SUBMISSIONS OPEN

SUBMISSIONS OPEN

The Salon is proud to partner with The Black List on the first ever Desi List, highlighting the best unproduced scripts written by South Asian writers.

The deadline to submit to The Desi List was July 1, 2024. Writers selected for the list will be notified before the end of the year.

Read about the program in Deadline and visit blcklst.com to submit. Follow us on Instagram @thedesilist for updates.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Writers, filmmakers, and creators were invited to submit a feature film or original pilot script for consideration by uploading it to The Black List website and opting in for consideration. To ensure that the diversity of our community is reflected in the list, we've recruited a large and eclectic group of writers, directors, actors, producers, executives, agents, and managers to review and evaluate the submissions. The Selection Committee will be a mix of community juggernauts, industry veterans, and early-to-mid-career artists and executives. Each script will be evaluated on originality, character development, dialogue, pacing, structure, theme, market potential, and quality of representation.

DATES & DEADLINES:

  • February 28, 2024 — Submissions open

  • July 1, 2024 — Submissions close

  • Late Summer 2024 — Notification of placement

  • Fall 2024 — Public announcement

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Writers should identify as South Asian. The UN defines South Asia as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

  • While writers can be from any country of origin, they must currently reside in the U.S. Citizens, residents, visiting students, and undocumented individuals who reside in the U.S. are welcome to apply.

  • Writing teams are eligible as long as one member of the team identifies as South Asian.

  • Scripts can be multilingual as long as they are written primarily in English.

  • Feature films, half-hour TV pilots, and one-hour TV pilots will be considered.

  • All genres are eligible and will be considered.

  • All scripts must have at least one South Asian character in a prominent, lead role.

For more information, please read the FAQ on blcklst.com or email support@blcklst.com.

WHY “DESI”?

Originating from the Sanskrit "Deśa," meaning country or homeland, "Desi" was traditionally linked to the pre-colonial Indian subcontinent, made up of countless cultures, languages, religions, and peoples. In recent years, particularly in the diaspora, "Desi" has grown in its embrace, reflecting the histories, languages, and cultural practices across the nations of what we now call South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Our use of "Desi" seeks to celebrate our rich collective heritage, fostering a sense of unity and belonging among all South Asians. It is a nod to our evolving identity, recognizing the interconnectedness of our stories and the strength in our diversity.

We acknowledge that no single term can fully encapsulate the vastness and diversity of our massive community, and that the term "Desi" can be divisive, particularly outside of the Gen Z cohort of the diaspora. We hope that by embracing this term, we can assist in the transformation of "Desi" into a word that is even more inclusive than its origins suggest, inviting every voice within our community to redefine and reclaim it in a way that honors our collective and individual identities. Importantly, we also hope that this term can help distinguish our community from the larger Asian tapestry.

We hope The Desi List serves as a banner under which we can all find a measure of common ground and shared identity. We know that at times we may fall short at being truly inclusive and representative of the whole community, but we are dedicated to continuous improvement and evolution.