The Abortion Pipeline Project (APP) is an annual lab for feature film scripts to seed and source narrative film projects which center abortion. It is part of the Athena Film Festival’s Creative Development Program.

APP writers will take part in a virtual lab and other virtual sessions which will introduce writers to reproductive justice experts and writing coaches to create stories that are steeped in expertise. The participants will also be connected with writing mentors to support their creative process, and will receive a grant to continue to develop their project.

The Abortion Pipeline Project is in Collaboration with: Jess Jacobs, filmmaker/activist; Renee Bracey-Sherman, Co-Executive Director of We Testify; Dr. Gretchen Sisson, lead researcher of ANSIRH’s Abortion Onscreen; Melissa Silverstein, Artistic Director of Athena Film Festival.

Please note that the events date listed below are subjected to change.

Awards & Prizes

Five writers will be selected and will receive grant money, writing mentorship, and sessions with experts on the depiction of abortion on screen.

Rules & Terms

- Projects must have a woman, trans or non-binary character(s) in leadership role(s) or
position(s).

-Projects must center around an individual who has decided they will have an abortion and the potential obstacles to receiving a safe abortion. These obstacles can include, but are not limited to legal, medical, cultural, or religious barriers;

-Projects from all genres are accepted; we look for stories from all racial, ethnic,
socioeconomic, ability and cultural groups, but must be a NARRATIVE;

-Projects must be written in English (dialogue intended to be filmed in non-English
language is OK) and cannot be more 120 pages;

-If you have been on the Athena List, you can submit a project, but it CANNOT be a
script that was on the Athena List;

-Scripts based on existing material will be considered, as long as the writer(s) have
secured the underlying rights to the source material;

-There is NO FEE to submit your project;

-The Athena Film Festival encourages applications from people of all races, religions, national origins, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and ages, as well as veterans and individuals with disabilities. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are from a marginalized or underrepresented group, particularly in the film industry.