Nine New Television Pilots Selected for Sundance Institute’s Sixth Annual Episodic Lab

Biniam Bizuneh, Opey Olagbaju, Claire Rothrock, Ryann Weir, Soo-Hyun Chung, Jonathan Sanford, Kelly Edwards, Henry Alberto, Valerie Stadler, Lindsay Weiglein, Katherine DiSavino, Adamma Ebo and Lekethia Dalcoe

Biniam Bizuneh, Opey Olagbaju, Claire Rothrock, Ryann Weir, Soo-Hyun Chung, Jonathan Sanford, Kelly Edwards, Henry Alberto, Valerie Stadler, Lindsay Weiglein, Katherine DiSavino, Adamma Ebo and Lekethia Dalcoe

Nine New Television Pilots Selected for Sundance Institute’s Sixth Annual Episodic Lab.

Out of 2,400 submissions, Sundance Institute’s Six Annual Episodic Lab selected nine original independent pilots that benefited from a full year of customized, ongoing support from feature film program staff, creative advisors and industry mentors at the Sundance Mountain Resort this past week.

According to Sundance Institute, “the selected 14 Fellows developed their pilot scripts and series through a rigorous and curated schedule of individual story meetings, writers’ rooms, case study screenings and pitch sessions with the guidance of notable and accomplished showrunners, producers, and industry executives.

“As the landscape of episodic content continues to evolve, emerging creators have an opportunity to bring their unique, independent voices and stories to the existing and new platforms” says Michelle Satter, Founding Director of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program. 

The Sundance Institute Episodic Program was created by Lyn & Norman Lear and Cindy Harrell Horn & Alan Horn. And were led by Founding Director of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, Michelle Satter and Director of the Episodic Program, Jennifer Goyne Blake. Sundance Institute’s Leadership Supporters are Amazon Studios, AMC and SundanceTV, BET Networks, Comedy Central, Netflix, RT Features, STARZ, and The Walt Disney Company.  

The artists and projects that were chosen for the 2019 Sundance Institute Episodic Lab include:

  • Bammas Written by Biniam Bizuneh & Opeyemi Olagbaju

  • Cloister F*cked Written by Claire Rothrock & Ryann Weir

  • House of the Moons Written by Soo-Hyun Chung & Jonathan Sanford

  • Make America Written by Kelly Edwards

  • Marimbero Written by Henry Alberto & Valerie Stadler

  • Mature Adult Stuff Written by Lindsay Weiglein

  • The Seventh Written by Katherine DiSavino

  • Supply, 404 Written by Adamma Ebo & Adanne Ebo

  • Valley of Bones Written by Lekethia Dalcoe

The Maker