Disney Entertainment Television Reveals 2025 Directing and Writing Programs Participants

The future of entertainment is being cultivated by Disney with this year’s program.
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Disney Entertainment Television has revealed the 2025 participants for its Directing and Writing Programs – talent development initiatives which nurture creatives on the cusp of television episode directing and staff writing.

What’s Happening:

  • As reported by Deadline, the DET Directing Program guarantees participants the opportunity to direct an episode of a Disney scripted series or a segment of a Disney unscripted series, and offers professional and career development through mentorship, on-set shadowing experience, and networking opportunities with the company’s creative executives and program alumni.
  • During the program, writers participate in advanced creative workshops, refine their portfolios, and meet and learn from DET creative executives, producers, showrunners and program alumni through networking and professional development sessions.
  • Each participant is a contract employee of Disney, with weekly salary and benefits, for one year, or until they staff on a show and are compensated at WGA scale.
  • This year, the program’s scripted directing opportunities will expand to include ABC’s 9-1-1, while the unscripted slate will now include American Idol, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Freeform’s Project Runway.
  • Other directing opportunities include The Chi, Dancing with the Stars, General Hospital and The Rookie.
  • The 2025 cohort includes Monib Abhat, Mike Carreon, Jason Cho, Neda Davarpanah, Fatima Eldigair, Ananya Hegde, Andrina Smith and Alie Turfe.
  • Eldigair has also been selected as the second annual FX Singleton Scholar, which honors the life and legacy of legendary director, producer and mentor John Singleton.
  • Notable program alumni include show creators, co-creators and showrunners such as:
    • Zahir McGhee (Queens)
    • Raamla Mohamed (Reasonable Doubt)
    • Saladin Patterson (The Wonder Years, Dave)
    • Aseem Batra (I Feel Bad)
    • Ayanna Floyd Davis (The Chi)
    • Dailyn Rodriguez (Queen of the South)
    • Anthony Sparks (Queen Sugar)

What They’re Saying:

  • Tim McNeal, senior vice president, Creative Talent Development and Inclusion, DET: “This year’s cohorts have already begun making their mark with their creative vision and bold storytelling. As part of the Directing and Writing Programs, this exceptional group of talent will have even more opportunities to shape the future of television, both here at Disney and across the industry."
  • Rob Mills, executive vice president, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment, Walt Disney Television: “We’re building on our collaboration with the Directing Program so that more emerging directors will receive the invaluable opportunity to learn firsthand from world-class creators, while also bringing their unique perspectives to some of our most beloved unscripted shows. We’re excited to share their work with viewers at home when their episodes debut later this year."