The New Writers Lab is open to South West based writers or writer/directors, who have an early idea for a short narrative fiction script (live action or animation), which they would like to develop towards a short film script that could potentially be used in application for the BFI Short Film Funding.

We welcome all applicants that fit the criteria above, including those with little or no experience, but are ambitious about writing for screen. We strongly encourage applications from those who are writers or writer/directors for theatre, television or radio that are looking to make the move to on screen.

There will be 1x face-to-face online session per month (3x in total), either hosted as group workshops or one-on-one feedback sessions via Zoom. With assignments and additional reading supplied in-between these sessions to keep you motivated and give you clear direction.

Over the duration of the lab we will cover the key rules to writing for screen, encourage peer-to-peer collaboration and a create a safe space to offer constructive and considered feedback. This is the perfect opportunity to focus your writing skills safely from your own home.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE NEW WRITERS LAB ARE NOW CLOSED.

ALL APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE PARTICIPANTS SELECTED.

The lab is completely free to attend, you will need a laptop, mobile or hand-held device with a good internet connection.

Please note, BFI NETWORK are more than happy to provide additional access support to filmmakers wishing to attend one of our events or training. If you have any specific needs, for example require a BSL interpreter, please contact us in advance of the event and we will endeavour to arrange this for you. If you have any questions in regard to access requirements, please email us on bfinetwork@watershed.co.uk

TUTOR – KATE LEYS

Kate Leys is a feature film script editor who works on film screenplays at all stages of development from first outline to pre-production. As well as working with screenwriters and filmmakers – including recently John MacLean, Michal Marzak, Lotfy Nathan, Alice Lowe, Bart Layton, Jesse Armstrong & Sam Bain, Jayde Adams, Deborah Haywood, Lucy Cohen, Nick Payne, Alice Birch, Nanouk Leopold, Clio Barnard, Rungano Nyoni and others – she works with a wide range of producers,

production companies and film financiers. She has been head of development at several companies including Film4 where she was part of the small commissioning team responsible for films including TRAINSPOTTING, FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, ORPHANS, EAST IS EAST and GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING.