Accelerate Fellowship
Investing in disabled film and television writers to develop and sell their own content.
About
The Accelerate Fellowship is a six-month rewriting sprint that gives disabled film and television writers $40,000 in funding and bespoke mentorship to develop a spec script that incorporates disability into the DNA of the project—be it through disabled characters, themes, or storylines. Through writers groups, one-on-one mentorship, guidance from the Inevitable Foundation staff, and access to leading film and television writers, the program offers disabled writers everything they need to get their script ready to take to market.
Applications for the Accelerate Fellowship are currently closed. The next application period will run from February 26th to March 7th, 2025. If you’re interested in the program, please fill out our Programs Eligibility Questionnaire. If you meet the program eligibility requirements, we will email you when we’re accepting applications.
BENEFITS
Unrestricted Funding
A $40,000 unrestricted grant can cover more than six months of living expenses so Fellows can focus full-time on writing.
Conversations & Workshops
Frequent conversations with leading writers and showrunners help Fellows get bespoke advice and build new connections.
Bespoke mentorship
Ongoing writing workshops and check-ins with the Inevitable team allow Fellows to sharpen their writing and pitching skills.
Networking and Job Opportunities
Our personalized Concierge service links Fellows with Showrunners and Creative Executives for development and staffing opportunities.
Community of Peers
Connecting with other disabled screenwriters both inside and outside of the Fellowship program will build a supportive community that will stay with Fellows as they grow.
The Accelerate Fellowship is supported by Netflix.
Impact Highlights
36
mentorship connections with industry leading writers
$720,000
in unrestricted grants to Fellows.
95
off-the-record conversations with writers and showrunners
Quotes from Fellows
“For years I was sitting around writing my scripts alone. Now I've got a ton of friends and peers who I regularly talk to about writing, career advice, movies, TV, and everything else Hollywood. That community is galvanizing, it's inspiring, it's made my work better and pushed my career forward.”
“It was truly life changing…we could just concentrate on learning, developing, writing and meeting all the people. We got great representation thanks directly to Inevitable.”
“The Inevitable staff are the best part of the Fellowship. They've taken so much time to support me through writing, pitching, and navigating my career. I have learned so much from all of them, and am deeply grateful.”
Fellowship Timeline (2025)
Applications Open
February 2025
Semi-Finalist Interviews
May-June 2025
Fellows Selected
June 2025
Fellowship Begins
July 2025
Fellowship Ends
December 2025
FAQ
Table of Contents
Background
Why did you create the Accelerate Fellowship?
We started Inevitable Foundation’s Accelerate Fellowship to invest in disabled film & tv writers so they can develop and sell their own content. Disabled people make up more than 20% of the U.S. population but represent less than 1% of writers working in the industry today.
How much is the Fellowship grant for?
Fellows receive a $40,000 cash grant, which is meant to cover more than six months of living and professional development expenses during the program.
How can Fellows use the Fellowship money?
The money is unrestricted— Fellows can use it to cover living expenses and other project-related fees—which is intended to give them the time and space to further develop their projects.
Is the Fellowship taxable income?
If you receive a Fellowship, we recommend you speak to an accountant to make a determination on the tax status of the Fellowship money.
Eligibility & Application
What are your eligibility requirements?
General eligibility requirements:
Self-identifies as disabled.
18 years of age or older.
Currently pursuing a career in screenwriting.
Not enrolled in an accredited degree program.
Currently or previously has worked in the entertainment industry.
Applicants must also meet at least one (1) of the following criteria:
Has an agent or a manager
Member of the WGA, Animation Guild or equivalent union
Has sold a script, TV show, or pitch before
Has staffed on a TV show or received a writing credit on a movie
Has been or currently are in development with a major production company, studio, or network
Has placed in a prominent screenwriting competition
Has participated in or been selected for any screenwriting or filmmaking lab, program, or residency
How do I apply for the Accelerate Fellowship?
If you are interested in the program, please fill out our Program Eligibility Questionnaire. If you meet the program eligibility requirements, we will email you when we’re accepting applications.
What’s included in the application process for the Accelerate Fellowship?
The application process is two rounds. After confirming your eligibility, you will be invited to:
Round 1 (Open Feb-March, 2025):
Provide information about yourself and your writing career
Submit a writing sample, with a title and logline.
The members of the review panel will read the first 10 pages of your script in this round.
The page limit for these samples are 120 pages for features, 65 pages for 1 hour pilots, and 35 pages for 30 minute pilots.
Then, selected applicants will continue to:
Round 2 (Invitations in early March, 2025):
Resume and bio
8 short answer questions (max 40 word responses) on your writing approach and motivation, editing process, and strengths and weaknesses.
Script submission with title, logline, and writer’s statement.
Four long answer questions about the script you’re submitting.
Semi-final applicants will then be invited to interview (interviews conducted between in late May and early June):
Interviews will include discussion of feedback for the submitted script.
New drafts of the script cannot be sent after your Round 2 submission; the draft that is submitted is the draft discussed in the interview.
Do I need to be disabled to receive an Accelerate Fellowship?
Yes. The Fellowship is for individuals that self-identify as disabled. This includes physical, intellectual, developmental, psychiatric, visible, or invisible disabilities.
Do you accept Accelerate Fellows from outside the United States?
Yes, however, Fellows must be available for meetings within the working day of US Pacific Time. Please note that interested parties from outside the United States are subject to additional review in order to comply with U.S. Treasury Department regulations.
Do you select writing teams as Accelerate Fellows?
Yes, however, if only one member of the writing team is disabled, only that person can receive an Accelerate Fellowship. If both members of a writing team are disabled, you may apply as a team.
Does my script need to be finished to apply?
In order to complete Round 2 of the application process, you must have a complete draft of the script that you’d like to develop and polish.
Do the projects need to be in specific genres?
You are free to submit a project from any genre, although we are currently seeing the most interest from the market in comedy, horror, thriller rom-com, and young adult projects. You are welcome to submit traditional dramas but they are harder to get made in the market currently.
How commercial does the project need to be?
We are interested in projects that have a commercial sensibility, which we define as having a sizeable audience that can be marketed to. For example, your project might appeal to specific audience segments such as genre fans (horror, sci-fi, romantic comedies), pop culture enthusiasts (comic book or K-pop fans), or underserved communities. It could also target particular age demographics (Gen Z or Millennials) or align with trends in streaming content (true crime). While your project doesn’t need to be a blockbuster or four-quadrant as Hollywood defines it, the project should have a clear and identifiable audience segment that is enthusiastic and large enough to support its success.
Fellowship Details
What does a normal week look like for an Accelerate Fellow?
As an Accelerate Fellow, you can expect 3-5 hours per week of writing workshops, personal check-ins, and conversations with industry leaders, as well as a bi-weekly submission deadline for new writing. You may also have sessions or follow-up work from professional development opportunities.
Can I complete the Accelerate Fellowship while employed?
Yes. The goal of the Accelerate Fellowship is to help you get more professional work as a writer (both development and staffing), so we’ll never ask you to turn down opportunities. However, to ensure the impact of the program, we do ask applicants to make sure they maintain enough time to commit fully to all the Fellowship entails.
Can I complete the Accelerate Fellowship while in another fellowship or award program?
You can, but because of the workload associated with the Accelerate Fellowship and other industry fellowship programs, we don’t recommend trying to complete both at the same time.
Can I be chosen as an Accelerate Fellow if I’ve already benefited from another Inevitable Foundation program?
Yes. All our programs are designed to be complementary, and applying for/receiving benefits from one program does not exclude you from any others.
Does Inevitable Foundation own any of the material written by Fellows?
No, Fellows retain the rights to their work, including anything created or workshopped during the Fellowship.
Does the project need to incorporate disability into the script?
Yes. We are looking for spec scripts that have a disability in the DNA of the project, but are very open minded about how this manifests. From a disability theme to disabled characters or storylines, there’s a lot of flexibility in how this is implemented. We are most interested in projects that have nuanced disability representation and a commercial sensibility.
Selection
Who makes selections for the Fellowship?
Inevitable Foundation’s staff, who work at the intersection of entertainment and disability, are in charge of evaluating applicants and selecting the Fellows.
When are new cohorts of Fellows selected?
New cohorts of Accelerate Fellows are selected annually, typically in the early summer.
How long is a Fellowship?
Each Accelerate Fellowship includes 6 months of funding and programming, and you are not required to participate in programming or submit any materials after that time. However, we don’t “kick fellows out” at any time, and alumni are welcome at some community and industry-focused programming.
Are scripts with attached actors, producers, or companies more likely to be selected?
No, in fact, the fewer attachments a project has the better, because the goal of the program is to do a major rewrite on the project and the fewer cooks in the kitchen, the easier that will be. Once your script is the best it can be, you’ll be better positioned to find the best attachments for the project.
Reporting
What are the reporting requirements for the Accelerate Fellowship?
Fellows will be asked to complete an exit interview and experience survey at the end of the Fellowship to provide feedback on their experience.
terms & conditions
What are the Accelerate Fellowship Terms and Conditions?
Read the Accelerate Fellowship Terms and Conditions
Have another question?
Email us at programs@inevitable.foundation