THE WRITERS' INCUBATOR
The Writers’ Incubator offers three first-time and emerging BIPOC filmmakers the opportunity to bring their ideas to life. Led by co-founders Amy Nuñez and Gracie Flores, this program begins with a 10-week intensive group development lab that transitions into direct mentorship through crowdfunding, marketing, pre-production, and production. For the entirety of the program, our producers work hand in hand with filmmakers — from story consulting, pitch deck creation, casting, and beyond.
By empowering filmmakers to actively nurture their creative drive, the program aims to break down barriers to entry in the film industry, encouraging filmmakers to boldly carve their own path.
Cycle 02 / 2026 Timeline
(05/11) Submissions open.
(05/25) Submissions close.
(06/08) Applicants notified.
(06/14) Incubator begins.
(08/16) Incubator ends.
Application Materials
1.) Story Premise
2.) Logline
3.) Filmmaker Bio
4.) Video Introduction
5.) Short Writing Sample
SUBMISSION
with application materials before the deadline.
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE 05/25/26 @ 11:59 PM PT.
PROGRAM LED BY:
Amy Nuñez
Amy is a Peruvian-American writer and cinematographer based in Los Angeles. She’s always been a creative at heart—whether she’s behind a camera, journaling her thoughts, or just admiring the little details of the world around her. She earned her B.S. in Business Marketing and B.A. in Theater, Film, and Digital Production from UC Riverside, where she won the award for Best Cinematography. Now, she works at the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), an organization whose mission is to discover, promote, and inspire diverse creatives. There she assists on signature programs like the Diverse Women in Media Forum, the NALIP Media Summit, and the STARZ Writers’ Intensive. Witnessing and taking part in the organization's mission, she is guided to do the same in her creative work.
Through her stories and her art of creating ethereal visuals, she hopes to defy narratives, build representation on and off screen, and shed light on stories of healing, love, and family complexities. More than anything, she loves connecting with people—whether that’s through her work or simply creating a space where creatives can learn, grow, and make cool things together.
Gracie Flores
Gracie is a Mexican-American writer, director, and producer based in Brooklyn, New York. She is a graduate of Columbia University with a B.A. in Film & Media Studies and has been mentored by industry leaders through Hello Sunshine and Women in Entertainment.
Writing and directing her own films since high school, she has self-taught herself the ins and outs of indie filmmaking—from producing, to marketing, to editing. Marketing her no-budget short-films on TikTok, she gained massive followings and support from people all over the world. Altogether, her films hold over 1.5 million views on Youtube.
Building on this momentum, Gracie founded Sonder Pictures, a production company dedicated to fostering a supportive ecosystem for independent creators. Through Sonder, she transitioned into producing, successfully overseeing three short films with budgets ranging from $7 to $25k. Her mission is to foster a space where creatives feel empowered to embrace the messiness of making their first big film & the freedom of being a beginner.
A few of her favorite films include Bottoms (2023), Cría Cuervos (1976), and The Double Life of Veronique (1991).