ScriptLab projects 2021

QUICK FACTS

TARGET PARTICIPANTS: Writer/directors, or teams of screenwriter and director, from all over the world, in early stage development of fiction feature film screenplays.

DURATION: From March until November 2021. The programme comprises 2 week-long residential workshops (March and November) and 3 online modules (June, September and October). 

FEE: 2.500 Euro (+ VAT, if due).

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: October 23^rd, 2020, 12:00 p.m. CET (noon).



About ScriptLab
ScriptLab is focused on fiction feature films, both original ideas and adaptations, in early stages of development. 

Both experienced and emerging filmmakers from all over the world develop their projects through peer to peer group work, with the support of professional script consultants for the duration of nine months. The work is structured within 2 residential workshops, plus 3 online modules.

ScriptLab is a programme that has changed shape over the years, yet always retained its core belief that an ongoing conversation among peers is an invaluable asset to dynamic and creative development in the early stages of writing a screenplay. We believe that the most original stories are realized through the generous sharing of personal processes of creation among a group of film professionals, bringing diversity of experience, culture, and personality to the table.

The programme welcomes 20 projects that are selected to work in 5 groups, each guided by a tutor with wide experience as a script consultant. A story editor trainee – who works side by side with the tutor – completes each group. Throughout the year the projects, which in general begin the programme in a treatment stage, are developed through the enriching experience of sharing this creative stage of the writing process with the other filmmakers in the group. To complement the peer to peer conversations, there are 1:1 sessions with the tutor as the project advances.

International film professionals are also invited to hold a number of masterclasses throughout the programme. They will discuss their own areas of expertise as well as give the filmmakers more specific advice and inspiration for the projects & their careers.

A final presentation of the projects during the TFL Meeting Event in November concludes and completes the programme: all participants present their projects, together with their producer (if any), to an audience of specially invited international producers, sales agents and other film industry professionals, have one-to-one meetings with Decision Makers, and are granted visibility thanks to the TFL Catalogue.

TorinoFilmLab is glad to announce the partnership with Lviv Film Commission, hosting the first workshop in Ukraine. ScriptLab is also realized in partnership with Austrian Film Institute, German Films, Swiss Films and VAF – Flanders Audiovisual Fund.

Who can apply?
ScriptLab is open to both experienced and emerging writer/directors, or teams of writer and director, from all over the world. It is possible to apply as an individual or as a team of two. Projects by a scriptwriter without an attached director are not eligible.

Many of our participants already work together with a production company. However, it is not necessary to have a producer attached to the project. Filmmakers applying with an adaption project need to have secured the rights.

ScriptLab is for projects at an early stage of development, thus projects who have several drafts of the screenplay already completed, will not be considered. Only one project application per year, per filmmaker, can be submitted. However, a project that is refused one year, can be resubmitted another year if it has gone through substantial changes. The same project cannot be submitted a third time if rejected the second time around.

Applicants must confirm their full availability for all the workshops and the final TFL Meeting Event.

The working language of all workshops, meetings and events is English; thus, a good knowledge of English is essential in order to participate and all written material, all versions and drafts of the project, must be translated.

ScriptLab is co-funded by the Creative Europe – MEDIA Sub-programme of the European Union, therefore a majority of places in the programme are reserved for participants who are nationals of countries that are part of Creative Europe – MEDIA.

Participation fees & scholarships
Course participation fee: 2.500 Euro (+VAT, if due). Extra fee of 2.000 Euro (+ VAT, if due), if a second person also attends the programme.

^{This amount covers workshop training, online sessions, hotel and part of the subsistence during the residential workshops. Participants must pay their travel costs. In many countries scholarships are available for this training.} 

A number of partial scholarships, covering tuition costs, will be assigned to participants coming from low audiovisual capacity countries according to Creative Europe – MEDIA criteria*.

^{* Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Serbia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.}

How to apply?
The requested materials – to be submitted all together in one PDF, and all in English – are:

- A project synopsis (1 page maximum);
- A treatment (15 pages maximum);
- A director’s intention note (3 pages maximum);
- A CV (2 pages maximum);
- Materials informing about the audio-visual approach: still pictures, video mood board, etc.
- Links (with password) to previous audio-visual works* 

* Submitted materials should be in English or have English subtitles/translation; showreels will not be accepted. Videos must be received along with the application package no later than October 23^rd, 2020.

Please click on the "Apply Now!" button in the right-side column of this page to access the online application form and submit your project. Before starting the application process, you will need to create an account on the TFL Visitor Page (if you don’t have one yet).

Deadline for applications: October 23^rd, 2020, 12:00 p.m. CET (noon)

Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed via Skype meetings in February 2021.

For more information please contact: sofia.falchetto@torinofilmlab.it

^{The selected projects of ScriptLab must indicate TorinoFilmLab support in the film credits, by displaying the TorinoFilmLab logo and the caption “Developed at TorinoFilmLab”}