palmtrees, a screenplay development incubator for writers from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and Oceania, has partnered with NEON for its first cohort.
Between 8 and 10 writers will be selected for the program. Applicants submit a treatment and the first 15 pages of a feature-length genre screenplay. Selected writers develop their scripts through one-on-one work with dedicated story analysts, are compensated throughout, and conclude the program with a three-week in-person residency.
The incubator is open to writers at every stage of their career. Selection is based on the strength of the project and the writer's voice; prior credits are neither an advantage nor a requirement. Applications opened March 31, 2026, at palmtrees.dev. The submission deadline is June 1, 2026.
palmtrees was founded by Funa Maduka, who spent six years leading international original films at Netflix, where she built the company's first international film slate and oversaw the acquisition and development of titles including "Happy as Lazzaro," "Roma," "Divines," "I Lost My Body," and "Atlantics." Maduka is also a filmmaker; she is credited with directing and producing the first Nigerian film to world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
NEON was founded by Tom Quinn.
