Dear John,
 

We are so excited to announce the new MPAC Hollywood Bureau Writing Fellowship in partnership with Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Independent Spirit Awards! The 2022 fellowship will provide a $10,000 grant to a writer who identifies as American Muslim and is accepted into one of the upcoming 2022 programs: the Film Independent Screenwriting Lab, Episodic Lab or Project Involve, the organization’s long-running signature diversity and mentorship program.

Film Independent champions creative independence in visual storytelling and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. For over ten years, Film Independent has championed the inclusion of Muslim creative voices, from advising our Hollywood Summit delegates to this partnership that is a key piece in institutionalizing our screenwriting labs. 

Visit the Film Independent website to learn more about their work and the MPAC Hollywood Bureau Writing Fellowship, and please spread the word to your networks! The programs currently open for applications, and their deadlines, are:

Project Involve: August 16th (non-members) and 30th (members)

2022 Screenwriting Lab: September 1st (non-members) and 15th (members)

Applications for the 2022 Episodic Lab will open in the winter of 2022. A Muslim creative selected for one of these programs will be awarded this fellowship.

We cannot thank Film Independent enough for their years of partnership and advocacy for Muslim creatives, and for their tireless efforts toward full inclusion of voices that have been historically excluded from their own narratives in the industry. We hope the eventual recipients of this fellowship will go on to create authentic characters and stories that elevate perceptions of our communities.

In peace,

Sue Obeidi
Director, MPAC Hollywood Bureau