the world!
Are screenplays accepted at any stage or form?
Please note that we are only accepting completed drafts of pilots and feature-length screenplays. Short films, treatments, pitch decks, documentaries, spec scripts, and adaptations will not be accepted.
How long should I wait to submit?
Our submission portal is open from Jan 6th - Feb 6th, 2025. Selection will be on a rolling basis. We encourage you to submit as early as possible to benefit from the Early Bird pricing before January 27th.
Who can apply?
The fellowship is open to all student screenwriters who identify with a historically underrepresented group (BIPOC, LGBTQ, Neurodivergent, etc.) and ONLY IF they are currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution or if they are a Winter 2024 graduate.
Do applicants need to be US citizens?
US Citizenship is not a requirement to apply.
Is there a page limit for scripts?
We accept submissions within the page count below for each category:
Feature screenplays: 75 -120 pages
Half-hour teleplays: 30-40
Hour-long teleplays: 45-70
Scripts over 130 pages will be eliminated.
Any genre?
Yes.
Are animation screenplays allowed to submit?
Yes.
Any language?
We are looking for screenplays written in English, but there can be sections in another language if natural translations are provided within the screenplay.
When & where does this program take place?
The program will take place from June 15th - August 24th completely online (exact dates subject to change). Fellows are expected to make a 20-hour commitment each week and are required to attend all Fellowship events.
How can we reach you if we have any questions?
Please do not hesitate to reach out at hello@dvrso.org if you have any questions at any point.
