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. 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. 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.
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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