2026 FilmLab Writer’s Room

Willamette Writers is proud to offer an in-person educational opportunity for aspiring screenwriters this year. Eight writers will be selected by a panel of judges to participate in a two-day in-person writer’s room in Portland, Oregon. They will work with Grant Rosenberg, an experienced showrunner, producer, and screenwriter, to collaborate on a script which will be performed by SAG-AFTRA actors at the Willamette Writers Conference in August. This script will move into production in 2027.

About the Writer’s Room

Eight writers will participate in the writer’s room. In the room, they will develop the specifics of the script concept and flesh out the characters and the overall story arc. The writers will then be paired up to collaborate on a script, which they will have three weeks to complete.

Submit here: https://willamettewriters.org/programs/screenwriting/.

Do not submit on FilmFreeway.

Submission Details

-Submissions open on Submittable on March 16, 2026.
-Submissions are free for Willamette Writers members, and $10.00 for guests.
-Writers must submit an 10-page sample of their work to be considered.
-Submissions should emphasize character and dialogue and be presented in script format as a PDF.

Timeline

-Applications open: March 16, 2026
-Applications close: April 24, 2026
-Writers’ Room Announcement: May 11, 2026
-Portland Writer’s Room Dates: June 20 & 21, 2026
-Willamette Writers Conference: August 1, 2026
-This is an educational opportunity, and participation is key!

Writers who submit but are not accepted will be invited to participate as viewers of the in-person writer’s room.

Previous FilmLab participants are not eligible to submit their work, but are invited to join the room as viewers as well.

Get your work ready!

We look forward to reading your scripts!

Submit here: https://willamettewriters.org/programs/screenwriting/.

Do not submit on FilmFreeway.