Pillars Artist Fellowship
About
The Pillars Artist Fellowship was launched in 2021 by Pillars Fund in partnership with Riz Ahmed’s Left Handed Films, and critical seed investments from Netflix and Amazon MGM Studios. This program is designed to support emerging screenwriters and directors committed to working in and alongside Muslim communities, providing them with the mentorship, industry connections, and financial support to help advance their careers.
Built on multi-year research, published in partnership with Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and Ford Foundation highlighting the consequences of the lack of authentic Muslim representation in film and television, the fellowship seeks to empower creatives to tell their own stories—ones that reflect the full complexity and richness of their experiences.
This cycle, the fellowship will select 10 directors and screenwriters based in the U.S. and U.K., and offer:
$40,000 unrestricted award
One-on-one mentorship with industry leaders
Professional development through expert-led workshops
Exclusive industry connections
Multi-day retreats in NYC, London, and LA
This program is not about creating "positive" Muslim stories—it’s about authentic storytelling. With guidance from renowned mentors and, crucially, each other, fellows hone the tools and network to shape bold, meaningful narratives that challenge stereotypes and push the industry forward.
In the Press
General FAQs
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Applicants must be directors or screenwriters who work in and alongside Muslim communities. Eligible directors have compiled a portfolio with at least two filmmaking work samples, including one short or feature showcasing their directing skills. Eligible screenwriters have compiled a portfolio with at least two complete pilots or feature-length scripts showcasing their writing skills.
Applicants must live in the U.S. or U.K.—citizenship is not required.
Applicants must be adults 18 years old or older.
Applicants must be emerging artists. We look for artists who are on the precipice of a shift in their careers. Pillars defines emerging artist as a mid-career storyteller who meets between 1-3 of the following criteria:
Has an agent or manage
Has directed a short or feature in the past 5 years
Has won a screenwriting award in the past 5 years
Has participated in another lab/fellowship in the past 2 years
Is a member of the DGA or WGA
Has staffed on a TV show or received a writing credit on a film
Has worked as an assistant in the entertainment industry for 2+ years
Has worked in another field in the entertainment industry for 2+ years
The entertainment industry is defined broadly and is inclusive of fields such as theater, music, stand up comedy, etc.
If you do not meet 1-3 of these criteria and believe you are still a strong fit for this fellowship, we highly encourage you to apply. Your application will be given full consideration.
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We will be accepting 10 fellows for the 2026 fellowship year.
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Yes, anyone committed to working in or alongside Muslim communities is welcome here. At Pillars, we seek to honor the unique, multidimensional experiences of our people and communities, and we welcome artists of all identities to join our fellowship. If you would like to be in touch about any concerns, please email us at artistfellowship@pillarsfund.org.
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Yes, the fellowship only requires applicants to be residents of the U.S. or U.K.—citizenship is not required. Please note that travel is required for participation in the fellowship.
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Yes— creative partners based in the US and UK may apply, but each partner must submit an individual application. You may submit the same samples across both applications. Applying as a duo does not guarantee being accepted as a duo, and you will be evaluated as individuals.
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Yes— you may submit the same sample as prior years.
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No– unfortunately we are not able to accept applications from Canadian residents at this time.
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Yes– a play can be submitted as a secondary writing sample.
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No– samples must be of writing or directorial work.
Selection Process FAQs
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Eligible directors and screenwriters are invited to submit an application October 20 through November, 2025 at 4:59 p.m. CDT / 10:59 p.m. BST. To apply, you’ll need a short bio, resume, five-minute personal video essay, and two work samples.
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Attend our information sessions to hear directly from Pillars Senior Program Manager Aya Nimer, and alumni of the program! Be sure to also check out our Instagram where we post information about the fellowship.
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Our selection committee will begin reviewing applications in November. All applicants will be notified of their status in spring of 2026.
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Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept any late submissions. For applicants with pre-approved extensions for disabilities, please refer to the adjusted deadline approved by Pillars staff.
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Please submit an email to artistfellowship@pillarsfund.org to request accommodations. We are happy to accommodate all applicants to ensure an inclusive application process.
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Pillars reviews applications for their fit in three evaluative areas: divergence from harmful tropes, creative vision, and technical skill. We are particularly interested in films and scripts that tell joyful, honest stories from that uplift the points of views of people working in and alongside Muslim communities. We believe part of our liberation is diverging from tired terrorist narratives and centering the real, daily lives of Muslims. We want storytellers to have the space to explore their full creative visions and hone their distinct artistic voices. Our rubric highly values character-driven work.
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The program fills ten slots per year. While we don't know how many applications we will receive this cycle, we can share that the ten winners in our inaugural class were selected from over 650 applications.
Award & Commitment FAQs
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2026 Pillars Artist Fellows will receive:
An unrestricted award of $40,000
Accommodations and airfare paid for three boutique in-person retreats that provide opportunities to learn, connect, and create.
High-quality one-on-one mentorship, professional development in the entertainment field, and access to a trailblazing advisory committee of award-winning actors, directors, producers, and writers.
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The Pillars Artist Fellowship consists of three multi-day in-person gatherings across a 10-month period. These retreats will take place in September 2026, February 2027, and June 2027. During our last retreat, we will host an artist showcase during which fellows will present a short pitch to a room of entertainment industry professionals to introduce their work and launch the fellows into the next phase of their careers.
Virtual curriculum through the 10-month period will include limited Zoom webinars, panel discussions and one-on-one meetings between fellows and their creative, industry, and advisor mentors.
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Join our Pillars Artist Database! This database allows filmmakers to search for their next collaborator working in and alongside Muslim communities.
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