The Black List & Women In Film Announce 2026 Episodic Lab Participants

The highly-selective program helps prepare women writers and writers of underrepresented genders for careers in television writing.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Black List and Women in Film have announced the six participants for the 2026 Episodic Lab, a program that helps prepare women writers and writers of underrepresented genders for careers in television writing. The participants will take part in master classes, workshops, and lectures from industry mentors over the course of March.

Why it matters

The Episodic Lab is a flagship collaboration between The Black List and Women in Film, aimed at supporting the voices and careers of new writers as the industry faces ongoing challenges. The program has helped launch the careers of over 55 writers since its inception in 2016, nearly half of whom are now staffed and working in television and film.

The details

During the three-times-a-week sessions in March, the six selected participants will receive mentorship from industry veterans including Lauren LeFranc, Julie Plec, Kayla Alpert, Glen Mazzara, Krista Vernoff, Taylor Cox, Sono Patel, and Joel Church-Cooper. The program is supported by the Golden Globe Foundation.

  • The 2026 Episodic Lab runs in March 2026.
  • Submissions for the 2027 Episodic Lab open today on the Black List website.

The players

The Black List

An American organization that promotes and facilitates the production of films.

Women in Film

A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women in the film, television, and media industries.

Megan Halpern

SVP at The Black List.

Maikiko James

Deputy Director at Women in Film.

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What they’re saying

“The Episodic Lab, now in its tenth year, continues to be a flagship collaboration for the Black List and WIF. As our industry faces ongoing headwinds, we remain steadfast in our support of the voices and careers of new writers.”

— Megan Halpern, SVP, The Black List (Deadline)

“Television audiences want fresh perspectives, and these selected participants represent exciting new visions in storytelling. We're so proud of this Lab, its alumni, advisors, and instructors, for their commitment to craft and community.”

— Maikiko James, Deputy Director, Women in Film (Deadline)

What’s next

Submissions for the 2027 Episodic Lab open today on the Black List website.

The takeaway

The Episodic Lab continues to be an important program for supporting the careers of underrepresented writers in the television industry, providing them with mentorship and opportunities to develop their craft and connect with industry professionals.