6th Edition THE STORY LAB 2026
FILMS FOR ARAB YOUTH & CHILDREN

Key Dates
Application Deadline — May 15, 2026
Finalist Interviews — May 25-26, 2026
Agreements Signing — May 27-28, 2026
Selection Announcement — June 1, 2026 
Filmmakers Meet & Greet — June 4, 2026 
Program Start — June 8, 2026

Eligibility
The Story Lab is open to professional Arab filmmakers, including those based in the Arab region and the diaspora.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The applicant must be the writer or writer-director of the submitted project.
  Writers may apply, provided that a director is attached to the project at the time of application.

• Co-writing teams are eligible to apply, provided that a director is attached to the project.

• In all cases, a producer must be attached to the project from the time of application.

• The project must be a narrative short film screenplay intended for children and youth audiences (ages 6–16).

• The applicant director must have directed at least two short films that have been publicly screened.

• Selected participants must commit to full participation in all program activities.

• Participants in the program shall include the following credit in the end credits of the film:  “This film was developed through the Story Lab Program (2026) by Filmlab Palestine and Cinephilia Productions,’ accompanied by the official logos of both institutions.

Project Participation Fees: $200 (Upon Selection)

Project Criteria
Eligible projects must meet the following requirements:

• Narrative short film with an estimated runtime of 15–20 minutes

• Primary language: Arabic

• Main character: child or teenager (ages 7–14)

• The film must be intended for children or youth audiences

• The project must be designed for production within a $20,000 budget 

 Application Materials

Applicants must submit the following materials:

• Logline (maximum 2 sentences)

• Synopsis (150 words)

• Creative Statement (200 words)

• Short Essay: Reflection on a film that impacted you as a child

• Concept of Children’s Cinema (200 words)

• Treatment (3 pages)

• Script Draft (work in progress)

• Visual Deck (optional)

• Biographies of all team members (150 words each)

• Headshots of all team members

• Links to previous works: (at least two short films by the director; a produced or unproduced screenplay by the writer; and the producer’s filmography)

• Director's note, producer's note (one page each)

 Program Structure
Selected participants will take part in a multi-phase development program combining mentorship, workshops, and industry exchange.

• Screenwriting Segment – Part I
  Participants work with screenwriting mentors to develop the structure, characters, and dramatic arc of their scripts.

• Directing Segment
  Focus on visual storytelling, working with child actors, lookbook development, and directing strategies.

• Masterclasses
  Industry professionals lead sessions on editing, sound design, music composition, cinematography, and directing actors.

• Producing Segment
  Participants develop a financial strategy, production budget, and distribution approach with producing mentors.

• Pitch Training & Final Script Revisions
  Participants prepare for the final presentation while completing the last development stage of their scripts.

• Final Jury Pitch
  Projects are presented to an industry jury during a partner film festival, where the winning project is announced.

Award Obligations & Credits
The project selected for the production award must adhere to the production timeline established by Filmlab Palestine and Cinephilia Productions and share the completed film with both organizations before its public release.

The following credits must appear in the completed film:
Opening Credits
Produced by
Filmlab Palestine & Cinephilia Productions
(Logos to appear alongside the other main producers.)
 
End Credits
Developed in
The Story Lab – 6th Edition (2026)
by Filmlab Palestine & Cinephilia Productions
(Both logos must accompany this credit.)

By applying, you confirm that you have read and accepted the terms and requirements, and agree to include the Filmlab Palestine and Cinephilia Productions logos in the final credits of your film.

For questions or additional information: contact us at info@flp.ps

THE STORY LAB 2025 PRIZE WINNER

Filmlab: Palestine was established in 2014 in Palestine. Filmlab is inspired by a personal experience of its founders to empower Palestinian youth in refugee camps in Jordan to tell their personal history and document their collective memory through films. With the slogan "it's time to tell our stories”, Filmlab uses international models of public and private partnerships to effectively promote film art and film culture, with the greater aspiration of creating a productive and dynamic film industry in Palestine.