ANTIGRAVITY ACADEMY’s SCREENWRITERS Camp
Are you a first-time filmmakerready to share your story?
Antigravity Academy’s Screenwriters Camp is a program designed to support
emerging filmmakers (or writing teams) as they develop their first feature.
Antigravity Academy is an Emmy-winning creative home for singular storytellers, with a unique emphasis on emerging talent. We develop and produce stories that haven’t been told before in film, television, documentary, short-form and beyond.
Antigravity’s debut film, DÌDI (弟弟), written and directed by Sean Wang, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Audience Award, opened globally later that summer via Focus Features, and went on to win two Independent Spirit Awards.
Through our various educational and community initiatives, we are actively reimagining the film industry and are passionate about making it accessible to all.
That’s why we created Antigravity Academy’s Screenwriters Camp – to open new doors into Hollywood for the most exciting new voices in film, whoever they may be.
The Screenwriters Camp consists of a week-long residential intensive in May, followed by a series of virtual sessions and a period of industry exposure. Upon completion, participants will have a new draft of their screenplay and a lasting place within the Antigravity Academy community, along with expanded industry connections to help carry their projects forward.
The third edition will be led by Abiram Brizuela, former Director of Artist Community at the Sundance Institute, with support from Unapologetic Projects co-CEO, Chris Quintos Cathcart. The program will be produced by Antigravity’s Head of Production, Valerie Bush, with creative development led by Antigravity founder Carlos López Estrada, Antigravity’s Head of Film & TV Holly Stanton and screenwriter Anna Moskowitz.
“Both our first and second years of the Screenwriters Camp were truly transformative—for fellows, mentors, and staff alike. Each year brought its own breakthroughs, with writers discovering their voices, forging lasting connections, and pushing their stories further than they thought possible. Now, heading into our third year, we’re building on that momentum. With every new class, the camp grows stronger, and we can’t wait to see how this next group will continue shaping a fearless community of storytellers ready to redefine the future of cinema.”
- Abiram Brizuela
The 2026 edition will be the third edition of this program.
Each filmmaker (or filmmaking team) will enter a 7-month development period with Antigravity Academy starting with the intensive in May followed by several months of continued development through additional drafts, virtual sessions, and a dedicated period of industry exposure. By the end, participants emerge not only with an advanced draft of their screenplay but also with expanded professional connections and a lasting place within the Antigravity Academy community to carry their projects forward.
Last year, we selected 6 projects from 7 amazing filmmakers, JP Bradham, Alex Bush, Alexander Chard, Tommy Tang, Emma Van Slyck, Bobby Herrera, and Monisha Dadlani who joined us in Lake Arrowhead in May.
At the in person intensive, the filmmakers participated in individual and group development sessions with mentors and Antigravity staff, exclusive screenings and panels, and developed lifelong friendships through bonding camp activities. Mentors and speakers included Marcus Gardley (THE COLOR PURPLE), Clint Bentley (TRAIN DREAMS, JOCKEY), Shaz Bennett (ALASKA IS A DRAG) , Alex Rivera (SLEEP DEALER, THE INFILTRATORS), Alissa Shipp (This America Life), Sean Wang (DÌDI (弟弟)), Greg Jardin (IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE) and multi hyphenate artist George Watsky.
After the Camp, fellows participated in a series of virtual workshops to continue developing their projects. Additionally, the screenwriters have been selected for different screenwriting programs, competitions, and some have also gotten representation.
