Key Dates

• August 20th, 2026 - Submissions Open

• September 10th, 2026 - Early Deadline

• September 24th, 2026 - Regular Deadline

• November 10th, 2026 - Notification Date

• January 19-22nd, 2026 - The Writers Lab Canada Intensive in Toronto

• February to July 2027 - Follow up support with new drafts reviewed and introductions to industry members.

Eligibility

• Open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are female or nonbinary writers aged 40 or over.

• Script Requirements: Narrative scripts in English, professionally formatted, and submitted anonymously via FilmFreeway.

• Submission Categories: Feature film screenplays (80–120 pages), one-hour TV pilots (45–75 pages), and half-hour TV pilots (22–44 pages).

Fees

• Early Deadline - $75 USD

• Regular Deadline - $90 USD

• Program Fee (If selected) -  FREE THIS YEAR

APPLICATIONS

Is there a submissions Q&A?

Yes. A virtual Submissions Q&A will be held on Wednesday, August 19 at 5:00 p.m. EDT / 2:00 p.m. PDT with The Writers Lab co-founders Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon. The session is open to prospective applicants and will be recorded.

What information will I need for the application?

You will be asked to provide:

• Contact information, including your name, email address, phone number and mailing address

• Biographical and demographic information, including your date of birth

• Script information, including the title, genre, log line and format

• Responses to the application questions

• A PDF of your completed feature screenplay or television pilot, with your name removed

• Acceptance of the Terms and Conditions

• Payment of the non-refundable application fee

We recommend drafting your written responses separately before pasting the final versions into FilmFreeway.

How should I label my script?

Your screenplay must be uploaded as a PDF and labeled with the project title only.

Remove the writer’s name from every page of the screenplay, including the cover page. The name of the writer or writing team must not appear anywhere in the PDF.

How many scripts can I apply with?

Each applicant may submit up to three complete scripts. Each script requires a separate application and a separate non-refundable application fee.

We encourage you to submit only your strongest work.

Can writing partners apply?

Yes. Scripts written by more than one writer will be considered, but every writer credited on the script must meet all of the program’s age, gender and Canadian citizenship or permanent-residency requirements.

Can I submit an updated draft after applying?

No. The version uploaded with your application is the version that will be evaluated, so review your screenplay carefully before submitting.

Does submitting close to the deadline affect my chances?

No. Submissions are evaluated with the same care and rigor regardless of when they are received. Our independent readers are paid for their work and are looking for talented writers, distinctive voices and compelling projects.

Should an industry contact send a recommendation for me?

No. The selection process is based on the submitted material and application. Your work should speak for itself.

Will I receive feedback on my submission?

Applicants do not receive coverage or individualized feedback as part of the application process.

How will I be notified?

All TWL Canada application notifications will be sent by email.

Why is there an application fee?

Application fees help compensate the independent readers who evaluate scripts through multiple rounds of the selection process.

The application fee is non-refundable.

What if I cannot pay online or submit through FilmFreeway?

Please contact TWLC@firecrackerdepartment.com to discuss accessibility or payment concerns.

ELIGIBILITY

Am I eligible to apply?

The Writers Lab Canada is open to applicants who:

• Identify as women, including cisgender and transgender women, or as nonbinary

• Are at least 40 years old as of the first day of the Intensive

• Are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada

• Submit an eligible feature screenplay or television pilot written primarily in English

For the January 2027 Intensive, applicants must have been born on or before January 19, 1987.

We honour the fact that gender is personal and specific and seek to create an inclusive and supportive community.

Why does the application ask for my date of birth?

Your date of birth is required to confirm that you meet the program’s age eligibility requirement.

I am a Canadian citizen living abroad. Can I apply?

Yes. Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply regardless of where they currently live.

Selected writers are responsible for their own travel to and from Toronto and their accommodations while attending the Intensive.

Will I need to provide proof of age or Canadian residency?

Proof of age or residency may be required. Follow the instructions provided during the application and selection process.

I do not have much professional experience. Will that affect my chances?

No. TWL Canada is interested in compelling writers and projects regardless of professional experience.

However, the Intensive does not teach introductory screenwriting. Submitted scripts should demonstrate an understanding of screenwriting format, storytelling technique and professional standards.

Does TWL Canada prioritize diversity in its selections?

TWL Canada seeks approximately eight writers who collectively reflect the diversity of communities and populations across Canada.

Submissions are welcomed from writers of all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. The program recognizes that women and nonbinary writers over 40 are underrepresented in film and television and that many applicants may face additional barriers within the industry.

THE SCRIPT

What kinds of scripts are eligible?

TWL Canada accepts complete narrative:

• Feature-length screenplays

• One-hour television pilots

• Half-hour television pilots

Applicants should select the pilot format that best fits their project, even if the script’s intended length falls somewhere between conventional half-hour and one-hour formats.

What kinds of submissions are not eligible?

TWL Canada does not accept:

• Script fragments

• Treatments

• Synopses submitted in place of a screenplay

• Short-film scripts

• Stage plays

• Book excerpts

• Documentary projects

The application must include a complete narrative feature screenplay or television pilot.

Is there a required script length?

There is no single required page count, but scripts should be appropriate for their selected format.

A per-page surcharge will apply to:

• Feature screenplays of 120 pages or more

• Pilot scripts of 75 pages or more

What file format should I use?

All scripts must be submitted as PDF files.

TWL Canada does not require applicants to use any particular screenwriting software, provided the final screenplay follows industry-standard formatting and is uploaded as a PDF.

Can I submit a script that is not written in English?

The screenplay must be written primarily in English. It may include dialogue or passages in other languages where appropriate to the story.

What genres does TWL Canada accept?

TWL Canada welcomes fiction scripts across genres, including:

• Drama

• Comedy

• Horror

• Action

• Thriller

• Science fiction

• Animation

• Musical projects

• Other narrative genres

Scripts may explore any subject and do not need to be specifically about women. However, the program is particularly interested in women characters who transcend clichés, challenge expectations or offer perspectives that are not frequently represented onscreen.

What does TWL Canada consider a complete script?

The submitted screenplay should:

• Tell a complete and fully realized story

• Demonstrate an understanding of screenwriting craft and formatting

• Establish its concept, world, characters and genre

• Be carefully proofread

• Be developed enough to benefit from intensive feedback and revision

Scripts may be at different stages of development, but incomplete drafts, fragments and treatments will not be considered.

What should I review before submitting?

Consider the following:

• Are the characters clearly introduced and fully realized?

• Do the central characters have defined needs, objectives and arcs?

• Does each line of dialogue reveal character or move the story forward?

• Are the action and scene descriptions specific, visual and concise?

• Is the story told from a distinctive point of view?

• Does the screenplay follow professional formatting standards?

• Has the script been carefully proofread?

• Is this the strongest version of the project you can submit?

Can I submit an adaptation?

Only submit material that you have the legal right and authority to submit.

For an adaptation or project based on existing material, you should have secured the necessary underlying rights. Proof of those rights may be requested during the selection process.

Can I apply if a producer already controls some of the rights?

Applicants are responsible for confirming that they have the authority to submit and develop the material.

One of the Intensive’s goals is to help writers develop projects that can move toward production. Existing ownership or rights agreements may limit what you can do with the screenplay, so review those agreements before applying.

Can I submit material that has been submitted to another program?

Yes. TWL Canada does not restrict scripts that have previously been submitted to or developed through other labs, contests, workshops or programs.

How should I protect my work?

Applicants are responsible for protecting and registering their own material.

You may choose to register your screenplay with an appropriate copyright or writers’ organization before submitting. Applicants must accept the complete Terms and Conditions provided through FilmFreeway.

THE INTENSIVE

When and where is the Intensive?

The Writers Lab Canada Intensive will take place in person in Toronto from January 19 to 22, 2027.

How many writers will be selected?

Approximately eight feature and pilot writers will be selected.

What happens during the Intensive?

Selected writers will participate in four days of rigorous script development, including:

• Individual script work

• One-on-one meetings with Advisors and members of the TWL team

• Focused peer-group work

• Group development sessions

• Panel discussions

• Conversations with established Canadian writers, filmmakers and producers

The Intensive is designed to elevate each writer’s craft, strengthen their screenplay and prepare them for collaborative development and the realities of the film and television marketplace.

Who are the Advisors and guests?

Advisors and guests will include established Canadian screenwriters, filmmakers, producers and other industry professionals.

Previous TWLC Mentors and Guest Speakers have included Nia Vardalos, Morwyn Brebner, Natalie Cooper, Rebecca DiPasquale, Maureen Dorey-Lukie, Jessie Gabe, Allana Harkin, Jennifer Holness, Shannon Masters, Wendy Litner, Ley Lukins, Stephanie Morgenstern, Daniela Saioni, Carolyn Taylor, Meredith Vuchnich and Nathalie Younglai.

Participation by any specific previous Mentor or Guest Speaker is not guaranteed for 2027.

What is the participation fee?

The participation fee is tentatively set at $1,650 CAD per selected writer and is subject to change.

The TWLC team is working to secure support from industry partners to reduce the fee and create scholarships for selected writers who demonstrate financial need.

What additional expenses should selected writers expect?

Selected writers are responsible for:

• Travel to and from Toronto

• Accommodations while in Toronto

• Any personal expenses not included in the program

Breakfast and lunch will be provided during the four-day Intensive.

What if I cannot afford the participation fee?

The TWLC team is working to secure subsidies and scholarships for selected writers with financial need.

Because available support has not yet been finalized, applicants should not assume that full funding will be available. Updates will be shared as funding and scholarship opportunities are confirmed.

Questions about financial accessibility may be directed to TWLC@firecrackerdepartment.com

What do participating writers gain from the program?

Participating writers receive:

• Individualized feedback, insight and guidance on their selected project and their writing craft

• A stronger understanding of industry standards, practices, expectations and market considerations

• Strategies and resources for navigating the film and television industry

• A community of peers and a professional network that can extend beyond the Intensive

• Access to opportunities and exposure beyond the four-day program

• Supplemental programming and resources created specifically for women and nonbinary screenwriters over 40

• Access to year-round virtual programming from the Firecracker Department

Does the Intensive provide production funding?

No. TWL Canada is a script-development Intensive, not a production fund.

The program supports writers in strengthening their material, understanding industry expectations and building relationships with peers and industry professionals. Participation does not guarantee representation, financing, production or distribution.

If my script is selected, why does it need further development?

Every screenplay can benefit from thoughtful development.

Selected writers should expect to examine and revise their projects with the support of experienced Advisors, peers and industry professionals. The Intensive is built around the development process, not simply recognition of a finished script.

Is there support after the Intensive?

Participating writers become part of a wider community of peers, Advisors and program alumni.

The Writers Lab offers supplemental resources and programming for women and nonbinary screenwriters over 40, while the Firecracker Department provides year-round virtual programming. Specific post-Intensive opportunities may vary.

Are there credit requirements if my selected screenplay is produced?

Applicants must review and accept the complete Terms and Conditions on FilmFreeway.

The current terms state that if a participating screenplay is produced at any budget level on or before December 31, 2032, The Writers Lab, the Firecracker Department and the Female Eye Film Festival will receive agreed-upon credit and logo placement in the film’s end titles.

THE SUBMISSION AND SELECTION PROCESS

How does the reading and selection process work?

Scripts are read without the writer’s name attached.

A team of paid, independent readers evaluates eligible submissions for craft, storytelling, characters, voice, perspective and alignment with the missions of The Writers Lab, the Firecracker Department and the Female Eye Film Festival.

Readers complete scoring and evaluation materials, and scripts may move through multiple rounds of consideration. Program founders and producing partners may also participate in the selection process.

What are readers looking for?

Readers consider areas including:

Craft and formatting
Is this a complete feature screenplay or television pilot? Does the writer demonstrate an understanding of screenwriting craft and professional formatting?

Cinematic storytelling
Is the writing visual? Does the screenplay clearly establish its world, characters, action and tone?

Characters and representation
Are the characters distinctive, specific and fully developed? Do they have clear voices, arcs and journeys?

Voice and point of view
Does the project offer a compelling voice, perspective or approach to its subject?

Development potential
Is the writer and project likely to benefit from the collaborative and rigorous development process of the Intensive?

Are selection decisions based only on the script?

The submitted material is central to the evaluation process. Applicants must also complete the application questions and confirm that they meet all eligibility requirements.

Industry references, personal introductions and unsolicited endorsements are not part of the selection process.

Additional Questions

Please contact:

TWLC@firecrackerdepartment.com