Home / Arts and Entertainment / Alaska Native Writer Wins Indie Screenwriting Fellowship
Alaska Native Writer Wins Indie Screenwriting Fellowship
23 Jan
Summary
- Kaelan Denali Dickinson named 2026 Independent Screenwriting Fellow.
- Fellowship includes mentorship at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
- Dickinson's screenplay 'American Gold' focuses on Katherine Switzer.
Kaelan Denali Dickinson has been selected as the 2026 Independent Screenwriting Fellow, a prestigious honor bestowed by The Black List and producer Cassian Elwes. This fellowship recognizes emerging talent in independent cinema, offering Dickinson an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2026 Sundance Film Festival for invaluable mentorship and exposure.
Dickinson, an actress and screenwriter with roots in Alaska, was chosen for her screenplay "American Gold." The script tells the inspiring story of Katherine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, and her subsequent efforts to organize the inaugural women's Olympic Marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Elwes specifically sought unrepresented writers with an independent sensibility for this fellowship. He expressed his delight in bringing the fellow to the 2026 Sundance, calling it an auspicious event. Franklin Leonard, Founder of The Black List, highlighted Cassian's generosity in supporting filmmakers over the past thirteen years, particularly celebrating bold voices and compelling stories like "American Gold."
