The Sundance Institute has officially named the ten emerging writers selected for its virtual 2026 Episodic Intensive program, taking place August 20–21, 2026. The cohort highlights one-hour dramas ranging from historical Renaissance narratives to gritty modern thrillers, pairing fellows with creative advisors who are showrunners and writing executive producers.
This year’s roster arrives after the institute’s May Episodic Lab in Georgia, as reported by Deadline. For anyone tracking where the next prestige drama is coming from, this virtual intensive is where the industry’s future showrunners cut their teeth.
The Bottom Line
- The Cohort: Ten writers spanning nine distinct, high-concept one-hour drama projects were selected for the virtual intensive running August 20–21, 2026.
- The Mentorship: Fellows receive hands-on creative guidance from showrunners and writing executive producers behind major hits like Silo, Snowfall, and Killing Eve.
- The Pipeline: Following the program, participants secure Sundance Film Festival benefits and gain entry into ELEVATE, the institute’s year-round professional development track.
Mapping the Global Footprint of the 2026 Fellows
According to announcements from the Sundance Institute, this cycle’s ten fellows and nine projects represent a remarkably international perspective. The virtual convening gathers creators operating from diverse cultural backdrops, including Bali, Toronto, London, Italy, and various hubs across the United States from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.
The storytelling canvas matches that geographical breadth. The projects span modern metropolitan Manhattan, small-town Virginia, the deep South, the deserts of the Southwest, downtown Los Angeles, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, and Renaissance Florence.
| Project Title | Creator(s) | Logline / Premise |
|---|---|---|
| The Visitation | Christin Campbell | A Southern genre mystery following mysterious lights and a disappearance in a Bible Belt community. |
| Ugly Sister | Lisa Corn | A truck inspector tangled in interstate smuggling while supporting her grieving sister. |
| The Moor | Daphne Di Cinto | A true story about Alessandro, the secret son of the pope, navigating Renaissance succession politics. |
| Heavy is the Crown | Grant Fortune & Ssuuna McKitty | A New Orleans socialite family conspiracy involving a Haitian American Olympian and a fashion mogul. |
| Nobody’s Horses | Courtney Graham | A disgraced veterinarian racing a NATO deadline to save wild horses on a military base. |
| Skullcrusher | Caia Lee | An adult entertainment industry worker searching for her missing friend in early-2000s Los Angeles. |
| The 51st State | Alejandra López | A near-future political thriller following Puerto Rico’s first senator dealing with a resistance group. |
| With Blades of Iron | Francesco Staluppi | An Indigenous huntress leading a war of annihilation against Norse invaders in her homeland. |
| Blood and Wax | Daud Sumolang | A 1920s Java period drama centered on survival, seduction, and the batik trade. |
High-Caliber Mentorship and Industry Access
Before logging into the virtual intensive sessions on August 20, this year’s fellows benefited from a preparatory track. This included a case study led by development consultant Emmeline Yang Hankins examining Crave’s Heated Rivalry via the Sundance Institute Artist Accelerator Program, alongside a cross-Institute alumni mixer in Los Angeles.
Furthermore, the cohort participated in targeted writing room adaptations, pitch workshops, and a spotlight event hosted by Sundance Collab featuring Vince Gilligan. The creative advisors are working showrunners and executive producers:
- Katherine DiSavino (Silo)
- Tash Gray (Snowfall)
- Tasha Huo (The Mighty Nein)
- Don Joh (Sugar)
- Jeff Melvoin (Killing Eve)
- Kira Snyder (The Handmaid’s Tale)
- Brandon Sonnier (Boston Blue)
- Tatiana Suarez-Pico (Invasion)
- Marcie Ulin (The Flight Attendant)
Coupled with master classes at Rideback Ranch alongside industry figures like Hasan Minhaj, Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Lena Khan, the initiative bridges the gap between raw spec scripts and viable marketplace packages.
Sustaining Careers Beyond the Lab
The Sundance Episodic Program extends past a two-day workshop. Writers who complete the intensive receive Sundance Film Festival benefits and an invitation to join ELEVATE, the institute’s year-round professional development track.
Programs backed by founding supporters like Lyn and Norman Lear, Cindy Harrell Horn, Alan Horn, and leadership supporters including Netflix and Sundance Now remain vital lifelines for independent creators. By equipping fellows with business acumen, networking access through executive guests, and digital craft training via Sundance Collab, the institute ensures these nine projects stand a fighting chance in a crowded global marketplace.
What do you think of this year’s genre-heavy selections? Which of these nine pitches would you stream first on a Friday night? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
