ScriptLab 2027

ScriptLab is focused on fiction feature films, both original ideas and adaptations, in early stages of development. 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 an overview of the programme, please visit the ScriptLab page.

DURATION: From April until November 2027. The programme comprises 3 week-long residential modules (April, June and November) and 2 online modules (September and October).

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Tuesday 3^rd November 2026, 4.00 pm CET
Please note: the deadline is non-extendable with no exceptions.

To know more about ScriptLab 2027 join the online Q&A session with the curator Amra Bakšić Čamo on Wednesday 14^th October at 3:00 pm CEST at this link.

ScriptLab is organised by TorinoFilmLab – Museo Nazionale del Cinema with the support of Creative Europe – MEDIA Sub-programme of the European Union.  
ScriptLab 2027 is implemented in partnership with Arts Council Malta, hosting the 1^st residential workshop in Malta, and Tartu Film Fund and Estonian Film Institute, hosting the 2^nd workshop in Tartu, Estonia; and in collaboration with Focal.

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 only, thus projects who already have drafts of the screenplay, will not be considered.

Eligibility Criteria
a. Applicants must confirm their full availability for all the residential and online workshops, as well as for the TFL Meeting Event.
b. 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 materials, all versions and drafts of the project, must be translated into English.
c. Applicants need to have at least one previous work as a director (it can be either a feature film, short film, commercial, etc.)
d. 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. If you are applying with a project that was previously shortlisted and went through a Zoom interview, kindly send us an email at falchetto@museocinema.it

PARTICIPATION FEES 
3,000 Euro (+ VAT, if due)
Extra fee of 2,300 Euro (+ VAT, if due) for the second participant per project, selected to join the programme (co-writer, director)

TFL provides training, accommodation (including breakfast), as well as lunches and some dinners during the residential workshops. Travel expenses and any remaining meals are to be borne by the participants. 

SCHOLARSHIPS 

ARTS COUNCIL MALTA
Thanks to our partnership with Arts Council Malta, one Maltese project from a writer/director that is a Maltese citizen or hold permanent residence status in Malta, selected for ScriptLab 2027, will receive a scholarship covering half of the participation fee. If selected as a team of two, the extra fee for the second participant is not eligible for the scholarship.

TARTU FILM FUND  AND ESTONIAN FILM INSTITUTE
Thanks to our partnership with Tartu Film Fund and Estonian Film Institute, one Estonian project selected for ScriptLab 2027 will receive a scholarship covering half of the participation fee. If selected as a team of two, the extra fee for the second participant is not eligible for the scholarship. 

FOCAL
Thanks to our partnership with Focal, one Swiss project selected for ScriptLab 2027 will receive a scholarship covering half of the participation fee. If selected as a team of two, the extra fee for the second participant is not eligible for the scholarship. 

Our commitment is to guarantee accessibility to the TFL’s activities to as many talented participants as possible and to ensure diversity and inclusion through selection of projects/participants.

Across TFL programmes, a limited number of scholarships - covering half of the participation fee - will be available for participants from low capacity countries*, underrepresented groups and/or being from a country not providing scholarships for this kind of training, or participants in any other proven situation of need for financial support. We strongly encourage our applicants to research and apply for financial support within your national/regional funding bodies first, who may have bursaries and grants to cover the training costs.

*Low capacity countries (according to Creative Europe Programme 2021-2027) Group A: Czech Republic, Estonia, Romania, Greece, Croatia, Portugal, Poland. Group B: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Luxembourg, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia, Slovakia and the following third countries, subject to the conditions being fulfilled for their participation in the call: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Republic of Serbia and Ukraine. 

1^st module: 19^th – 25^th April 2027 (residential - Malta)
2^nd module: 17^th – 24^th June 2027 (residential - Tartu, Estonia)
3^rd module: 6^th – 10^th September 2027 (online)
4^th module: 25^th – 29^th October 2027 (online)
5^th module & TFL Meeting Event: second half November 2027, dates TBC (residential – Torino, Italy) 

Dates may be subject to change.

The requested materials – to be submitted all together in 1 single PDF (10 MB max.), and all in English – are:

- A project synopsis (2 page maximum, Courier New 12, double spaced);
- A director’s intention note (3 pages maximum, Courier New 12, double spaced);
- A CV (2 pages maximum) – if applying as a team of 2, please send the CV of both applicants;

And in the separate section you have to upload:
- Link to a personal video message where you tell us what is the genesis of the story you are submitting to ScriptLab (maximum 2 minutes).
- Link(s) to previous audio-visual works (with password, if needed). Submitted materials should be in English or have English subtitles/translation; showreels will not be accepted. Please leave the links accessible until the beginning of March (end of the selection process)

Any application package that won’t include all the requested materials will be considered ineligible.

IMPORTANT!
Preselected applicants will be notified by email on 8^th - 9^th December 2026 and will be asked to submit a TREATMENT (15 pages maximum, Courier New 12, double spaced) + personal video message providing a status update on the project development (optional, maximum 2 minutes) + MOODBOARD (optional, any format is accepted) by Thursday 10^th December 2026, 4.00 pm CET.

Any project that will not respect the 10^th December deadline will be automatically excluded from the selection.

After this pre-selection, the shortlisted applicants will be notified at the beginning of February and will be interviewed via Zoom meetings at the beginning of March 2027.

Please click on the "Apply Now!" button to access the application form and submit your project. Before starting the process, you must create an account on the TFL Visitor Page (if you don’t have one yet).

Applicants may use AI tools as a support during the preparation of their application, including for research, brainstorming, language editing, translation, and visual materials. However, the creative content of the application must reflect the applicant’s own ideas, creative input and authorship and should not be generated by AI.
Applicants remain fully responsible for the content of their application and should use AI tools critically and transparently.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Tuesday 3^rd November 2026, 4.00 pm CET
Please note: the deadline is non-extendable with no exceptions.

For more information, please contact the project manager Sofia Falchetto: falchetto@museocinema.it