Film Independent recently announced the screenwriters selected for the 26th edition of its Screenwriting Lab, an intensive program aimed at providing individualized story and career development for screenwriters with fiction feature scripts. This year, Omer Ben Shachar, Mary Dauterman, MG Evangelista, Naomi Iwamoto, Thomas Kivney, Juan Paulo Laserna, and Jhanvi Motla were chosen for the program.
Selection of Screenwriters
The selection of screenwriters for the program seems to be diverse in terms of backgrounds and storytelling styles. Each participant brings a unique perspective and story to the table, which could potentially lead to a rich and varied learning experience for all involved.
The program offers the selected Fellows the opportunity to workshop their projects under the guidance of creative advisors such as Javier Fuentes-León, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, Jessica Sharzer, Jeff Stockwell, and Christopher Makoto Yogi. This lineup of experienced advisors could provide valuable insights and feedback to help the screenwriters develop their scripts and storytelling skills.
Project Descriptions
Each of the selected screenwriters has a distinct project that they will be working on during the program. From MG Evangelista’s re-imagining of the Prodigal Son story in “Burning Well” to Juan Paulo Laserna’s exploration of family dynamics during Colombia’s turbulent times in “Not My Name,” the projects cover a wide range of themes and genres.
The program’s track record of success with past projects, such as Chloé Zhao’s feature debut “Songs My Brothers Taught Me,” and Kate Marks’ “The Cow of Queens,” which received a Nicholl Fellowship in 2020, demonstrates the potential for the current crop of screenwriters to make a significant impact in the industry.
Film Independent’s Screenwriting Lab has once again assembled a talented group of screenwriters with promising projects. The program’s intensive and individualized approach, combined with the guidance of experienced advisors, offers a unique opportunity for these filmmakers to refine their scripts and advance their careers in the competitive world of film.
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