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Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions is gearing up for the second edition of its “No Drama” filmmaker initiative, presented in partnership with Universal Film.
The global initiative — developed by Universal’s Filmmaker & Content Strategies group — launched in 2024 as a one-year, non-exclusive program that supports emerging genre filmmakers by providing access and industry exposure in partnership with the studio’s term-deal producers. The first cohort of “No Drama” filmmakers debuted their short films at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, earning widespread critical acclaim and award wins at subsequent festivals. Eighty percent of the inaugural class have also secured agent or management representation.
“We are thrilled to reunite with Monkeypaw Productions for the ‘No Drama’ initiative to champion the next generation of genre storytellers,” said Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer. “Jordan and his team bring an unmatched expertise and passion to this initiative, making them the ultimate partners to help elevate these new voices.”
For the second installment, Monkeypaw and Universal have teamed with American Cinematheque, which will provide a $50,000 grant to up to three filmmakers, who will direct their submitted short film scripts with the goal of developing the proofs of concept into full-length projects. (This year, each submission should include a feature-length treatment of the short film script.)
This version of “No Drama” asks prospective filmmakers to explore two key themes — “Fear is universal. Monsters are personal” — ultimately delivering a script that redefines horror “across cultures, generations and societies, revealing the monsters we all carry within us.” The finished shorts will premiere at Beyond Fest 2027, and Monkeypaw and Universal will have a first-look option to consider further development.
“Amplifying fresh voices in genre storytelling is a core mission for Universal, which is why we are absolutely thrilled to partner alongside American Cinematheque’s globally renowned Beyond Fest,” said Janine Jones-Clark, Universal’s executive VP of filmmaker & content strategies. “We know this will be an ideal platform to give these rising writer-directors the high-profile visibility needed to launch their careers.”
“The American Cinematheque has always believed that the future of cinema depends on creating meaningful opportunities for the filmmakers who will shape it,” added Grant Moninger, the nonprofit’s artistic director. “We’re thrilled to partner with Universal Film and Monkeypaw Productions on this initiative and to present the finished films at the highest-attended genre film festival in the nation, Beyond Fest. Programs like this allow us to extend our mission beyond celebrating the history of cinema and take an active role in investing in its future.”
Submissions are now open on American Cinematheque’s website and will close on Sept. 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
As mentioned, filmmakers from the inaugural “No Drama” cohort have achieved notable success with their shorts. Ariel Zengotita’s “Imago” screened at SXSW, and Jared Leaf’s “Spilled Milk” won the Audience Award for short narrative at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival, as well as the prestigious HBO Short Film Award at the American Black Film Festival. Leaf and Chandler Crump were also named to blkscript’s “35 Rising Filmmakers You Should Know” list, which spotlights Black creative talent in Hollywood.
The filmmakers earned international recognition, too. The Royal Television Society, the U.K.’s premier educational media organization, selected Charlie Dennis’ film “The Pigs Underneath” for an exclusive screening. Members of the cohort have also transitioned into studio-level development: filmmaker Helena Hawkes was accepted into the Universal Writers Residency program, which partners writers with the studio’s term-deal producers to develop original film ideas.
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