THREE-PART PROGRAM
New Voices • New Mexico
A Curated Development Program for Emerging New Mexican Screenwriters & Filmmakers
2025/2026 Program Information Coming Soon!
FOR EMERGING NEW MEXICAN SCREENWRITERS AND FILMMAKERS DEVELOPING FEATURE FILM OR TELEVISION SCRIPTS
Stowe Story Labs is proud to partner with New Mexico Film Office to offer the New Voices • New Mexico program.
A three-part, curated writing program for talented New Mexicans interested in developing a feature film or TV script.
Participants will be selected through a competitive nomination and application process. The program will be limited to no more than10 emerging talents (or teams of no more than two). Applications will be selected based on a good story idea; the demonstrable ability to write a feature or television script; receptiveness to incorporate new skills and approaches into the work; and a collaborative nature.
Video interviews with past participants can be viewed here.
The three parts to the program are a:
3-day online Narrative Lab
Individually designed ongoing mentoring program with top industry mentors
5-day online Writers’ Retreat
GOALS + RESULTS
The intent is to help participants turn their ideas or earliest drafts into fully developed scripts, to support participants in building ancillary documents, such as project one-sheets, look-books, and to review approaches to getting the work out into the world. By the end of the program, participants should have a good first draft of a script, a confident ability to talk about the project, and will be prepared to push the work forward.
QUALIFICATIONS
You must be a resident of New Mexico or a New Mexican student studying out-of-state in order to participate. Proof of residency will be required on the application.
PART I: Three-Day Online Narrative Lab
PART II: INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED ONGOING MENTORING
The Stowe Team and participants in the program will collaborate to design an online ongoing mentoring program. Working with top industry mentors, program participants will (1) further develop the project they bring to the program, helping them build off the insights developed during the Narrative Lab and (2) prepare for the June 2026 Writers’ Retreat.
Facilitated by Stowe’s David Pope, Co-Founder, and David Rocchio, Founder and Director of Stowe Story Labs
SESSIONS WILL COVER
Skill development and focus on story structure, character, and theme; conversation about story; packaging; elements of creative production; casting; adaptation; and finance and distribution
Direct access to working industry professionals, who are top in their fields, as mentors
Opportunities to build knowledge, skills, and insights to navigate the film industry
A network of talented peers, vital in this collaborative art and business
Peer-to-peer script note sessions
Workshop, roundtable, and social time
Intent is for participants to develop skills, tools, and approaches to advance their story ideas; an ability to pitch the project in many different scenarios; and a good sense of how to advance the work
PART III: WRITERS’ RETREAT
Facilitated by David Pope and David Rocchio
Five-day,online Writers’ Retreat held in June 2026
SESSIONS WILL COVER
One-on-one, one-hour meetings with two different industry mentors to discuss your script, approach to project, or career pathway
Daily structured one-hour, small-group, peer-to-peer meetings
Group workshop sessions on subjects vital to developing the craft and navigating the business of screenwriting
Shared meal times, evening drinks, and activities giving an opportunity for broader conversations between peers and mentors
Time to write, reflect and revise
Intent is participants leave the Retreat with actionable, concrete, steps to consider in making revisions to their script, and an action plan to advance the project
“The [New Voices•New Mexico] program offered an incredibly comprehensive approach to the pillars of storytelling, screenplay writing, and a topical look at the landscape of our industry. Creators not only refined their screenplays and writing skills over the course of a multi-day intensive program alongside mentors from key sectors of Film and Television, but they also were able to glean more about the business as it relates to cultivating a career.”
Blake Avery, Manager of Original Content Film at Netflix
KEY DATES AND TIMES
Application season runs March 7 - April 8, 2024
Online Writing Program: June - October, 2024
Online Narrative Lab: July 19 - 21, 2024
In-Person, Writers’ Retreat: November 8 - 11, 2024
INVESTMENT
If selected to participate, other than the application fee and travel, there are no program fees and both meals and lodging costs will be covered. There will be a supplemental room and board charge for teams of two. Chosen participants will be responsible for their transportation to the Writers' Retreat. Fellows who choose to participate in the optional production/set visit post Writers’ Retreat (Nov. 12, details TBA) will be responsible for their own lodging and meals costs to stay the extra day.
In proud partnership with New Mexico Film Office
New Mexico Film Office is a division of the New Mexico Economic Development Department and serves the film and television industry locally, nationally, and internationally. Their purpose is to market the state to the film industry, service the productions, and create jobs for New Mexicans. They assist productions with finding potential filming locations; do consults regarding the financial aspects of a project; connect productions with the crew, vendor services, and film liaisons throughout the state. In addition to promoting and providing production services, the film office is initiating emerging media opportunities for the state and working to expand industry infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Applications are now open for the 2 2024 New Voices • New Mexico program. Apply here.
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If selected to participate, other than the application fee and travel, there are no program fees and both meals and lodging costs will be covered. There will be a supplemental room and board charge for teams of two. Chosen participants will be responsible for their transportation to the Writers' Retreat. Fellows who choose to participate in the optional production/set visit post Writers’ Retreat (Nov. 12, details TBA) will be responsible for their own lodging and meals costs to stay the extra day.
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A team of two may apply, and if admitted the team will share mentor meetings and peer group slots (not take separate meetings or seats), and will need to cover a room and board surcharge.
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Yes!
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Just email us at info@stowestorylabs.org.