The Vermont Screenplay Incubator
Supporting local filmmakers in writing Vermont-based screenplays.
Incubator 4.0 - The "Mini" Version.
Winter Session 2026/2027
Process
Starting November 2026. This 4 month program (8 sessions) will support 5 screenwriters in development of Vermont based screenplays.
The overall goal of the incubator is to create a safe and supportive environment to develop your craft and work on your screenplay, in a creative community, promoting accountability, with the ultimate aim to foster collaboration beyond the sessions.
Writers will meet bi-monthly via Zoom for feedback and coaching on their screenplays (alternating focus on 2-3 writers per session) accompanied by relevant talks, exercises, readings and planning to support their growth as writers! Smaller peer-to-peer groups will be formed to create accountability in between sessions.
You can enter the incubator with a Vermont project already in development or start with a fresh idea. Individual needs will be taken into consideration from support with ideation, weighing scope and skill, attainable funding etc.
Goals
Production-Ready Projects
The ultimate goal for the annual incubator group is to support a pipeline of Vermont homegrown film projects. By honing the creation of the script with local production in mind, developing a focused budget, funding strategy, and outreach plan from the outset, your film will have a greater head start to making your vision a reality.
Project Timeline
- Submission window: September, 2026
- Application deadline: October 1, 2026
- Notification Date: October 15, 2026
- Program Start: November, 2026
- Eight Sessions: 11/3, 11/17, 12/1, 12/5, 1/5, 1/19, 2/2, 2/16
Facilitator and Screenwriting Coach
Jeanine loves supporting the growth of other creatives. She focuses on getting a deep understanding of the inner world of the writer and how it informs what’s on the page. Moving between intuition and concept creation, she digs in on intentions and how it informs the execution from initial idea to the specificity of image and character motivation as the screenplay takes shape.
With years of experience as a professional actor in her birthplace Denmark and the USA, Jeanine has nurtured her desire to craft authentic stories and characters, leading to being awarded the Sloan Foundation Production Grant, winning Best Cinematography for her thesis from The American FIlm Institute and being invited to join the Stowe Narrative Story Labs with her latest feature screenplay.
This award-winning creator of films such as NO MORE and MORS DAG (Mother’s Day), currently in development of THE BOOKS, skillfully brings together a creative team to support the development of universally resonant narratives grounded in the fearless truth of her personal journey.
When this AFI Directing Fellow is not writing or directing, you can find her downhill skiing, cooking or belting Brandi Carlile ballads with her teen daughter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be located in Vermont?
The incubator is specifically designed to help Vermont-based screenwriters. However, if your film is set in Vermont and you intend to base production through a company here, plan to move here, or have other questions, please reach out to us and we will let you know if you qualify for application.
What are the program costs?
Applying to the incubator costs a $15 application fee. The Incubator 3.0 program cost is $800 per accepted applicant. We want to encourage a wide variety of voices and perspectives in the program so if the cost is a barrier for participation, please reach out so we can discuss payment plans or other options for participation.
Do I need to have screenwriting experience?
Yes. This is not an introduction to screenwriting, so we will not be instructing on proper formatting, etc. so you will need to have an understanding of the screenwriting style and have completed at least one script.
Does the film need to be set in Vermont?
The program is designed to produce scripts that are ready to film here. That said, if you plan to film in Vermont but your film has a non-literal or otherwise unbound to place then that is fine.
Will I need to attend in-person sessions?
The majority of coaching & feedback sessions will all be held virtually via Zoom, to encourage statewide participation and enhance inclusion & accessibility. For Incubator 3.0, an in-person pitch meeting will also be a part of the process.
What are the application requirements?
Applicants should be Vermont residents, you will be asked to submit a sample of a completed screenplay (can be any duration), provide a personal bio and a resumé or CV, and a 500-word essay on your motivation to join the incubator.
Need more info?
Email us if you have a question that isn't covered by the FAQ
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