Funa Maduka’s Palmtrees Teams Up With NEON For First-Ever Screenplay Incubator

According to Ireporter Online, Palmtrees, a screenplay development incubator founded by Funa Maduka for writers from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Oceania, has partnered with NEON for its inaugural cohort.

The incubator has invited writers from eligible regions to submit a treatment and the first 15 pages of a feature-length genre screenplay. Selected participants will work closely with dedicated story analysts through an intensive development process and will be compensated for their involvement. The program will conclude with a three-week in-person residency.

Between eight and ten writers are expected to join the first cohort. According to the incubator, the program welcomes writers at all levels, whether first-time screenwriters or those with prior produced credits. Selection will be based on the strength of the project and clarity of the writer’s voice, with no advantage given to prior credits. Applications opened on March 31, 2026, and will close on June 1, 2026, through palmtrees.dev.

Reacting to the partnership, Maduka stated, “Tom and his team have built something rare. NEON has done more to expand the definition of world cinema in the last five years than any company in the business. They take real creative bets, and that instinct is the basis for our collaboration.”

Tom Quinn, founder and CEO of NEON, added, “Some of the most vital voices in cinema today are emerging from places that have been historically underrepresented on the global stage. NEON is thrilled to partner with Funa and her team at Palmtrees to help identify and support this next generation of filmmakers.”