FAQ

The link to the 2027 program can be found on the Program page. The application is open as of September 30 and will be accepted until October 28, 2026, at 11:59 pm PT. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Prelude invites all early-career, aspiring storytellers to apply to the program.

Applicants must:

• Reside full-time in the Greater Los Angeles area and be able to participate in regular programming.
• Have limited-to-no experience working in any capacity in film and TV
• Ideally, have limited education in the industry
• Be at least 18 years of age at the start of the program
• Not be a member of any union or guild that represents film and television professionals
• Not have any major professional credits on feature films or television

We welcome applications from individuals who have previously applied.

No. Due to the program’s structure and frequency, applicants must reside in the Los Angeles area full-time.

Prelude is unable to subsidize travel, lodging, visa, or other related expenses for participants traveling from outside the Greater Los Angeles area.

Be prepared to discuss your creative vision, past experiences, and future aspirations in detail. We recommend drafting your responses in a working document before submitting them via the online application form to avoid any potential loss of information.

• 8 Short Answers
• Resume/CV - If you need support with resume structure, you're not limited to use this, but here's a great resource.
• 2x Reference Letters and Reference Contact Information
• Creative Asset
• Introduction Video

Prelude is looking for people with a strong creative point of view and a distinctive eye for storytelling. We are especially interested in people who are at the very beginning of their careers, with little to no professional experience in film or TV.

You do not need credits, industry experience, formal training, or accolades to be a strong candidate. In fact, we are intentionally looking for people who have not yet had those opportunities, but who demonstrate a natural visual sensibility, creative curiosity, and a compelling way of seeing the world.

We want to discover storytellers with something uniquely their own and the potential to develop that perspective into a career in the industry. Prelude provides the tools, resources, exposure, mentorship, and industry connections to help fellows build on that foundation.

Our fellows enjoy building relationships with their peers and fostering a strong sense of community. Someone who wants to be part of a cohort—and contribute to the creative connections, conversations, and collaborations that make the experience meaningful for everyone.

We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn. Our fellows see their time here as a chance to experiment and discover where their ideas might take them.

Applicants will be evaluated on a wide range of traits, including creative vision, passion, and curiosity, as shown in their application, creative asset, references, and interview.

Applications are reviewed by a selection committee composed of film and TV professionals and impact professionals.

We will select 10 fellows for our 2027 cohort.

Prelude is a space of exploration and play, where storytellers can discover their unique voices, experiment with new ideas, and collaborate with others. It’s a supportive environment designed to foster creativity and growth, where fellows push the boundaries of their storytelling and connect with a community of fellow creatives.

This work is accomplished through monthly in-person programming. Curriculum includes:

• Hands-on workshops
• Panels with filmmakers and industry professionals
• Eight one-on-one mentorship sessions with a designated mentor
• Group discussions and exercises with the cohort
• Monthly assignments
• An overnight weekend intensive

While we expect our fellows’ full engagement, the program is built to accommodate both life, school, and work commitments.

Subject to change

Application Open: September 30 to October 28, 2026
Interviews: November 23 to December 14, 2026
Fellows Notified: December 16, 2026
Program Starts: February 2027
Program Ends: October 2027

Prelude helps fellows build fundamental frameworks around collaboration, industry foundations, and refining their creative process through play and exploration.

Through small-group conversations with filmmakers, hands-on workshops led by professionals across all career stages, and carefully designed opportunities for connection and skill development, you'll gain creative clarity, career guidance, and practical industry insight while developing your work.

Beyond technical skills, we focus on cultivating essential collaborative abilities: giving and receiving feedback, recognizing the power of your unique voice, and refining your creative process. A cornerstone of our approach is helping fellows understand their value, both to themselves and to one another, emphasizing the incredible asset of having your people to dream and create with.

Prelude balances introspection and self-discovery with expansive thinking, creating moments of awe and wonder with industry panelists and facilitators who can shift your perspective and reveal new paths forward.

You can see previous programming here on our website: 2026 Cohort and 2025 Cohort.

No, Prelude is a tuition-free program.

Yes! Prelude is intended to support early-career, aspiring storytellers.

If you require special accommodations, please share specific details and expectations in advance. The Prelude team will do our best to support your needs and assess what is possible within the scope of the program. Please note that participation involves a series of in-person events and workshops that require your full engagement.

The Prelude team will communicate via email with all recipients regarding the status of their application.

Fellows will need to have access to an internet connection and hardware to support Zoom video conference calling and other programming throughout the fellowship. The fellows are also required to attend all in-person program events and community events, ranging from small gatherings to groups of up to 60 people.

Prelude is committed to the communities we serve by building key partnerships that expand our resources, enhance outreach, connect with our target applicants, and deepen our understanding of their needs. This ensures that our programming aligns with the voices and priorities of those we support.

Our impact partners include: Girls Write Now, Reparations Club, LA LGBT Center, InsideOut Writers, A Place Called Home, Young Storytellers, and Youth Cinema Project.

Our industry partners include: A24, Motion Picture Association, Final Draft, The Criterion Collection, Kodak, and Shot Deck.

Tender Pictures’ fellowship program, Prelude, was co-founded by Abbi Jacobson and Mieka Tennant with the vision of leveling the playing field for entry into the industry.

Through years of experience, Abbi and Mieka saw firsthand the unwritten rules of success, how access to networks, events, and insider knowledge often dictates opportunity. They understood what it takes to thrive, and more importantly, who often gets left behind, and how difficult it can be to piece together all of the pieces to gain the confidence to create.

In the fall of 2023, they realized what was missing: a space that comes before everything else, a space where emerging storytellers can meet their people, find their voice, and be given the space to play. A year later, Prelude was launched, opening applications for its inaugural 8-month fellowship, offering just ten spots for its first cohort.

Rooted in play, experimentation, and the belief that creativity flourishes before credentials, Prelude lives up to its name: a beginning, a spark, a moment of preparation for what’s next.