Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting

Congratulations to MFA alum Nicole de Meneses (Class of 2025) -- you can learn about the process of making Nicole's film "Last Bite" on this panel of filmmakers this Sunday at the International Horror Hotel Film Festival at the Crowne Plaza at the Cleveland Airport.

Don't forget if you're in the LA area you can catch MFA alum Iris Almaraz's short film "Rocketship" which will be screening at the Marina Del Rey Film Festival!
📅 June 23
⏰ 6:00 PM
If you’re in the area, come hang out, watch some great films, and support independent cinema. Hope to see some familiar faces there!
Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College

CALL FOR SHORT FILMS from MFA alum Alyce Hyder...
Hello everyone!
I'm excited to announce that submissions are now open for the 1st Annual Asheville Mental Health Short Film Festival! We are currently seeking 4 short films (15 minutes or less) that explore themes related to mental health.
There is no submission fee to enter. This will be a ticketed event, with proceeds helping cover festival costs and supporting fundraising efforts for Hyder Productions' next film.
The event will feature:
✨ Four selected short films
🏆 A $250 audience choice award
🎥 A special premiere screening of "Long Time, No See"
🎟️ Raffles throughout the evening
🍿 Refreshments and concessions
🎤 A filmmaker panel featuring participating writers and directors
Additionally, 50% of all raffle proceeds will be donated to a local mental health nonprofit.
If you'd like to submit your film, you can do so here https://form.jotform.com/261674194785067
Or if you have questions, let me know!
Submission Deadline: Sunday, June 21
Selected Films Announced: Wednesday, June 24
Festival Date: Saturday, June 27
As this is our inaugural festival, we're looking for completed films ready for exhibition and would love for filmmakers to be part of helping us launch this new community event. More details will be coming soon regarding the film fest and how you can buy your tickets!
We're excited to bring filmmakers, artists, and audiences together for a night of storytelling, discussion, and mental health awareness.

Aaaaaand we’re back with our highlighting our mentors series. We got a fan favorite here!
Omaira Galarza is a Puerto Rican born army brat and daughter of a spy. Might be why she’s so great with story. She has written for the International Emmy Award winning series The Kitchen Musical, along with, East Los High, Teresa, Family Crimes, and Station 16. Got a pilot or a spec script you need help with? Omaira might be able to help. Learn more about our MFA program through our website.

Congratulations to Jenn LeBlanc! Her Renfield's Pilot script "Day One: The Night Priest" is a Finalist in the Marina Del Rey Film Festival!! ANd the script received an 8.5 in originality from Greenlight coverage.

Congratulations to MFA in TV and Screenwriting alum LeeAnne Lowry! "Friend of E.R.” — written by Lowry and directed by Ellen Stewart will be performed in front of a live audience at the Macklanburg Playhouse on the Stephens College campus June 27, 7pm. It tells the story of the friendship between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickock If you aren't in Columbia, you can listen to the broadcast the next afternoon on KOPN's Rootin' Tootin' Radio show. The performance is part of the Pringle Midwest Audio Fiction Revival. More info here: https://www.natf.org/

Congratulations to Friend of the Stephens College MFA Producer Jonathan Unger who has been featured on ’s 2026 Profiles in LGBTQ+ Pride. He's had quite a month -- Jonathan was also awarded the Legacy Leadership Award for his work raising funds for research for Blood Cancer United. Only the best people are Friends of the Stephens College MFA!

Our Executive Director Dr. Rosanne Welch is proud to have a chapter among many international artists, filmmakers, and scholars who contributed to this sensitively curated collection covering how artists from dancers to screenwriters to museum curation preserve memory and inspire healing. Edited by Karen Berman and Stephens College Dean Emeritus Gail Humphries.

Congratulations to MFA alum Tamar Feinkind (Class of 2017) who has been accepted into the Look What She's Doing program supporting women filmmakers over 30. The program provides hands-on camera and sound equipment training so participants can create and film their own independent documentaries and "embrace their storytelling abilities." We know Tamar will use this training to continue bringing more meaningful stories into the world!

Aaaaaaand we’re back to our mentor highlight series where we highlight the mentors that contribute to our program.

Jennifer Maisel is one of our mentors for our MFA in Screenwriting program. Her talents extend not just to screenwriting but also to playwriting. She’s known for her work with Lifetime with movies like To Have and to Hold, Tempting Fate, and Christmas Joy. If you’re interested in writing rom coms, she’s the perfect person to work with. Interested? Learn more about our MFA program through our website.