The Newfoundland & Labrador Writers’ Room Program is a unique opportunity designed to foster and develop the talents of screenwriters in Newfoundland and Labrador. This intensive program, running from March to May 2026, will pair four emerging writers and one writer’s assistant with writer, director Stephen Dunn to support the development of a pilot script for his new series.
Each writer will also develop their own individual television projects with the guidance of mentors. Selected writers will be compensated for their participation.
Deadline: Submission deadline is Friday February 27, 2026
Commitment:
- Showrunner Sessions: Starting March 31, 2026, sessions with Stephen Dunn will take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings (6 hours per week). The sessions will run total for a total of six weeks, ending on May 7th, 2026.
- Individual Project Work: Two mornings a week (6 hours per week) focused on developing their own projects, with support from mentors.
Eligibility Criteria:
• Established writers with experience of the industry
• Ideally, applicants should have at least one piece of work produced (film, short, TV series, etc.)
• Transferable writing skills will be considered for those without producing credits
• Newfoundland and Labrador Resident
Submission Materials:
1. Completed Application Form
2. Writing Sample:
• Submit a writing sample of your work. This could be an excerpt from a screenplay, teleplay, or any original script that showcases your storytelling and writing skills.
• File Format: PDF
• Max Pages: 10 pages
3. One-Pager for Television Idea
Submit a one-page description of a television series idea you wish to develop. The one-pager should include:
• Title
• Logline (a brief summary of the show’s premise in 1-2 sentences)
• Genre and Tone (e.g., drama, comedy, sci-fi; light-hearted, dark, etc.)
• Setting and Time Period
• Main Character(s)
• Series Overview (a brief synopsis of the show’s concept, primary themes, and potential direction for the story)
• File Format: PDF
• Max Length: 1 page
4. Resume
Please Note: You are not required to have an incorporated company at the application stage. However, if your application is successful, you will need an incorporated company to participate in the program
If you have questions about the eligibility criteria, please reach out to our Industry Development Manager, Cyril Butler at [email protected]