CAPE names 2026 new writers fellows

CAPE has chosen its 2026 New Writers Fellowship class, marking another turn for one of the entertainment industry’s longest-running programs for emerging screenwriters.

The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment said the fellowship, now in its 14th year, continues to focus on preparing new writers to build sustainable careers in Hollywood. The program has positioned itself as a professional development track, pairing promising talent with industry guidance and practical exposure at a moment when access and mentorship still shape who gets through the door.

The early details point to a class built around hands-on mentorship. Reports indicate Haley Chung is among the selected writers and will be mentored by “St. Denis Medical” executive producer Vicky Luu. That pairing offers a glimpse of how the fellowship works: connect new voices with working creators who understand both the creative and business pressures of the industry.

For emerging writers, fellowships like this do more than polish scripts — they create a path into rooms that often remain difficult to enter.

The announcement also lands in a broader conversation about representation in film and television. Training programs do not solve the industry’s inclusion gaps on their own, but they often serve as a practical bridge between promise and employment. CAPE’s fellowship has built its reputation on that bridge, helping writers sharpen craft while expanding the networks that often determine who gets staffed, developed, or heard.

More details about the full 2026 class and what comes next may follow, but the immediate signal is clear: CAPE intends to keep investing in a pipeline for new screenwriting talent. That matters beyond one cohort. As studios, streamers, and producers search for fresh voices, programs that identify and mentor writers early can influence not just careers, but the kinds of stories Hollywood chooses to tell.