Palmtrees and NEON Launch Global Screenplay Incubator

Palmtrees has announced a partnership with independent film company NEON to launch a global screenplay incubator focused on emerging writers from underrepresented regions. The program will select 8-10 writers from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Oceania to develop feature-length genre screenplays.

Applicants are required to submit a treatment and the first 15 pages of their screenplay. Selected writers will undergo intensive development sessions and will be compensated throughout the program.

The incubator will culminate in a three-week in-person residency. Applications will open on March 31, 2026, and close on June 1, 2026.

The selection process will be based solely on the strength and clarity of the writer's project, regardless of prior credits. Funa Maduka, the founder of Palmtrees and a former Netflix executive, emphasized the need for structured support for extraordinary writers in these regions, while NEON's founder, Tom Quinn, highlighted the company's commitment to amplifying new voices in cinema.