Film Independent has recently announced their selection of screenwriters for the 26th edition of its Screenwriting Lab. This program is designed to provide personalized story and career development for screenwriters with fiction feature scripts. The selected Fellows will have the opportunity to workshop their projects under the guidance of experienced creative advisors.
The screenwriters chosen for this year’s program include Omer Ben Shachar, Mary Dauterman, MG Evangelista, Naomi Iwamoto, Thomas Kivney, Juan Paulo Laserna, and Jhanvi Motla. Each of these writers will work on developing their individual projects with the help of creative advisors such as Javier Fuentes-León, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, Jessica Sharzer, Jeff Stockwell, and Christopher Makoto Yogi.
One of the selected projects is “Burning Well” by MG Evangelista, which reimagines the story of the Prodigal Son. Another project, titled “Not My Name” by Juan Paulo Laserna, is set in 1996 Colombia during a period of insurgent warfare. Naomi Iwamoto’s project “Promise” is a coming-of-age story about an ambitious teen with a drug habit learning to grieve and love her mom. Omer Ben Shachar and Thomas Kivney collaborated on “Role Play,” a story about a struggling actor posing as a supportive figure for a casting director’s son on Grindr. Jhanvi Motla’s “The Manager’s Wife” follows Nitya as she uncovers dark secrets about her husband’s newly acquired motel. Lastly, Mary Dauterman’s “Thirty Grand” centers around two Gap employees who find a bag of cash in a dressing room on Black Friday.
Film Independent’s Screenwriting Lab has a history of supporting exceptional filmmakers and projects. Past Lab participants have gone on to achieve success in the film industry, with projects like Billy Luther’s “Frybread Face and Me,” Chloé Zhao’s “Songs My Brothers Taught Me,” and Hikari’s “37 Seconds” receiving critical acclaim. The program provides a platform for emerging talent to develop their skills and advance their careers.
Film Independent’s Screenwriting Lab plays a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of storytellers. By providing selected screenwriters with the necessary tools and support, the program helps to propel their projects and careers forward. The diverse range of projects and talent chosen for this year’s edition indicates the Lab’s commitment to fostering innovation and creativity in the world of cinema.
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