Sundance 2027 Alfred P. Sloan Episodic Grant: $17,000 for Original Science-Focused TV Pilots
The Sundance Institute Episodic Program, supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, is accepting a special 2027 grant application from writers with an original, scripted half-hour or one-hour episodic television series that treats a subject in science with an illuminating, generally positive emphasis. The selected writer or two-person writing team may receive a US$17,000 cash grant and craft-development support. Medicine, engineering, energy, invention, mathematics, technology and the stories of scientific figures are among the suggested subjects. The general 2027 Episodic Lab application closed on 25 August 2026; this separate science-themed Sloan opportunity is an exception and should not be confused with a general reopening of the lab.
Deadline warning: official Sundance pages are inconsistent
As checked on 24 October 2026, Sundance's artist opportunities/deadlines overview lists **3 December 2026** for this Sloan grant, while another version of the official artist opportunities page contains **14 December 2026**. An associated code also ends in '121426', adding confusion. The precise date displayed inside FilmFreeway should control submission, but applicants are strongly urged to prepare and submit by the EARLIER date, 3 December, and ask episodicprogram@sundance.org to clarify if the form gives a different deadline. We do not claim that December 14 is a confirmed extension.
Who can apply and what work is eligible?
An original dramatic or comedy/drama scripted series with episodes approximately 30 or 60 minutes and a substantial connection to science.
An applicant or writing team of no more than two people. General Episodic Lab guidance allows international writers of any nationality or residence, aged at least 18.
Full original pilot script in English, even if the finished series is envisioned for another language.
The writer must hold the rights, or secured options for adaptations, and the project must not have already sold to a major studio, been fully produced or commercially distributed.
The regular Episodic Lab does not accept unscripted reality programmes, documentary-only series, short-format sketches or audio-only shows. Confirm if the Sloan-specific rules add further limits.
What to prepare for FilmFreeway
The general 2027 submission guidelines ask for a complete dated pilot PDF, two writer biographies of up to about 250 words each, a logline of up to 50 words, pilot synopsis of up to 500 words and a series overview of up to 500 words. They also ask for a personal statement and thematic statement of no more than 250 words each, and optionally up to ten minutes of previous video work. The special grant page directs applicants to FilmFreeway at the SundanceEpisodicLab2027 entry. Do not send the screenplay to random agencies, and keep source-material options and writing credits documented.
Grant versus general lab fees
The standard 2027 Episodic Lab application fee is $50 per pilot, non-refundable. Sundance publishes a SPECIAL deadline-waiver code for Sloan applications; that does not necessarily mean a guarantee of a waived payment charge. Check the amount actually shown on FilmFreeway before paying and use the code only as instructed there. The $17,000 is a grant to a selected series writer, not a payment to everyone who enters or a prize for a standalone feature film. Travel and accommodation conditions published for the full Episodic Lab should not automatically be applied to a grant-only award without confirmation.
Sundance and Alfred P. Sloan background
Sundance Institute is a US nonprofit institution with a longstanding filmmaker development and festival programme. Its Episodic Program supports original independent scripted TV storytelling via labs, creative advisors and writing workshops. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation promotes understanding of science and its contributions to human welfare; the two organisations have collaborated to back storytelling informed by science. The current Sundance site identifies the grant amount, separate deadline, thematic fields and application channel.
First-party details and eligibility
Sundance 2027 artist opportunities and current grant deadline: https://www.sundance.org/deadlines/
Sundance Episodic Program full writer and materials FAQ: https://www.sundance.org/programs/episodic-storytelling
Sundance-linked FilmFreeway science-eligible submission route: https://filmfreeway.com/SundanceEpisodicLab2027
Checked 24 October 2026. Prefer the earlier published deadline: 3 December 2026. Verify application fee and special Sloan eligibility directly through the official FilmFreeway project page.