Enter Now
Extended Deadline is 23 hours and 34 minutes from now
Sep 27th
Early
Oct 11th
Regular
Oct 25th
Late
Nov 15th
Final
Dec 8th
Extended
Moonshot Initiative
Moonshot Feature Accelerator
2024
Reads in Coverfly
Active Since 2024
8 screenwriters will be selected to receive 3 weeks of virtual industry training before pitching to studios, producers, investors, and reps.
Accepting Features
Enter Now
Extended Deadline is 23 hours and 34 minutes from now

About

Are you an emerging screenwriter with a powerful voice and a unique story that increases the representation of women and non-binary people on screen?


Moonshot is thrilled to announce our brand-new Feature Accelerator, designed to elevate and spotlight talented writers like you! Eight fellows will be selected to receive 3 weeks of virtual training before pitching one-on-one to major studios, production companies, reps and more.


We're expanding our support to the world of feature films as a way of building on the success of our acclaimed Moonshot Pilot Accelerator. Over the past three years, we’ve helped 24 emerging TV writers craft and polish their pitches and learn about the industry from experts in their fields. We then set them up on one-on-one meetings with major players like HBO, Netflix, Hulu, Starz, Showtime, and many more. Now, we’re bringing that same opportunity to feature film writers!


Why Apply?

Amplify Your Voice: We’re on the lookout for distinctive stories from diverse voices that increase the representation of women and non-binary people on screen.

Perfect Your Pitch: Fellows will receive expert guidance on crafting and polishing their pitches, so they’re ready not just for today’s opportunities but for future ones as well.

One-on-One Meetings: Fellows receive exclusive pitch meetings with production companies, agents, managers, producers, financiers, studios, and streamers. Your script could catch the eye of those who can take it to the next level.

Achieve Your Goals: Our accelerator is geared toward helping our fellows reach significant milestones in their careers, such as securing representation, attracting financiers, landing general meetings, and gaining industry connections.

Build Lasting Connections: Fellows will forge relationships with industry executives and other writers that will support their careers for years to come.

Gain Industry Knowledge: Fellows will learn from in-depth workshops with experts such as an entertainment lawyer, agent, manager, and coach to master both the creative and business aspects of screenwriting.


Ready to get your work in front of industry leaders? Don’t miss this chance to take your feature film writing career to new heights. Apply now and join a community dedicated to helping emerging writers like you succeed!

Prices & Deadlines

Dec 8th
Extended
Feature Screenplay
$110.00

Benefits

Fellows receive a range of benefits designed to propel your career and enhance your craft — and even at the semi-finalist level, you'll gain visibility for your work and build your community. Here’s what you can gain from participating:


1. Elevated Exposure
  • Each semi-finalist will have their script read by two industry judges, including major screenwriters, producers, and development executives.

2. Expert Guidance
  • Pitch Perfection: Each fellow receives personalized feedback on crafting and refining their pitch to ensure it stands out and resonates with decision-makers.

3. Career Advancement
  • Opportunities for Development: Increase the chances of your script being bought or optioned, attract interest from financiers or producers, or secure representation from an agent or manager.
  • Future Projects: Open doors to potential writing assignments or IP projects with companies interested in your work.

4. Networking and Community
  • Build Relationships: 
  • Join a community of emerging writers who are dedicated to uplifting each other and sharing valuable insights. Forge long-term connections with industry execs and fellow writers, creating a supportive network that can lead to future opportunities. This community-building starts even before the program begins: All semi-finalists are invited to a virtual networking event, and past semi-finalists have shared that they're still in touch with the writers they met!

5. Comprehensive Education
  • Industry Insights: Fellows learn from seasoned professionals about industry trends, pitching strategies, and career management, ensuring you’re well-equipped for both creative and business challenges.

6. Long-Lasting Impact
  • Career Momentum: Benefit from ongoing support and relationships that could lead to continued opportunities and collaborations in the future.

Placing in our accelerator is not just about getting your script noticed—it's about building a foundation for a successful and sustainable career in the film industry.

Industry Judges

We rely on the feedback of industry experts to help us select the fellows. Check back in for the full list of judges.

Anna Chi

Ms. Chi joined WGA in 2001 for writing a feature film script for Miramax Pictures. Ever since then Ms. Chi has been working as a director and a writer of award-winning feature films and short films. Her writing credits include scripts for John Woo’s Lionrock Entertainment; “Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon” producer Xu LiGong’s Zoomhunt Entertainment in Taiwan; Tomson Company and Full Circle Productions in Hong Kong, Roset Entertainment and Huashi Media in China. She has also developed an animated feature script for DreamWorks; a theme park project for Disney World. Currently Ms.Chi is writing a Christmas script for Hallmark.

Angela Shelton

Screenwriter

Angela Shelton is an accomplished writer, filmmaker, and actress, celebrated for her powerful storytelling that often explores themes of trauma, healing, and empowerment. She co-wrote Tumbleweeds, for which actress Janet McTeer won a Golden Globe and earned an Oscar nomination. She wrote, directed, and produced the heartwarming golf comedy Eagle and the Albatross starring Wonder Years' Dan Lauria and KPOP Legend Amber Liu. Her film The Hammer (aka Heart Baby) tells the true story of a prison boxer that she wrote, directed, and produced. Her adaptation of Kaye Gibbons’ novel Charms for the Easy Life for Showtime starred Gena Rowlands and her multi-award-winning documentary Searching for Angela Shelton continues to inspire audiences with stories of survival and personal triumph. Angela Shelton is a force of nature and has a sci-fi thriller in the works as well as a traveling Sacred Circus.

Krystin Ver Linden

Screenwriter

Krystin Ver Linden directorial debut, ALICE - starring Keke Palmer and Common, balances two genres in this one of a kind thriller/drama. ALICE, which Krystin also wrote, made its worldwide premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, and will be released nationwide in March via Vertical Entertainment and Roadside Attractions. Krystin was also chosen as one of Variety’s 2022 coveted ‘10 Directors to Watch’. As a screenwriter, Krystin's script RIDE sold to Lionsgate with Joey Solloway attached to direct, and was featured on the Black List. She went on to sell numerous scripts and the pitch LOVE IN VAIN, an unconventional biopic centering around Blues music pioneer Robert Johnson, to Paramount with platinum recording artist Lionel Richie producing.

April Wolfe

Screenwriter

April is a screenwriter, podcast host, and former film critic. A Michigander in Los Angeles, she focuses on genre film and television, with an emphasis on thrillers, science fiction, action, crime, and horror (with comic flourishes). April is the creator and host of the wildly popular podcast “Switchblade Sisters”. She produced the 2015 indie feature MOLLY TAKES A TRIP. In 2019, she co-wrote the feminist slasher BLACK CHRISTMAS from Blumhouse/Universal.

Sandra Avila

Inclusion Management

A 24 yr. veteran in the entertainment industry, Avila has an established track record as an executive, producer and literary manager. For the past six years, she has been a partner and literary manager at Inclusion; a management company focused on elevating diverse storytellers. Some of her clients include: David Blue Garcia (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Tejano), Julio Quintana (Blue Miracle, The Long Game), Marcella Ochoa (Madres) and Saray Guidetti (NBC’s The Blacklist).

Who hears the pitches?

These studios, producers, investors and reps are excited to hear pitches from our fellows. Each company has agreed to hear pitches from at least 3 of our fellows.
Neon

Elissa Federoff

Chief Distribution Officer

Neon

Netflix

David Kagan

Netflix

Berlanti

Leez Weiss

Creative Executive

Berlanti

Yes, Norman Productions

Zayda Exeliz

Development Executive

Yes, Norman Productions

Level Forward

Level Forward

BFD Productions

BFD Productions

BFD Productions, founded by Executive Producers Roxy Hunt and Tony Castle, is an award-winning film and television production company based in Brooklyn, New York. Wife and husband team, Roxy Hunt and Tony Castle, focus on telling human stories on the fringes and bringing them to the forefront of entertainment.

Fusion Studios

Fusion Studios

K Period Media

K Period Media

SSS Entertainment

Stephen Morgenstern

Executive

SSS Entertainment

As an executive at SSS Entertainment and SSS Film Capital, Stephen oversees various aspects of our projects' development, production, and financing. Some of the recent and upcoming films executive produced by Stephen include: THE LAST FULL MEASURE, INFAMOUS, THE LAST VICTIM, the 2020 Tribeca-selected thriller BECKY, & 2021 SXSW Grand Jury winner THE FALLOUT.

The Film Sales Company

Carylanna Taylor

Executive

The Film Sales Company

Since its inception in 2002, The Film Sales Company has sold over 250 films for domestic and international distribution and has raised financing for numerous fiction and documentary projects. The New York City based Company specializes in both highly commercial movies and critically acclaimed, award-winning films. We develop unique strategies for our clients which draw upon our internationally recognized expertise in sales, financing and distribution, our extensive relationships with all of the major and specialized distributors, and our experiences participating in countless domestic and international film festivals and markets. Unrelenting in pursuit of a deal, we also continue to advocate on behalf of our filmmakers after their films have been acquired and released. If you are seeking financing and/or distribution for your film, the Company will offer you dynamic and personalized solutions for reaching your goals.

HBO

HBO

Max

Max

Sponsors

These amazing companies support underrepresented voices.

Shotdeck

Announcements

Mar 3rd
Semifinalists
Apr 2nd
Fellows
Apr 17th
Finalists

Rules

You must be 18 or older to apply to Moonshot Feature Accelerator (“Program”). You must have a completed feature-length screenplay (“Screenplay”). No documentaries, animations, web series, or pilot scripts will be accepted. All Screenplays must be in the English language. All material must be original and submitted by the owner. If your project is an adaptation, you must specify in the application whether or not you have the rights.

You must be available for all Program dates to participate in the Program if accepted into the Program as a fellow (“Fellow”). If you are unavailable for one or more Program dates, you will no longer be eligible for the Program. If you are part of a writing team, both partners must be available for the Program if accepted. We will not accept writing teams of more than two people.

All Screenplay loglines will be sent to each studio, production company and producer who is signed on to the Program to hear pitches (each, a “Judge”). Each individual who has agreed to hear pitches will choose a minimum of three pitches to hear. Fellows will not meet with every studio, production company and producer.

These rules are subject to change at any time. If there are any material changes, you will be notified through email.

SUBMISSION RELEASE WAIVER

I, the applicant submitting to Moonshot Feature Accelerator (“Recipient”) on behalf of myself, agree as follows:
Recipient agrees to indemnify, defend, protect and hold harmless Moonshot Initiative INC its parent and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, representatives and employees (collectively, “MI”), from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, costs, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and punitive damages) arising out of or in connection with Recipient’s participation in the Program, any breach or alleged breach of the warranties and promises given by Recipient herein, and any screenplays, films, plots, characters, or ideas submitted during the Program or any screenplay, film, or material developed out of those screenplays, films, plots, characters, or ideas.

Recipient acknowledges that as part of the Program and other programs MI holds, MI receives many submissions of creative materials from third parties and that it is continually developing in-house ideas, stories, and creative materials; and that many such submissions and/or developments may be similar or identical to the Screenplay and/or any material provided, evaluated and/or presented for the Program. Recipient understands and agrees that MI’s use of materials or properties containing similar or identical elements to Recipient’s film, Screenplay and/or any other materials presented for the Program, and evaluated by any of the Judges and/or MI (collectively, the “Material”) shall not obligate the Judges and/or MI to Recipient in any manner whatsoever. Recipient agrees that, to the extent that ideas and concepts presented in Recipient’s Screenplay include material that is in the public domain or owned by a third party, Judges and MI will have the same rights in such material as any member of the general public. Recipient further understands that the Judges and MI would refuse to evaluate Recipient’s Material in the absence of Recipient’s acceptance of each and all of the provisions of this Release. Recipient acknowledges that no fiduciary or confidential relationship now exists between MI or Judges, on the one hand, and Recipient, on the other hand, and Recipient further acknowledges that no such relationships are established between MI or Judges, on the one hand, and Recipient, on the other hand, by reason of this Release.

Recipient agrees that Recipient will not assert against any Judges and/or MI any claim based on plagiarism, infringement, confidential relationship, implied contract, unfair competition or for any other reason whatsoever arising out of any alleged use by a Judge and/or MI of the Material. If, notwithstanding anything stated herein, Recipient should hereafter claim that a Judge and/or MI has used Recipient’s proprietary Material, or any portion thereof, without Recipient’s consent or authorization, Recipient specifically agrees and understands that Recipient will not suffer or make any claim for damages in excess of One Thousand U.S. Dollars (US$1,000), if any, and that such damages, if any, shall be Recipient’s sole and exclusive remedy and shall be payable only in the event of a court of competent jurisdiction’s finding that a Judge and/or MI has wrongfully appropriated such proprietary Material from Recipient. Accordingly, Recipient irrevocably waives its right to seek and/or obtain rescission and/or equitable and/or injunctive relief in connection with any such claim(s). Recipient understands and agrees that Judges and/or MI are not responsible for any loss or damage to the Material.

If any provision of this Release is deemed to be invalid, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and shall not invalidate the remaining provisions. To the extent the terms of this Release conflict with the Recipient’s grant of rights to Program, the terms and conditions of this Release govern with respect to the matters set forth herein between the parties hereto.