August 2026 Mini Slate: Industry Greenlights and Gateways
PRODUCING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
AFI PRODUCING ALUMNI INVITE ONLY
DEADLINE: August 15
Wscripted is inviting AFI producing alumni to join our peer-to-peer mentorship program and be featured as mentors of the Inaugural Originals List. The mentorship is very informal, an opportunity to give peer-to-peer feedback on the verbal pitch and pitch deck of shortlisted filmmakers, while gaining visibility and credentials as a mentor for the list. Learn more and register your interest to become a mentor here before August 15
INAUGURAL ORIGINALS LIST
AFI ALUMNI INVITE ONLY
DEADLINE: August 15
Wscripted is pleased to invite AFI alumni to submit to the Inaugural Originals List — an exclusive selection presenting standout original features, pilots, and vertical scripts to Hollywood, already on the radar of numerous production companies for 2026. AFI alumni can send their invite-only application and select AFI as the referee via this link here until the final deadline of August 15, with a 30% discount already applied and a 6 months free coupon to get projects discovered by the right producers on Wscripted+.
MERRELL BRAND-SUPPORTED STORYTELLING PROGRAM
SUNDANCE COLLAB
DEADLINE: August 18
We are seeking five filmmakers from around the world to each create their own original, 60-90 second film designed specifically for vertical social platforms. Your mission is to explore Merrell’s core belief, It Starts Outside, for a world that is increasingly lived indoors. From our homes to our screens, we are more disconnected than ever. The outside is the antidote. It is wh ... SHOW MORE
MASTERS WORKSHOP SERIES
MACEF’S THE MASTERS WORKSHOP SERIES: FROM FILM TO CAREER
DEADLINE: September 15
A series of Interactive Workshops for a maximum of ten selected filmmakers who are developing a short drama or feature length narrative film project and who wish to receive mentorship and guidance by master filmmakers, to produce higher level projects and develop a sustainable career in the film industry.
Starting in 2026, the Production Grants and Master Workshop will merge. Each one of the 10 filmmakers and projects accepted to the Masters Workshop will also receive a Production Grant.
SHORT FILM GRANT
GRANT
DEADLINE: October 1
The Pandora Short Film Grant is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that awards an annual $12,000 Grant to an early-career US filmmaker for the production of their short, narrative film. In addition, the Grant winner and three Finalists receive camera rental hookups from our sponsor, Panavision (worth thousands of dollars), hookups from our sponsor, Kodak, mentorship from award-winning filmmakers, and as much support as we can give to help the selected films get made. We accept projects that are at script stage as well as projects that have already filmed and are looking for finishing funds.