FilmStack Calendar Table Of Contents
Screenings & Performances (IRL & Virtual)
Events (Festivals, MeetUps, Classes/Labs & Webinars)
Deadlines (Festivals, Grants)
Actions & Petitions
Housekeeping
1. Screenings & Performances:
Cannes:
May 12-31: creative force streams worldwide as part of Cannes International Film Week
FilmStack is going to Cannes!! Huge congratulations to Alex LeMay and Maris Lidaka whose documentary creative force will screen as part of Cannes International Film Week!
creative force is “about the birth of the Ukrainian resistance and one man’s journey across the war zone to deliver a ballistic vest and some homemade cookies to his friend on the front lines”. According to Alex, they shot 140 hours of raw footage in Ukraine.
Stay tuned for details on how to watch.
(SS)
London:
June 4th: Cannes Dogs 2: The Poo Edition Tour
Join stupid co on June 4th at the Rio Cinema in Dalston for Cannes Dogs 2, which will include a dog-friendly London premiere of the feature film The Woman Who Can Read the Minds of Dogs.
Tickets and more info:
https://riocinema.org.uk/Rio.dll/WhatsOn?f=2511374
(SS)
New York (NYC):
Current - May 26: Sophie Letourneur series at Cinema at L’Alliance
lallianceny.org/event/the-films-of-sophie-letourneur
Opening with the US premiere of her new film L’Aventura on April 21, with a Q&A with the director following the 7pm screening. It’s a beautifully observed, almost diaristic portrait of a family vacation; full of small, hyper-relatable moments. lallianceny.org/event/laventura
June 11th: Cannes Dogs 2: The Poo Edition Tour
New Yorkers can join stupid co on June 11th at Posteritati for the New York leg of Cannes Dogs 2. This event will feature “an all dog-movie-poster gallery and more soon to be announced”.
Tickets and more info:
https://posteritati.com/cannes-dogs-2
(SS)
Elsewhere:
NOW- May 10th: INVISIBLE NATION’s US College Tour continues!
Where to Watch Invisible Nation on PBS
Catch broadcasts nationwide this May:
Sun, May 3
• Boston (ET) – 7:00 PM (WGBH)
• Corpus Christi (CT) – 5:00 PM (KEDT)
• Indianapolis (ET) – 3:00 PM (WFYI)
• San Antonio (CT) – 2:30 PM (KLRN)
• San Francisco (PT) – 2:00 PM (KPJK/KRCB)
• West Virginia (ET) – 5:00 PM (WVPB)
• WORLD Channel – 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET
Mon, May 4
• WORLD Channel – 10:00 AM ET
Tue, May 5
• Tulsa (CT) – 8:00 PM (KRSU)
Wed, May 6
• WORLD Channel – 11:00 AM ET
Sat, May 9
• Boston (ET) – 7:00 PM (WGBH)
Mon, May 11
• Baltimore (ET) – 9:00 PM (MPT)
Tue, May 12
• Hawaii (HT) – 9:00 PM (PBS Hawaii)
• Minneapolis (CT) – 4:30 PM (KTCA)
• New York (ET) – 9:00 PM (THIRTEEN)
Wed, May 13
• Los Angeles (PT) – 9:30 PM (KVCR)
Thu, May 14
• New Jersey (ET) – 9:00 PM (NJ PBS)
Sat, May 16
• Columbus (ET) – 9:00 PM (WOUB)
Sun, May 17
• Atlanta (ET) – 10:00 PM (WABE)
• Baltimore (ET) – 4:30 PM (MPT)
• Columbus (ET) – 1:00 PM (WOUB)
• DC/Maryland (ET) – 4:30 PM (WMPT)
Mon, May 18
• Los Angeles (PT) – 12:00 PM (SoCal Plus)
• San Francisco (PT) – 9:00 PM (KQED)
Wed, May 20
• New York (ET) – 9:00 PM (WLIW)
Thu, May 21
• Denver (MT) – 8:00 PM (PBS12)
Sun, May 24
• Columbus (ET) – 4:00 PM (WOUB)
Check your local PBS listings for additional airtimes.
#InvisibleNation #PBS #Documentary
(TH)
NOW- May 20th: COUP 53 is back in theaters!
If you’re in Hudson, New York, Seattle, LA, the UK, or Ireland… you’re invited to see Coup 53! From the COUP 53 team:
The acclaimed documentary COUP 53, edited by Academy Award-winner Walter Murch and featuring a mesmerising performance by Ralph Fiennes, is set for a new theatrical release in the UK, Ireland, and US responding to a surge of public interest driven by current geopolitical events.
Read more details here:
Find times in your city & get tix: https://www.coup53.com/#screenings
2. Events
Festivals:
June 12: Tribeca Film Festival Storytelling Summit:
FSDD’s own Ted Hope will be sharing his vision of the coming future of film (and how we got in this situation). There’s a great list of others participating in the same “Luminaries” section as Ted: Rebecca Miller and Josh Safdie, Zach Woods, Zach Braff, Myha’la, Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater, Philip Barantini, Ron Perlman and Willie Morris, Dan Houser, Michael Sarnoski
You can read more about it here.
October 24: The NonDe Shorts Festival (NSF)
Okay, okay, so this one might feel a little far in advance, but you’re gonna blink and it’s gonna be October, so you better start planning now!
Submit: https://filmfreeway.com/NonDeShortsFestival
Location: Reading Biscuit Factory, Reading-UK
Subscribe and keep up-to-date on all the latest developments!
(SS)
Meetings & Masterclasses:
Labs & Classes
Labs
May 16 at 9:30 AM Pacific/11:30 AM Central/12:30 PM Eastern: NonDē Creative Development: Projects in Motion Reading Workshop
(SS)
Webinars
May 11: The Writers Lab Mentor Masterclasses
DEVELOPING CHARACTER | Pat Verducci
MONDAY MAY 11 | 3pm ET
Character is the lifeblood of a great screenplay. Pat Verducci will first talk about the basic foundational blocks of a great main character, and then guide attendees through a series of live exercises to deepen and develop their own. Pat will also talk about secondary characters and how to use them to push and pull on your protagonist.
(CR)
Shore Scripts FREE Events
MAY 11: WHAT GETS GREENLIT: INSIGHTS FROM PEACOCK’S DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
MAY 11 at 11 AM Pacific/ 2 PM Eastern/ 7 PM (19:00) GMT
What are TV executives really looking for? Join Shore Scripts for a rare, behind-the-scenes conversation with Director of Development Duane Luu (Peacock) to learn how projects get chosen, what makes a writer’s pitch stand out, and how to position yourself and sharpen your voice to compete in today’s TV landscape.
Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gtTdKhoURYONmzgxTXbJ7g
JUNE 16: BREAKING INTO TV WRITING: INSIDER ADVICE FROM SHOWRUNNER BETH SCHWARTZ (ARROW, SWEET TOOTH)
JUNE 16 at 10 AM Pacific/1 PM Eastern/6 PM (18:00) GMT
Ready to break into TV? Join Shore Scripts in a conversation with showrunner Beth Schwartz (ARROW, SWEET TOOTH) for an inside look at how the industry really works: what it takes to get staffed, stand out, and build a lasting career in television.
Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e5O9DHXQRY2dJ-N4xG_unQ
(SS)
3. Deadlines
Festival Deadlines:
LdnDocs
Regular deadline: 15th June, 2026
Late deadline: 15th August, 2026
Notifications: 15th September
Woodstock Film Festival
Regular Deadline: May 8
Late Deadline: June 5
FilmFreeway Final Deadline: June 12
Bend Film Festival
Extended Deadline: May 22, 2026
Event Dates: Oct. 7 to 11, 2026
Oak Cliff Film Festival
Event Dates: July 30 to Aug. 2, 2026
HollyShorts Film Festival
Late Deadline: May 8, 2026
Extended Deadline: Jun. 1, 2026
Event Dates: Aug. 13 to 23, 2026
May 15: Shore Scripts TV Writer Mentorship Program REGULAR DEADLINE
FINAL DEADLINE – JUNE 29TH
EMMY & Golden Globe Winning Judges will choose this year’s winners.
Break into TV writing faster with the Shore Scripts TV Writer Mentorship Program—an exclusive opportunity designed to help you get staffed or sell your pilot.
Only SIX writers will be selected for this 8-week intensive mentorship, where you’ll:
Learn directly from top industry professionals
Get insider access to how hit shows are made
Build real connections with decision-makers
You’ll work with: showrunners from BRIDGERTON and ARROW, development executives at Universal Pictures, plus top agents, managers, and more.
Announcement Dates:
QUARTER-FINALISTS – AUG 26TH
SEMI-FINALISTS – SEPT 10TH
FINALISTS & WINNERS – OCT 7TH
More info: https://www.shorescripts.com/tv-pilot-contest/
Enter 1/2 Hour: https://scrybe.to/competitions/tv-writer-mentorship-program
Enter 1 Hour: https://scrybe.to/competitions/tv-writer-mentorship-program
(SS)
May 24: FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER ANNOUNCES 64th NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL CALL FOR SHORT FILM SUBMISSIONS
Short film submissions will be accepted via FilmFreeway through May 24. The entry fee is $50 through April 5, and $60 from April 6 through May 4. This fee will contribute to funds for a seasonal staff of short film submissions screeners as well as additional festival operations, including artist support. NYFF64 is noncompetitive, and all sections are curated by the selection committee with support from an international roster of programming advisors and screeners. Only short films (40 minutes or less) are accepted through FilmFreeway.
Short films submitted via FilmFreeway are considered primarily for NYFF’s Currents section, though selected titles may also be invited to screen in other sections of the festival, including the New York Shorts program within Spotlight. A complement to the NYFF's Main Slate, Currents presents a diverse offering of short-, medium-, and feature-length work by filmmakers and artists working at the vanguard of narrative, documentary, and experimental modes.
NYFF’s call for short film submissions provides an opportunity for new and emerging filmmakers to share their work. In addition to short film submissions collected via FilmFreeway, the NYFF64 selection committee considers recommendations from alumni and industry colleagues, as well as work that has premiered in international festivals and galleries since the previous edition of NYFF. Submitted films will be evaluated by NYFF64 programming staff and considered equally with all other prospective entrants. All films submitted through FilmFreeway will be notified of their status by August 17.
(TH)
May 29: Shore Scripts Feature Contest EARLY DEADLINE
REGULAR DEADLINE – JULY 14TH
FINAL DEADLINE – AUG 28TH
Announcement Dates:
QUARTER-FINALISTS – OCT 6TH
SEMI-FINALISTS – NOV 13TH
FINALISTS & WINNERS – DEC 9TH
More info: https://www.shorescripts.com/feature-contest/
Enter: https://scrybe.to/competitions/shore-scripts-feature-screenplay
(SS)
Square Peg Social Application REGULAR Deadline
Regular Deadline: July 6, 2026
Extended Deadline: August 7, 2026
Notification Date: October 5, 2026
Event Dates: November 5-9, 2026
(TH)
Grant & Application Deadlines:
Application window now open: Film Independent Fiction Producing Lab 2026
https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/artist-development/fiction-producing-lab/
Non-Member Deadline: May 4, 2026
Film Independent Member Extended Deadline: May 18, 2026
More Information • Applications OPEN
Also their Documentary Producing Lab application is open!
Film Independent Documentary Producing Lab 2026
Non-Member Deadline: May 4, 2026
Film Independent Member Extended Deadline: May 18, 2026
More Information • Applications OPEN
2026 Slamdance Screenplay Competition
Submit here: https://slamdance.com/screenplay-submit/
New Grant! IDA Emergency Assistance Grant
More info here: https://www.documentary.org/ida-emergency-assistance-program
Are you a collaborative, expansive, imaginative, generative creative interested in making new immersive storyworlds?
Although no deadline is specified, the application window is limited for the Culture House Talent Pool Open Call.
More info here: https://culture.house/open-call
The Roy W. Dean Grant – Spring 2026 Cycle is now open.
For more than three decades, this grant has supported independent films that are unique and make a contribution to society — helping projects get made that might otherwise never reach the screen.
$3,500 cash grant
$20,000+ in donated services & production support
Deadline: March 31, 2026 (Midnight)
Open to filmmakers worldwide
Projects can include: Documentaries, Narrative features, Short films, Web series or multimedia projects.
Eligible at any stage of production — from development through post — for projects with budgets under $500K.
Finalists will be announced in July, with the winner revealed in August.
https://fromtheheartproductions.com/roy-w-dean-film-grants-and-awards/
(HT: Nancy Collet on LI)
June 3rd: The Inspired Screenwriting Competition (Regular Deadline)
Now in our second year, the Inspired Screenwriting Competition is doubling down on our mission to amplify bold and unique new voices and disrupt the status quo of the film industry.
So, send us your best. Send us your personal. Send us the crazy out-there ideas that could have only come from (insert your name here).
You only need the first 20 pages of your screenplay to submit for the first round. Feature screenplays only.
REGULAR DEADLINE: 6/03/26 - $30
LATE DEADLINE: 7/01/26 - $35
https://www.inspiredscreenwriting.com
(AS) (SS)
NOW - May 31: The Rideback RISE Fellowship (Application Window)
The RISE Fellowship each year selects a cohort of best-in-class, mid-career Fellows who are supported financially, creatively, and entrepreneurially in a rigorous 12-month program to make commercial film and television that can propel narrative change. Fellows are experienced writers or writer-directors who will develop an original pilot or feature as part of the Fellowship in addition to being supported in their directing endeavors.
More here: https://www.ridebackrise.org/our-program
(AV)
May 27: Late Deadline for Austin Film Festival’s Script Competition
From AFF:
AFF values a great story above all else. As a bonus, AFF winners receive much more than our coveted bronze typewriter award, as our Festival team works hard to curate opportunities and experiences to catapult writers into life-changing careers. AFF competitions seek to do much more than honor winners but increase the visibility of the visionary writers and filmmakers just on the cusp of a breakthrough. See more about our industry fellowships here.
SUBMIT by 5/27: https://austinfilmfestival.com/about-aff-script-competitions/
(CR)
4. Actions & Petitions
Actions
Petitions
Sign This Petition to tell the state attorney generals to #BlockTheMerger!
We ARE going to #BlockTheMerger. It is NOT a done deal. The State Attorney Generals will pick up the fight -- provided you sign this petition that Robert Reich has launched. Sign today! I did.
(TH)
Stop The Warners / Paramount Merger:
Sign here: https://act.freepress.net/sign/block-paramount-warner-bros-merger
Also, please visit Blockthemerger.com
where Future Film Coalition is collecting short, first-hand accounts from across the industry - including exhibitors - to document how media consolidation is affecting the film ecosystem. Use your voice and share your story!
Urge Attorneys General to Stop Paramount’s Mega-Media Monopoly
This one courtesy of the awesomeness that is Robert Reich.
Add your name in support here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-paramount-mega-media-monopoly/
5. Housekeeping
Who’s sharing what, you ask?
ARB= Alex Rollins Berg AS= Amanda Sweikow AV = Ami Vora CR= Courtney Romano DS= Danielle A. Scruggs SS= Sara's Soliloquies TH= Ted Hope
And please remember:
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