Anonymity
Blind-read file required
2026–2027 public portals
The current Nicholl pathway uses public submission partners rather than the former direct-entry competition. The 2026–2027 Black List and Writers Guild Foundation windows are closed.
Direct answer
For the 2026–2027 Academy Nicholl cycle, a writer could use only one public portal: The Black List or the Writers Guild Foundation. Both portals are now closed. Do not prepare against an old direct-entry checklist; wait for the Academy to publish the next partner cycle, then follow the selected portal's own rules as well as the Academy eligibility contract.
Freshness contract
State
Awaiting next cycle
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
Review again by
Mar 1, 2027
The Black List window closed July 6, 2026, and the Writers Guild Foundation window closed July 20, 2026. This profile remains visible as a verified archive until the Academy publishes the next public pathway.
Before the file check
Anonymity
Blind-read file required
AI policy
Policy varies by opportunity
Accepted script type
Original feature screenplay
Emerging writer
The reviewed WGF rules cap lifetime motion-picture and television writing earnings at $25,000 and require every entrant to meet the Academy's non-professional eligibility rules.
One public route
A writer could submit through only one public partner, not both; the Academy also used non-public partner recommendations.
Original English-language feature
The reviewed public-portal rules exclude pilots, episodic material, translations, and parts of multi-part features.
File
PDF in standard industry screenplay format.
Length
80–125 pages, on U.S. Letter or A4.
Blind read
A title-only title page is encouraged. Remove writer names, contact information, and other identifying information from the screenplay.
Registration number
A Library of Congress or WGA registration number was permitted but not required.
The Writers Guild Foundation's 2026–2027 Nicholl rules say screenplay dialogue, characters, or scene descriptions generated by artificial intelligence are ineligible. That is verified for the WGF public route; check the selected portal and Academy terms rather than generalizing it to a future cycle.
The WGF portal instructed writers not to expect revisions, replacement, or updates after submission.
After the draft is frozen
Private browser check
Catch file, page-setup, and identity issues before you enter the official portal. Your PDF stays in this browser, and every automated result is clearly separated from what you still need to verify yourself.
This is an extra search, not proof of anonymity. You should still inspect the title page, headers, footers, and PDF properties.
PDF only, up to 25 MB. Nothing is uploaded.
Choose a PDF to begin
Use the exact export you plan to submit after your screenplay revisions are frozen.
Reasonable boundaries