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EXCLUSIVE: The Black List and producer Cassian Elwes have named Kaelan Denali Dickinson as their Independent Screenwriting Fellow for 2026.
In its 13th go-round, the Independent Screenwriting Fellowship was established to identify and encourage new talent in the field of independent cinema. Under the fellowship, Dickinson has received an all-expenses paid trip to accompany Elwes to the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, where she’ll benefit form in-person mentorship and exposure to the indie film world.
Dickinson is an actress, screenwriter, born and raised in Alaska. She swam D-I at UC Santa Barbara, then taught second grade in Baton Rouge and fourth grade in Washington, D.C. before leaving the classroom to work in the Senate. She then left the Senate to (mostly) string together days as an extra on House of Cards and Veep before acting in indie film and TV. Dickinson currently lives and works in Anchorage, writing grants for Alaska Native communities and remote and rural municipalities to secure funding for anything from renewable wind energy and battery storage system construction to the replacement of fishing infrastructure.
An esteemed producer known for his work on everything from The United States vs. Billie Holiday to Mudbound, The Butler, Dallas Buyers Club, and most recently, Gus Van Sant’s critically acclaimed Dead Man’s Wire, Elwes selected Dickinson on the strength of American Gold, a screenplay that tells the story of Katherine Switzer, a self-proclaimed “not-feminist” who, after becoming the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, fights to organize the first women’s Olympic Marathon at the 1984 LA Games. When she loses the race, Katherine is forced to confront the paradox of her own legacy in sport and the cultural movement she helped revolutionize.
In a statement to Deadline on securing the fellowship, Dickinson said, “I’m thrilled that AMERICAN GOLD is rising to meet the particularly exciting moment women’s sports are having.”
In their partnership on the Independent Screenwriting Fellowship, The Black List and Elwes have specifically sought out unrepresented feature writers with an independent sensibility who have made less than $5,000 in aggregate in their film or television writing careers.
“One of the highlights of my professional year is The Black List fellowship,” said Elwes. “Last year, DEAD MAN’S WIRE was shooting in Kentucky and I brought the Fellow to visit. This year I’m delighted to bring the Fellow to an auspicious event: the last Sundance in Park City where we will celebrate not only Robert Redford’s incredible vision but also the brilliant filmmakers both young and old who have created and are still creating the history of independent cinema.”
Previous Independent Screenwriting Fellows include Natalie Baseman, Tania Gunadi, Christopher Hwisu Kim, Leslie Nipkow, Aemilia Scott, Claire Ayoub, Emily Tomson, Heather Faris, John C. Hoffler Jr., Keely Lewis Wise, Terrell Garrett, Kristina Zacharias, Mike Harden, and Matthew Hickman.
“In an independent film landscape that seems to be changing by the minute, Cassian’s generosity has helped us support an extraordinary range of filmmakers over the last thirteen years,” said Black List Founder Franklin Leonard. “I’m grateful that we get to keep betting on bold voices together, especially this year, Sundance’s last in Park City. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that this one happens to be an extraordinary story about women’s sports.”
English (US) ·