Meryl Streep funds new screenwriting lab for women over 40

Meryl Streep is giving back—in the form of filmmaking, of course. Variety reports the three-time Oscar winner has funded a screenwriters lab for women over 40, which will be spearheaded by New York Women in Film and Television as well as IRIS, a collective of women filmmakers.

Called Writer’s Lab, the initiative was announced at a panel at this weekend’s Tribeca Film Festival, where news also broke about Streep’s involvement. The goal of the Writer’s Lab will be to provide opportunities for females over the age of 40. Submissions will be accepted from May 1 until June 1, with eight winners announced on Aug. 1.

Star-studded writers and producers have already signed on for the program’s inaugural year, which will take place in upstate New York. Current mentors include Gina Prince-Bythewood (Beyond the Lights), Caroline Kaplan (Boyhood), Kirsten Smith (Legally Blonde) and Jessica Bendinger (Bring It On).

For more information on Writer’s Lab can be found on the NYWIFT’s website.

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