CINEPHILIA SHORTS LAB
This program is on hiatus. Check back in January 2024.
Launched in 2013, Cinephilia Shorts Lab is a 2-week writing program designed to assist filmmakers in developing their storytelling potential, criticism faculty and technical proficiency.
Cinephilia Shorts Lab aims to develop original, visionary and daring voices in the art of screenwriting from the Middle East and Africa.
The lab offers the tools that result in a strong narrative short film while focusing on the individual's unique voice as screenwriter and by connecting like-minded people through shared collaborative feedbacks.
CSL takes place in different cities worldwide in partnership with film festivals, institutions and organizations. The lab selects up to 6 filmmakers, 4 from Middle East/Africa and 2 from the hosting country. With this structure, the lab aims to provide a platform for cultural exchange between filmmakers to discuss their stories from a personal point of view within a universal context.
Previous Cinephilia Shorts Lab editions took place in Beirut, Cairo, Rotterdam, Rome, and Paris.
6th edition of CSL will take place in Tunisia at JCC Carthage Film Festival 2019.
HOW IT WORKS
The lab selects up to 6 filmmakers who are developing a narrative short film screenplay. 4 filmmakers from Middle East/Africa and 2 filmmakers from the hosting country. The selection is based on the originality of the submitted project. Cinephilia is looking for visionary narrative short film projects that break the boundaries of the conventional.
During the intensive 12-day lab, filmmakers develop their projects with the help of lab mentors and fellow filmmakers within an environment that encourages constructive and collective feedback.
By the end of the lab, filmmakers should expect to have a screenplay draft completed.
Filmmakers present their screenplays during an official table read event to a select jury of industry professionals. Professional actors will be assigned for the reading of each screenplay. The jury will award the Best Screenplay Award to one project (cash prize).
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
. Must be a writer or writer/director (Writers with no director attached to the project are highly encouraged to apply.)
. Must be in development of a narrative short film screenplay (documentary shorts are not eligible)
. Must have at least written or directed one short film
. Must have a treatment of the proposed project up to 5 pages
. Application form must be completed online by the specified deadline.
. Must fully commit to all lab sessions.
. Must be originally from one of the eligible countries (regardless of their country of residence)
. Must be over 21 years old
. Applicants submitting a project that is a proof of concept short to support a feature length project are highly encouraged to apply
. Students working on MFA thesis films may apply (only if they have previous work to show)
. Must be fluent in English (all sessions are conducted in English language)
. Must agree to mention in the credit of the completed film 'Developed at the Cinephilia Shorts Labs (in partnership with the partnering entity or film festival, year and city).
ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES
Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates & Yemen.
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe.
HOSTING COUNTRY
Every lab takes place in a different country. Filmmakers residing in that country are eligible to apply.
THE LAB OFFERS
. 12-day intensive workshop sessions
. Full accommodation for the duration of the lab
. If lab is hosted by a film festival, filmmakers will be provided a full access pass to all screenings and events
. Meal vouchers for the entire lab period
. Local transportation from/to lab location to hotel/festival hub
. One-on-one meeting with lab mentor
. Best Screenplay Award (Cash prize)
. Invitation letter for visa process (if needed)
. Continuous support by Cinephilia Productions providing networking opportunities with industry professionals
Note 1: Filmmakers are required to cover their own flight expenses and travel insurance.
Note 2: A Cinephilia Shorts Lab selection does NOT guarantee that the completed film will be selected at the hosting festival in next editions or at Cinephilia Filmmakers to Watch Series.
Note 3: Filmmakers must sign a lab agreement prior to the selection announcement.
LAB COSTS
All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee.
The selected applicants traveling to lab destination are requested to cover their own flight expenses and travel insurance.
2019 OPEN CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
6th Edition Cinephilia Shorts Lab
2019 Hosting Country
Tunisia
October 21 - November 2, 2019
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
CARTHAGE FILM FESTIVAL JCC 2019
IN THE FRAMEWORK OF
JCC SHORTS LAB/CARTHAGE PRO
AWARD SPONSOR
SEAT26 PRODUCTIONS