TikTok and Sundance launch an international Duanju competition with $5,000 scholarships
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
TikTok, a platform with over one billion active users, is partnering with the Sundance Film Institute, a global leader in independent film education, to launch an international competition dedicated to writing micro-series. Submissions opened on August 19, 2026, and close on September 9.
A professional jury selects five projects from the applications received. Each winner receives a $5,000 grant, access to Sundance Collab courses, a pitch preparation workshop, and a live presentation to the TikTok team on November 6.
The application process goes beyond a simple idea. It requires a title, genre, a one-sentence pitch, biographies of two to four characters, a synopsis of the complete series arc, scripts for the first thirty episodes (maximum 45 pages), and a series bible. All materials must be written in English. The use of generative artificial intelligence is prohibited in the application process.
The competition is open to creators from all over the world, alone or in pairs, aged 18 and over. Only one entry is allowed per person.
By submitting their application, candidates grant TikTok a 21-day right of first review from the date of notification of their status. This period allows the platform to decide whether it wishes to make an offer on the project, without automatic acquisition.
The competition extends a partnership launched in June 2026 between the two organizations: a free four-week program to learn how to write micro-series, which ended on August 18, the day before applications opened. Sundance Collab builds on the success of "Screen Time," produced by Hoorae Digital and distributed on TikTok and the PineDrama app, which garnered 75 million views in one week.
For the duanju program, the partnership between an institution like Sundance and a platform like TikTok shifts the format's landscape. Beyond simply broadcasting content, it involves training and talent scouting, with direct access to a broadcaster at the end of the program. While the grant remains modest compared to production budgets, the link between script development and a direct pitch to TikTok provides a rare entry point for independent creators.
The next deadlines are set: notification of finalists on October 30, pitch workshop on November 3, presentation to TikTok on November 6.
