FAQ

This lab is for emerging writers working on either a screenplay or episodic script that features a woman or women leader(s) at the center of the story. We encourage applications from people of all races, religions, national origins, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and ages, as well as veterans and individuals with disabilities. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are from a marginalized or underrepresented group, particularly in the film industry.

For the Writers Lab, which takes place February 28 – March 1, participants must be available to participate in all lab sessions in person in New York City, and sessions will occur between 10 am and 6 pm (Eastern Standard).

If you have previously attended the lab, you cannot reapply to the lab for a period of five years, even with a different project. However, if you have been a part of the episodic lab, you are eligible to submit a project to the screenwriters lab, and vice-versa, without the 5-year hiatus requirement.

If you are part of a writing duo, the writers only need to submit one application for the project. Both writers must be available to participate in the lab activities.

Teams of more than two writers will not be considered.

Only writers accepted to The Athena Film Festival Writers Lab will be eligible for the Loreen Arbus Fellowship.

The Fellowship will support a screenwriter with a disability.

Only writers accepted to The Athena Film Festival Writers Lab will be eligible for the Alfred P. Sloan Lab Fellowship.

Writers must be working on a script featuring women in STEM themes.

Filmmakers will never be turned away due to lack of funds. If you are unable to pay the submission fee for any reason please email athenafilmfestival@gmail.com to request a submission waiver.

Short films (30 minutes or less in length), featuring a woman (girl) or women character(s) in leadership role(s) or position(s). Projects from all genres are eligible, and stories about women from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural groups are encouraged.

If you have a feature-length film that you would like to submit to the festival, please email Athenafilmfestival@gmail.com with the title of your film, a full synopsis, and how it fits our criteria.

You can submit your script via FilmFreeway. The Screenplay portal can be found here, and the TV portal can be found here. 

Filmmakers will never be turned away due to lack of funds. If you are unable to pay the submission fee for any reason please email athenafilmfestival@gmail.com to request a submission waiver.

The Athena List is an annual feature-length script competition that selects exceptional scripts featuring women leaders at the heart of the story. Scripts must have a woman (girl) or women character(s) in leadership role(s) or position(s). Projects from all genres are accepted, and stories about women from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural groups are encouraged. Projects must be between 80 and 120 pages in length.

Projects submitted MUST have taken part in a writer’s lab or intensive, or actively be working with industry members (such as a manager, agent, executive, and/or producer) on their project.