The Writers Lab, a script incubation programme supported by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman that focuses on women and nonbinary screenwriters over 40, has announced the writers selected for its Fall 2026 Intensives and revealed a new Los Angeles-based programme alongside its established New York edition. This marks the first time the initiative has run an inaugural cohort on the West Coast, expanding its reach within the industry as the only scheme of its kind dedicated to this demographic of writers.

The Los Angeles cohort, comprising eight writers, will meet at Women In Film and the American Film Institute in October, while the New York cohort, also eight writers, will convene at Writers Guild of America East and Lincoln Center in November. Each three-day intensive will focus on building sustainable writing careers and will be followed by a five-day writing residency to further support participants' development and industry connections. This year's mentors include Susan Cartsonis, Anya Epstein, Meg Lefauve and Robin Swicord, while script jurors include Kyra Sedgwick and Clea Lewis.