The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting
The Black List serves as the portal for public submissions for the 2025 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition and will recommend up to 25 feature screenplays for further consideration by the Academy for an Academy Nicholl Fellowship.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting is an international program that identifies and nurtures talented new screenwriters. Nicholl Fellows receive direct support from the Academy and mentorship from an Academy member throughout their fellowship year. Fellows are expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during the fellowship year and receive a $35,000 grant. Read more about the Nicholl Fellowships below.
Interested writers can submit an eligible feature-length screenplay for consideration via the Black List website until June 15, 2025, or when the maximum number of 2,500 eligible submissions are received—whichever occurs first.
The fellowship is open to writers whose lifetime earnings as a screenwriter do not exceed US $25,000. If you have earned over US $25,000 in your lifetime as a screenwriter, you are not eligible for the Nicholl Fellowship.
Timeline
Submissions close on June 15, 2025, or when the maximum number of 2,500 eligible submissions are received—whichever occurs first. The Academy will announce selected Nicholl Fellows in spring 2026.