Black Boy Writes Launches Fifth Mentorship Initiative; Last Call For Rotten Tomatoes TIFF Grant Program
Special Edition Issue!
Submissions for the 5th year of the Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative have offically opened!
Under the Black Boy Writes banner, Mike Gauyo (of Insecure and Ginny & Georgia fame) and screenwriter platform Coverfly launched the initiative in 2021 to provide access and resources to Black preWGA screenwriters.
“I’m thrilled that this mentorship initiative has been able to help up and coming Black writers get a step closer towards achieving their dreams,” said Gauyo. “As more and more DEI initiatives get dismantled, it’s important to continue to create space for marginalized voices to be amplified.”
Heather Daughtry, Chief of Programming, Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes adds, “I am looking forward to taking our mentorship initiative to new heights, as we continue to amplify and provide top-tier resources for underrepresented screenwriters.”
Submissions for the 2026 class will stay open through July 31st.
The first round of the application process will require a bio, one-hour or half-hour original script (of any genre), and a short essay. Those who reach the third round will interview with Gauyo and Daughtry before 10 to 12 participants are selected.
Features of the mentorship initiative include:
Monthly Writer Roundtables with established writers/industry leaders. Past participants include Morgan Cooper (Creator of Bel Air) Showrunner Syreeta Singleton (Rapsh*t), Golden Globe Winning Writer Kemp Powers (Soul, One Night in Miami), Kay Oyegun (This is Us), Gary King (VP Development, Paramount), Oscar winner Peter Ramsey (Co-Director, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)
Writing workshops and notes sessions to prepare mentees for Fellowships, Generals, and Staffing.
General meetings with Networks and Production Companies. Past participants include Hoorae, Mattel, Plan B, FX, and Macro.
Each mentee will receive the latest in Final Draft software.
Mentees will have access to three additional program mentors/industry professionals; Jackie Penn (4400, The Catch, Turner & Hooch), Andre Ferguson (Power Book II: Ghost), and Cynthia Adarkwa (Legacies, The Pit, Emperor of Ocean Park).
At the end of the program, each mentee will have the opportunity to be read by Gauyo’s agents at Culture Creative and Lit Managers at M88, for representation consideration.
Past mentees have gone to receive representation through the program, including Joshua L. Myers from the 2021 Mentee Class, who is repped by Culture Creative as well as Jules Crosby from the 2024 Mentee Class, who is now repped by M88.
Submit your applications at blackboywrites.com or coverfly.com.
If you’re a journalist and plan on or want to go to the Toronto International Film Festival, Rotten Tomatoes has got you boo!
RT’s is once again hosting their ongoing grant program for critics will support professional press attending the Toronto International Film Festival 2025.
Stipends from this program are intended to offset the expenses of festival travel and lodging, upgrading equipment needed for festival coverage, and/or incurred due to time off work to attend the festival.
Rotten Tomatoes is partnering with the Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA), whose members will review the applications and recommend recipients for the grant.
Eligible applicants are welcome to submit an application here through June 20.
