The Native American Media Alliance announced today they have selected four fellows for the 4th Annual Native American Feature Film Writers Lab, a talent development program that boosts the careers of Native American writers.
In partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal, the National Endowment for the Arts, A+E Networks, the Cherokee Nation Film Office and the California Humanities, the Native American Feature Film Writers Lab is an annual program for talented and aspiring screenwriters. Over the course of 10 weeks, chosen fellows develop a new screenplay, meet with partner industry organizations and receive feedback on their scripts from literary professionals.
“Every year, we are proud to present an incredible cohort of Native American screenwriters,” Ian Skorodin, Director of Strategy for the Native American Media Alliance announced. “Our organization’s talent pipeline has grown, evolved and developed to provide truly groundbreaking initiatives.”
The Native American Feature Film Writers Lab received numerous applicants from several tribes throughout North America. The chosen fellows will take part in a ten-week curriculum overseen by seasoned writing instructor Amedeo D’Adamo. The lab will consist of daily workshops, seminars and one-on-one mentoring to help each writer develop and complete a screenplay in ten weeks and hone skills to prepare the participants for studio writing opportunities. At the end of the program, each participant will have completed an original screenplay and will participate in our annual writers pitch fest every November during the LA Skins Fest.
The fellows of the 4th Annual Native American Feature Film Writers Lab:
Emma Barrow (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma)
Kelly Byars (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma)
Julia Leatham (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma)
Roberto A. Jackson (Gila River Indian Community)
Funding has been provided by California Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
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