Applications are now open for the Aotearoa Short Film Lab, a prestigious hothouse mentoring scheme for screenwriters and filmmakers to workshop new ideas for short films.
Established in 2010 as a partnership between Show Me Shorts and Script to Screen, the Lab offers six local and up to two international, short filmmakers the opportunity to develop their short film concepts and scripts with the guidance and advice of experienced industry mentors.
The Lab includes a full-day workshop in Auckland in March 2018. The mentors in previous years have included: Ainsley Gardiner (Boy, Two Cars One Night), Jackie van Beek (Uphill, Go the Dogs), Jake Mahaffy (Free in Deed, Wellness, A.D. 1363 The End of Chivalry), Zia Mandviwalla (Night Shift), Roseanne Liang (Do No Harm, Friday Night Bites), Michael Bennett (The Confessions of Prisoner T, Matariki), Dianne Taylor (Beyond the Known World, Apron Strings) and Shuchi Kothari (Firaaq, Apron Strings, Coffee and Allah).
Previous Short Film Lab participants have described the interactive workshop as “inspiring” and “invaluable”, and many have gone on to make the shortlist for NZFC Fresh Shorts funding. In 2013, the first film developed with the assistance of the Short Film Lab – Lauren Jackson’s I’m Going to Mum’s – premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won Best Short Film Script at the SWANZ Awards.
The Lab is free to attend for all selected applicants, but there is a NZ$20 application fee. Those selected can come on their own or bring up to two key creative collaborators with them. Travel costs are the responsibility of the selected participants.
The Lab is generously supported by the New Zealand Film Commission, Wallace Foundation, The Trusts Community Foundation and The University of Auckland.
To apply, complete the online application form.
This will ask you to provide:
Applications close on Thursday 14 December 2017, 5pm.
If you have any queries please contact Sjionel Timu on sjionel@script-to-screen.co.nz.
Image: TREE, Dir. Lauren Jackson, Photo: Still from shoot (DOP: Simon Raby)
Filmmakers Briar Grace-Smith, Michael Goldenberg and Dana Rotberg will return to mentor at this year’s Writers’ Lab Aotearoa, bringing with them a wealth of experience in storytelling. They all joined us for the inaugural event last year, and are looking forward to working with the new crop of feature film writers.
Briar Grace-Smith (THE STRENGTH OF WATER) is a multi-award winning writer whose work spans film, television, theatre, poetry, and short story. Aside from writing, Briar has served a term as a development executive with the New Zealand Film Commission.
Michael Goldenberg is a US screenwriter of feature films including HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, CONTACT, PETER PAN, and longstanding mentor at the Sundance Screenwriting Labs.
Dana Rotberg is a Mexican filmmaker based in Auckland. After a career writing, directing and producing films in Mexico and Sarajevo, including multiple selections at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Dana continued her successes on our shores.
They join Artistic Director of the Sundance Filmmakers’ Lab, Gyula Gazdag.
The Writers’ Lab Aotearoa is proudly supported by the New Zealand Writers Guild with financial support from the NZ Film Commission.
Aotearoa Short Film Lab New Zealand’s most prestigious hothouse mentoring scheme for screenwriters and aspiring screenwriters to workshop new ideas for short film. Established in 2010 as a partnership between Show Me Shorts and Script to Screen, the Lab offers seven local short film makers the opportunity to develop their short film concepts and scripts with the guidance and advice of experienced industry mentors during a full-day workshop.
The seven screenwriters who will participate in the 2017 Aotearoa Short Film Lab are:
For the first time this year one international short film maker has also been selected to participate. Marisa Brown is an Australian-based filmmaker who will be attending the Lab to workshop two story ideas, along with her director Chris Tomkins.
There were more than 50 applications for the 2017 Lab. Festival Director of Show Me Shorts, Gina Dellabarca, who was among the selection panel commented: “I was impressed with the diversity in the types of stories in this year’s applications. There were scripts for comedy, drama, fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, animation and more. It is heartening for the industry that our screenwriters and aspiring screenwriters are working on such a variety of projects. I only wish we could include more of them in our Lab.
The mentors guiding participants will include experienced short film and feature film screenwriters: Michael Bennett (MATARIKI, CONFESSIONS OF PRISONER T), Zia Mandviwalla (NIGHT SHIFT, AMADI) Dianne Taylor (BEYOND THE KNOWN WORLD, APRON STRINGS), Michelle Savill (ELAINE RIDES AGAIN, ELLEN IS LEAVING) and Yamin Tun (WAIT, JOY).
Previous Short Film Lab participants have described the interactive workshop as “inspiring” and “invaluable”, and many have gone on to make the shortlist for NZFC Fresh Shorts funding. In 2013, the first film developed with the assistance of the Lab – Lauren Jackson’s I’m Going to Mum’s – premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won Best Short Film Script at the SWANZ Awards.
Applications are now open for the Aotearoa Short Film Lab, a prestigious hothouse mentoring scheme for screenwriters and aspiring screenwriters to workshop new ideas for short film.
Established in 2010 as a partnership between Show Me Shorts and Script to Screen, the Lab offers six local, and for the first time this year two international, short film makers the opportunity to develop their short film concepts and scripts with the guidance and advice of experienced industry mentors.
The Lab includes a full-day workshop hosted by the University of Auckland’s Screen Production Department in March 2017. The mentors in previous years have included Jackie van Beek (The Inland Road, Uphill, Go the Dogs), Jake Mahaffy (Free in Deed, Wellness,A.D. 1363, The End of Chivalry) and Shuchi Kothari (Firaaq, Apron Strings, Coffee and Allah).
Previous Short Film Lab participants have described the interactive workshop as “inspiring” and “invaluable”, and many have gone on to make the shortlist for NZFC Fresh Shorts funding. In 2013, the first film developed with the assistance of the Short Film Lab – Lauren Jackson’s I’m Going to Mum’s – premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won Best Short Film Script at the SWANZ Awards.
The Lab is free to attend for all selected applicants, but there is a NZ$20 application fee. Those selected can come on their own or bring up to two key creative collaborators with them.
To apply to the 2016 Aotearoa Short Film Lab complete the online application form. This will ask you to provide:
APPLY NOW
If you have any queries please contact Sjionel Timu on sjionel@script-to-screen.co.nz.
Applications close on Wednesday 14 December 2016, 5pm.
Image: I’m Going to Mums, Dir. Lauren Jackson, Photo: Tania Jackson
Script to Screen and Show Me Shorts are now calling for applications for the 2015 Short Film Lab. Successful applicants will be offered a place in a one-day workshop and an opportunity for individual follow-up sessions. Participants in the 2015 Short Film Lab will be mentored by experienced industry practitioners who have excelled in short filmmaking. Previous mentors have included Jackie van Beek (The Inland Road, Uphill, Go the Dogs), Jake Mahaffy (Free in Deed, Wellness,A.D. 1363, The End of Chivalry) and Shuchi Kothari (Firaaq, Apron Strings, Coffee and Allah). A full list of 2015 mentors will be announced soon. Watch this space!
Six writers (or writer/directors) will be selected to workshop their short film ideas (or short film scripts) during the full-day lab hosted by the University of Auckland on Saturday 7th November 2015. Those selected can come on their own or bring up to two key creative collaborators with them. Thanks to the support of the New Zealand Film Commission and the Screen Production programme at the University of Auckland, participation in the Short Film Lab is free for all selected applicants (including lunch) and travel grants are available for successful applicants who reside out of Auckland.
Established by Script to Screen and Show Me Shorts in 2010, the Short Film Lab has been a resounding success. Previous Short Film Lab participants have described the interactive workshop as “fantastic” and “invaluable”, and many have gone on to make the shortlist for NZFC Fresh Shorts funding. In 2013, the first film developed with the assistance of the Short Film Lab – Lauren Jackson’s I’m Going to Mum’s – premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won Best Short Film Script at the SWANZ Awards.
To apply to the 2015 Short Film Lab complete the online application form. This will ask you to provide:
The application deadline is Midnight, Thursday 24th September 2015.
Successful applicants will be announced at Show Me Shorts Film Festival’s programme launch on Tuesday 20th November. If you have any questions or are having technical difficulties with the application process, contact Mark Prebble, Festival Coordinator for Show Me Shorts on 09 360 6718 or info@showmeshorts.co.nz.
Script to Screen and Show Me Shorts are now calling for applications for the 2014 Short Film Lab.
Successful applicants will be offered a place in a one-day workshop as well as an opportunity for individual follow-up sessions. Participants in the 2014 Short Film Lab will be mentored by experienced industry practitioners who have excelled in short filmmaking, including: Jackie van Beek (Go the Dogs), Jake Mahaffy (Miracle Boy) and Shuchi Kothari (Coffee and Allah). A fourth mentor will be announced soon.
Six writers (or writer/directors) will be selected to workshop their short film ideas (or short film scripts) during the full-day lab hosted by the University of Auckland on Saturday 8th November 2014. Those selected can come on their own or bring up to two key creative collaborators with them. Thanks to the support of the New Zealand Film Commission and the Screen Production Programme at the University of Auckland, participation in the Short Film Lab is free for all selected applicants. Travel grants are available for successful applicants who reside out of Auckland.
Established by Script to Screen and Show Me Shorts in 2013, the Short Film Lab has been a resounding success. Previous Short Film Lab participants have described the interactive workshop as “fantastic” and “invaluable” and many have gone on to make the shortlist for NZFC Fresh Shorts funding. In 2013, the first film developed with the assistance of the Short Film Lab – Lauren Jackson’s I’m Going to Mum’s – premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won Best Short Film Script at the SWANZ Awards.
To apply for the 2014 Short Film Lab please provide the following:
– An application form complete with two or three short film concepts, a brief biography or CV and an explanation of why you want to attend the lab.
– An example of your creative work, this can be 5 pages of a screenplay or 2 pages of an alternative form of creative writing. If you have completed a draft of the screenplay for any of your submitted concepts, you are encouraged to attach this as your writing sample.
– A $15 Application Fee.
Applications close Thursday 4th September at 5pm.
All applications must be submitted as a single .pdf file.
Please email your applications to ben@script-to-screen.co.nz.
Mexican screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga returns to New Zealand shores to participate in Script to Screen’s programme.
His confirmation completes the line-up for our second Writers’ Lab Aotearoa, where the chosen writers will benefit directly from his unique insights into screenwriting. Guillermo Arriaga’s credits include the critically acclaimed AMORES PERROS, Oscar nominated 21 GRAMS, BAFTA nominated BABEL and Cannes-winning THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA.
He will also join us all for a special Writers’ Room discussion event on Sunday 12th of July in lieu of our usual June event. Full details of this event will follow.
Guillermo’s keynote address and writing masterclass at our Big Screen Symposium 2013 left a lasting impression on all who heard him speak. We are thrilled to welcome him back.
Read his bio, and those of the four other mentors here.
The Writers’ Lab Aotearoa is made possible with the support of the NZ Writers Guild and financial support from the New Zealand Film Commission.