New Class Announced for Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Program in 2026
EXCLUSIVE: Writer Mike Gauyo has unveiled the 2026 cohort for his Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative.
The new group comprises 12 talented individuals: Alia Atkins, April Mabry, Blake Edwards, Brianna Seamster, Bryant Daye, Charles Brockman III, Christian Yosef, Ganeesh Genus, LaRon Hines, PreShus Lee, Tomi Falore, and Zaire Davis.
In his announcement, Gauyo emphasized, “As Hollywood morphs to meet the needs of an evolving audience, so must the creatives who are a part of it. This year’s cohort are made of multi-hyphenates who are built to take on the expanding appetite of today’s entertainment marketplace.”
Designed to amplify diverse voices and narratives, the mentorship program spans a year, with participants engaged in monthly roundtables featuring established writers and industry leaders. Mentees will also attend writing workshops aimed at refining their scripts for future opportunities, essential meetings with networks and production companies, and seminars covering writing, pitching, and AI in film production. Each participant will receive the latest Final Draft software, thanks to Final Draft, and will have the chance to be evaluated by agents and managers at the program’s conclusion. Heather Daughtry serves as the Chief of Programming, co-managing the initiative.
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This year’s mentorship group will benefit from the expertise of writers Chris Sanford (Reasonable Doubt), Kira Talise (Wonder Man), Steven Canals (Creator, Pose), and Sara Finney Johnson (Creator, Moesha and The Parkers). Returning mentors include Jackie Penn (4400) and Andre Ferguson (Power Book II: Ghost). Willonious Hattcher is set to lead seminars focused on the growing influence of AI in filmmaking, while Donnita Shaw has joined the program as Manager of Partnerships & Brand Strategy.
