Moonshot Pilot Accelerator
Moonshot Pilot Accelerator
Fellows pitch one-on-one to companies like HBO, Netflix, Showtime, Hulu, Starz and more after three weeks of training on pitching and the industry. Moonshot Initiative is a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the representation of women and gender-expansive folks on screen, behind the camera and in writers' rooms.
1 option
2026
Overview
About the Moonshot Pilot Accelerator
In this highly competitive virtual accelerator program for TV writers, 6-8 fellows will receive three weeks of industry training before having the opportunity to pitch to major companies, agents and managers. Past companies have included HBO, Netflix, Hulu, Showtime, Starz, Prime Video, Neon, Blumhouse, Broadway Video, Berlanti, Fabel Entertainment, Irish Cowboy, and many more. The entire accelerator, including training and pitching, will occur online.
This program aims to increase the representation of women and gender expansive people on screen and in writers' rooms.
The goal of this program is to launch the careers of our fellows, which could take the form of selling their TV pilot; securing follow-up meetings with executives; getting hired as a freelance writer, staff writer or writing support staff on an existing series; and/or making valuable industry contacts.
Over our past three Pilot Accelerators, each of our fellows received 6 to 10 one-on-one meetings, and 75% of those meetings ended with a request to read the script. Since the accelerators, several of our fellows have gotten staffed; received representation; become mentees to showrunners; gotten work as writers' room support staff; won contests with their pitches prepped in our program; and more.
Semi-finalists' scripts will be read by a panel of prestigious judges — showrunners, TV series creators and co-EPs of major shows. In the past, multiple judges have requested meetings with a semi-finalist after reading their script.
Moonshot Pilot Accelerator is created by Moonshot Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works toward gender equity in film and television.
How to Apply + Application Review Information
Applicants will submit their full script of their narrative, live-action pilots (half-hour or hour-long format) and answer a few brief questions.
Applications will be reviewed by Moonshot's Selection Committee, comprised of Moonshot Accelerator alums.
After the first round of assessment, Moonshot will invite some applicants to submit 2-minute video to be eligible for further consideration. Instructions for the 2-minute video will be provided to applicants upon notification.
From this pool of applicants, Moonshot will select and announce quarter-finalists.
Then, Moonshot will select and announce semi-finalists, whose scripts will be read by our industry judges (including showrunners, TV series creators and co-EPs). Semi-finalists will be also invited to an exclusive virtual networking event.
Of those semi-finalists, about half will move on to the finalist stage, in which they will be interviewed by Moonshot Initiative.
Of those finalists, we will select 6-8 fellows to attend a three-week virtual program and pitch their TV projects during Pitch Week.
The Program
Selected fellows will attend virtual sessions on Sept. 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and Oct. 1. These sessions are mandatory for all fellows.
The sessions will include:
pitch feedback with a showrunner, development exec, and speech coach
legal information from an entertainment lawyer
a mock writers' room led by a showrunner
Q&As with an agent and manager
and other sessions to help strengthen the pitch and the fellows' careers
During Pitch Week (Oct. 5-9, 2026), fellows will pitch their pilots to development executives, producers, agents, and managers at major companies. Typically, fellows each get 6 to 10 one-on-one pitch meetings, and 75% of meetings end with a request to read the script.
Moonshot Initiative is dedicated to supporting fellows long after the end of the program. Moonshot will provide guidance for follow-ups after the pitches, and Moonshot conducts one-on-one check-in meetings with fellows a month after the program. All alums are invited to join the Accelerator Alumni Committee, which provides peer career support.
Rules & Guidelines
You must be 18 or older to apply to Moonshot Pilot Accelerator (“Program”). You must have a completed pilot for a live-action, scripted series (“Screenplay”). No documentaries, animations, web series, or films will be accepted. All Screenplays must be in the English language. All material must be original and submitted by the owner. If your project is an adaptation, you must specify in the application whether or not you have the rights.
You must be available for all Program dates to participate in the Program if accepted into the Program as a fellow (“Fellow”). If you are unavailable for one or more Program dates, you will no longer be eligible for the Program. If you are part of a writing team, both partners must be available for the Program if accepted. We will not accept writing teams of more than two people.
All Screenplay loglines will be sent to each studio, production company and producer who is signed on to the Program to hear pitches (each, a “Judge”). Each individual who has agreed to hear pitches will choose a minimum of three pitches to hear. Fellows will not meet with every studio, production company and producer.
These rules are subject to change at any time. If there are any material changes, you will be notified through email.
SUBMISSION RELEASE WAIVER
I, the applicant submitting to Moonshot Pilot Accelerator (“Recipient”) on behalf of myself, agree as follows:
Recipient agrees to indemnify, defend, protect and hold harmless Moonshot Initiative INC its parent and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, representatives and employees (collectively, “MI”), from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, costs, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and punitive damages) arising out of or in connection with Recipient’s participation in the Program, any breach or alleged breach of the warranties and promises given by Recipient herein, and any screenplays, films, plots, characters, or ideas submitted during the Program or any screenplay, film, or material developed out of those screenplays, films, plots, characters, or ideas.
Recipient acknowledges that as part of the Program and other programs MI holds, MI receives many submissions of creative materials from third parties and that it is continually developing in-house ideas, stories, and creative materials; and that many such submissions and/or developments may be similar or identical to the Screenplay and/or any material provided, evaluated and/or presented for the Program. Recipient understands and agrees that MI’s use of materials or properties containing similar or identical elements to Recipient’s film, Screenplay and/or any other materials presented for the Program, and evaluated by any of the Judges and/or MI (collectively, the “Material”) shall not obligate the Judges and/or MI to Recipient in any manner whatsoever. Recipient agrees that, to the extent that ideas and concepts presented in Recipient’s Screenplay include material that is in the public domain or owned by a third party, Judges and MI will have the same rights in such material as any member of the general public. Recipient further understands that the Judges and MI would refuse to evaluate Recipient’s Material in the absence of Recipient’s acceptance of each and all of the provisions of this Release. Recipient acknowledges that no fiduciary or confidential relationship now exists between MI or Judges, on the one hand, and Recipient, on the other hand, and Recipient further acknowledges that no such relationships are established between MI or Judges, on the one hand, and Recipient, on the other hand, by reason of this Release.
Recipient agrees that Recipient will not assert against any Judges and/or MI any claim based on plagiarism, infringement, confidential relationship, implied contract, unfair competition or for any other reason whatsoever arising out of any alleged use by a Judge and/or MI of the Material. If, notwithstanding anything stated herein, Recipient should hereafter claim that a Judge and/or MI has used Recipient’s proprietary Material, or any portion thereof, without Recipient’s consent or authorization, Recipient specifically agrees and understands that Recipient will not sufferor make any claim for damages in excess of One Thousand U.S. Dollars (US$1,000), if any, and that such damages, if any, shall be Recipient’s sole and exclusive remedy and shall be payable only in the event of a court of competent jurisdiction’s finding that a Judge and/or MI has wrongfully appropriated such proprietary Material from Recipient. Accordingly, Recipient irrevocably waives its right to seek and/or obtain rescission and/or equitable and/or injunctive relief in connection with any such claim(s). Recipient understands and agrees that Judges and/or MI are not responsible for any loss or damage to the Material.
If any provision of this Release is deemed to be invalid, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and shall not invalidate the remaining provisions. To the extent the terms of this Release conflict with the Recipient’s grant of rights to Program, the terms and conditions of this Release govern with respect to the matters set forth herein between the parties hereto.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can apply?
Anyone over 18 who has a completed pilot script that falls within our guidelines is eligible to apply.
Former fellows are ineligible.
- Can I submit if I am not a United States citizen?
This program takes place virtually and is open to anyone no matter where they reside. The hours of the program are based on Pacific time.
- Can writing partners submit?
Yes, writing partners can submit. If accepted, both writers must attend all events.
- Can I apply if I already have representation (agent, manager, publicist)?
Yes.
- What kind of pilot script are you looking for?
We are looking for completed scripted, live-action pilot scripts in any genre. No documentaries, specs, films, short films, partial drafts, web series, or animated series will be accepted. All submissions must be in English.
- How long or short should my pilot be?
Many studios and production companies are looking for half-hour comedies and/or hour-long dramas, but there aren’t any hard-and-fast rules. In terms of script length, generally, one page equals one minute of screen time. However, your pilot script may end up longer as some pilots contain more description than the average script to set the scene.
- May I submit more than one pilot script?
Yes. Each submission must be in a separate application with its own application fee.
- May I resubmit a pilot script that I submitted to the Moonshot Pilot Accelerator (formerly WWFC's Pilot Accelerator) in a past year?
Yes. Generally, we recommend that you only resubmit a project if you have made significant edits to it since you last submitted.
- What am I required to submit on my application?
You can submit via Scrybe, and you'll need to create an account before applying. Along with your pilot script, you will need to answer a few brief questions to complete your application. Here's our blog post about the answers we want to see for these questions.
- I have a fully produced pilot episode that I’m trying to sell. Can I submit that in lieu of a script?
No. We are only looking for TV pilot scripts, not produced episodes.
- Who will be reading my script?
All applications will be reviewed by the Moonshot team and our readers. Semi-finalists’ scripts will be read by industry judges, many of whom are looking to hire and refer writers to rooms in the future. Those judges will help our team select finalists to interview. We will choose 6 to 8 fellows out of those finalists.
- Is there any way to receive notes or feedback on my submission?
No. Unfortunately, due to a high volume of submissions, our team is unable to provide any sort of notes, feedback or critique on any submission.
- If I’m a semi-finalist, will you let me know which industry judges have read my pilot?
No, we are not able to share which judges have read which projects. At the semi-finalist level, each script will be read by two industry judges.
- I would love to contact one of the judges or readers. Can you connect me with them?
As a policy, we will not share contact information of our judges or readers, nor can we connect applicants with them or pass along any messages on applicants’ behalf. Please do not contact any of our judges or readers about your application.
- I’ve made changes to my script since submitting it. Can I update my script after applying?
You cannot update your application after you submit it so please make sure you are ready. Scripts are read as soon as possible so chances are we have already read your script multiple times by the time you want to update your application. If you have made significant changes, we suggest submitting it as a new application so that we can assign new readers to it.
- How much does the program cost?
The submission fee ranges depending on when you submit. The submission fee offsets the tremendous time commitment we put toward reading every script multiple times. The accepted fellows will participate in the program at no cost.
- Is there financial aid?
To increase the access to career-changing opportunities regardless of economic situation, we have instituted a scholarship fund for our Accelerator, however, this fund is limited. We cannot offer full waivers, but we can provide discount codes to make it more affordable.
You can apply for financial aid here.
Want to help us increase our scholarship fund for the future? Please encourage your community to make a tax-deductible donation.
- What is the difference between a finalist and a fellow?
If you make it to the finalist round that means that you received an incredibly high score from our industry judges — congrats! All finalists will go through an interview on zoom as the last stage of the competition.
Out of that group of finalists, 6-8 fellows will be selected. These fellows are the official participants of the accelerator program and will have a chance to pitch to studio execs and producers at the end of the program.
- What are the program dates?
The accelerator workshops take place on September 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and Oct. 1. Each session is three hours long. Pitch week is from Oct. 5-9.
- I submitted for this program, but now my schedule conflicts with the program dates. What should I do?
Please let us know if you are no longer able to be present for all program dates, as we want to ensure that we are advancing the applications of only those who could participate if selected. You will be much more likely to advance through our future programs if you notify us of any conflicts that will prohibit you from fully participating in this program.
- How and when will I be notified of my acceptance? Will I be notified if I’m not accepted?
You will be notified via email through Scrybe of any changes to your status (if your application has been rejected or if you have moved to the next round).
You may be asked to submit a two-minute video in June. Instructions for the video will be provided at the time of notification, and there will be a tight turnaround (a few days for submitting the video.
If you are a quarter-finalist, you will be notified in July.
If you are a semi-finalist, you will be notified in August and you’ll be invited to a networking event for semi-finalists.
The next level is finalist. If you make it to the finalist round, you will be notified in August and will have to respond within 24 hours to choose a Zoom interview date.
The fellows, those who will attend our three-week program and pitch to studio executives, will be announced in late August. The fellows will be notified at least one day before the public announcement so that they can officially accept the fellowship, confirm that they will be in attendance for all program dates, and sign the participant contract.
- If I’m accepted as a fellow, will I pitch to all studios, production companies and producers who have signed on to hear pitches?
No, you will not be pitching to everyone on board. Your pilot will not be a good fit for every single studio, production company and producer signed on to hear pitches — for example, if you wrote a drama and they are only looking to develop comedies. Each studio, production company and producer who is on board will receive the loglines of all of the fellows’ pilots. They will select at least three pitches to hear. This ensures that we respect the time of everyone who is signed on to hear pitches and that your pitch is only being heard by people who are actually interested, which means there’s a higher likelihood of your meeting(s) being successful.
- How long will the pitch meetings take?
Each pitch meeting will be scheduled for 20 minutes, with about 10 minutes to pitch and 10 minutes for you to answer questions.
- Where does this accelerator take place?
This program will operate entirely online. Workshop sessions and pitches will be hosted through Zoom. You must have a reliable internet connection and video/audio capacity.
- Do I retain the rights to my material?
Yes, all applicants and accepted fellows retain the rights to their material. If a fellow sells this pilot, Moonshot Initiative will publicly promote the accelerator’s role in the pilot’s development and sale.
- Why do I need to sign a submission waiver?
All parties who will read scripts and hear pitches — including Moonshot members, script judges, production companies, studios, and program guests — are working in the industry and may already have similar projects in development. Submission waivers allow these parties to see your work without jeopardizing their own projects. You will be signing a submission waiver that is standard for the industry.
- How can I protect my idea?
It is always a good idea to register your script with the WGA. We do not post any submitted materials online or share application materials publicly. We will only share your work with our trusted team of readers and judges.
We ask that you refrain from watermarking your script submission as it makes it more difficult for our readers to read.
- What is the Made in New York Fellow?
Thanks to a grant from the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, one of our 6-8 fellows is guaranteed to be a New York City resident!
You can apply from ANYWHERE in the world, so don't worry if you don't live in NYC.
If you do live in the five boroughs, check "yes" to the application question asking about NYC residence. Checking yes will not negatively affect your chances of being selected, as we may select multiple NYC-based fellows.
If selected as our Made in New York Fellow, you may be asked to show proof of residence.
- I have more questions about the Pilot Accelerator. What's the best way to get answers?
We encourage you to attend one or both of these virtual sessions:
Info Session for the Moonshot Pilot Accelerator - Monday, April 20
Panel with 2024 Moonshot Pilot Accelerator Fellows - Monday, May 4
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