Call for Artists – The Policy Playhouse 2026 Festival
Policy Playhouse is an arts and policy initiative that brings artists, activists, and community members together to start conversations about pressing social issues. Through short plays and films, we use storytelling to create space for dialogue, reflection, and civic engagement.
We’re excited to announce the 2026 Policy Playhouse Festival, taking place on Saturday, February 28, 2026. The festival will feature original short plays and films created during a collaborative sprint week and will culminate in a public showcase, film screening, and awards ceremony.
Participants can sign up as playwrights, filmmakers, or actors. After sign-ups close, creators will be assigned policy-related topics and given one week to develop original work. No prior experience is required—the festival is designed to be accessible, experimental, and collaborative.
Filmmakers may sign up as individuals or as teams. Films must be between 30 seconds and 10 minutes and submitted in 1920 x 1080 resolution. Individual filmmakers are responsible for finding their own actors or subjects.
Playwrights sign up individually. Scripts should be between 2 and 15 pages and submitted in standard script format. Actors will be assigned to each play.
Actors sign up individually and will be assigned to groups. If there are more actors than scripts, assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis based on sign-up time.
Important dates:
- January 1, 2026 – Sign-up form opens
- Thursday, February 19 – Last day to sign up
- Friday, February 20 – Topics released; sprint week begins
- February 20–27 – Project development week
- Friday, February 27 at 9:00 PM – Film submissions due
- Saturday, February 28 at 7:00 AM – Groups notified of approval
Festival day schedule (Saturday, February 28):
10:00–11:00 AM – Workshop and warm-ups
11:00 AM–12:30 PM – Play rehearsal breakout sessions
12:30 PM – Lunch break
1:30–2:00 PM – Final rehearsals
2:00 PM – Public staged play readings
3:00 PM – Policy-themed trivia with nonprofit partners
3:30 PM – Film screenings
4:30 PM – Reception
5:00–5:30 PM – Awards presentation
All participating artists are eligible for awards, including:
Best Short Film – $100
Best Script – $100
Best Stage Actor – $50
People’s Choice Award
The Policy Playhouse believes art can be a powerful tool for civic engagement. We invite students and emerging artists to take creative risks, build community, and use storytelling to explore the issues shaping our world.
For questions or to get involved, please contact: thepolicyplayhouse@gmail.com
Join our email list to stay updated (QR Code also attached below): https://forms.gle/uzFYDtsrzaCFqG296
Come help us use art to drive change and be part of a movement where creativity meets policy.
Cordially,
Mary Clare Michael (Smith College Class of 2026)
Founder and Executive Director, The Policy Playhouse
thepolicyplayhouse@gmail.com
