HamptonsFilm, home of Hamptons International Film Festival, announced today the selected fellows, screenplays, and mentors for the 26th edition of their annual Screenwriters Lab, which will take place April 10-12, 2026.
The three selected screenplays for 2026’s Lab are “Before the Echo Makes a Sound” by Chloe Abrahams, “Punter” by Jason Adam Maselle and “Eruption” by Katla Sólnes. The Lab pairs rising screenwriters with established screenwriters, directors, and creative-producers for a weekend of one-on-one mentoring sessions. Submissions for this year’s lab were up 60% compared to previous labs.
“When considering selections from this year’s record number of submissions, these three projects really stood out with their distinct voices and individual storytelling approaches. We are also honored that all three mentors are alumni of HamptonsFilm, having previously shared their work at either the festival or the lab,” stated Chief Creative Officer David Nugent.
This year’s mentors include filmmaker Cathy Yan, a 2018 Lab alum with her project DEAD PIGS, which went on to win the Jury Prize for Ensemble Acting at the Sundance Film Festival and whose film THE GALLERIST recently premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival; HIFF alum Cory Finley, whose film THOROUGHBREDS earned nominations at the Gotham Awards, Film Independent Spirit Awards, AFI Fest, and the Sundance Film Festiva;, and HIFF alum Noah Stahl, whose film REALITY earned both PGA and Gotham Awards nominations.
Recent mentors include Justin Kuritzkes (CHALLENGERS; QUEER), Celine Song (PAST LIVES; MATERIALISTS), Dan Janvey (NOMADLAND), Michael Covino (SPLITSVILLE), Samuel D. Hunter (THE WHALE), Peter Hedges (ABOUT A BOY, PIECES OF APRIL), Jesse Andrews (HOPPERS; ME, EARL AND THE DYING GIRL; LUCA), Michael H. Weber (THE DISASTER ARTIST, 500 DAYS OF SUMMER), DAVID SIEGEL (THE FRIEND) and more.
HamptonsFilm will also present “Eruption” by Katla Sólnes with the 2026 Melissa Mathison Award. Established in 2016, the award is named for the late, beloved Oscar®-nominated screenwriter, and strives to foster the continued development of female writers in the industry. Previous recipients include Cathy Yan’s DEAD PIGS, Shehrezad Maher’s THEORY OF COLORS, Farida Zahran’s THE LEFTOVER LADIES, Lana Wilson’s BACK SEAT, Kelly O’Sullivan’s MOUSE, Kirsten Tan’s HIGHER, Aemilia Scott’s THE BIRTHDAY SUIT, Annabelle Attanasio’s MICKEY AND THE BEAR. The 2026 Melissa Mathison Award recipient will receive a staged reading (with a casting director) of selected scenes from their project in New York City.
To support women in film, please learn more and donate to the Melissa Mathison Award here, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org/melissa-mathison-award/.
