Regent’s University London and Robert McKee, the world-renowned lecturer, are thrilled to announce the launch of the Robert McKee International Screenwriting Scholarship, beginning with the 2018/19 academic year.
McKee, a Fulbright Scholar, is the most sought after screenwriting lecturer around the globe. Providing consultation to film and television companies such as 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount, & MTV, his screenwriting courses have been taught in almost 40 cities worldwide, and to notable Oscar winners such as Peter Jackson, Jane Campion, Akiva Goldsman, and Geoffrey Rush. In fact, McKee alumni have thus far won over 60 Academy Awards, 200 Emmy Awards and upwards of 100 Writers Guild of America Awards.
McKee’s Channel 4 special, J’accuse Citizen Kane, won the BAFTA for Best Arts Programme, 1991. His classic text, Story, received an International Moving Image Book Award. Last year, he was inducted into the Hollywood Hall of Fame, joining industry peers such as Lawrence Kasdan (Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark) and Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List, Gangs of New York).
McKee, who has dedicated the last 30 years to educating and mentoring screenwriters, novelists, playwrights, poets, documentary makers, producers, and directors internationally, said of the new partnership: “Stories live inside us all. Too often, talented writers remain unnurtured and lost. I’m thrilled to partner with Regent’s University London and give voice to those yet to be heard.”
The award, worth £7,000 per year, will be given to one student who enrols on the BA (Hons) Screenwriting & Producing programme each year. An additional award, worth £3,000, will also be given to one student each year on the MA Writing for Screen & Stage programme.
The successful scholars will need to have already been offered a place on their relevant programme, before submitting a 500 word statement on why the scholarship would be important to them. On top of reduced tuition fees, the successful scholars will be given complimentary places on the Robert McKee Story Seminar, as well as free attendance at the London Screenwriting Festival, which has been hosted at Regent’s for the last few years.
William Harris, Head of Programmes, Film, Media & Performance, said: “It’s a great honour for Regent’s to be offering a scholarship in Robert McKee’s name. It’s our way of acknowledging Robert’s huge commitment to story in screenwriting and will be a really valuable way of empowering young screenwriters to successfully enter the industry.”
Neil Herrington, Head of Student Recruitment, added: “The Robert McKee International Scholarship is really going to raise the profile of Regent’s as an international leader in the teaching screenwriting. We’re delighted that Robert’s support will enable us to train a stream of Regent’s graduates with skills and knowledge in his distinctive approach to screenwriting and storytelling.”
Apply for the scholarship here.
