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BFI Film Academy Short Script Development Lab



Date Posted: July 6, 2022

The BFI Film Academy is looking for 18-25 year olds with a passion for script writing to apply for its Short Script Development Lab. Participants will be guided by three industry mentors and will collaborate on the creation of a brand-new short film screenplay. A screenplay that might help get that all important first professional credit.

Throughout the course participants will receive exclusive masterclasses from leading TV and film industry professionals with Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn as guest speakers. This writing duo scripted the critically acclaimed BBC drama The Salisbury Poisonings and the Simon Pegg helmed Channel 4 drama The Undeclared War.

The Lab will also have sessions from Heather Larmour (NI Assistant Commissioner from BBC Writersoom) and Ursula Devine (Development Executive from Northern Ireland Screen) talking about upcoming writing opportunities. Anna Hinds from Hat Trick productions (Derry Girls, William of Orangedale) will be on hand to talk about the art of pitching ideas.

Script editor Robin Taylor (Thinking About Writing Podcast) will focus on script essentials. We will also have industry chats with Raymond Lau (Zodiak Kids Productions), assistant producer Lisa Service (Game of Thrones, Krypton) and director Aidan Largey (Human Error, The Break).

The Short Script Development Lab also provides an excellent chance to network with industry experts and meet possible future collaborators.

The Lab is free to attend and will initially take place online via Zoom but with a final in-person showcase and networking session at Nerve Centre.

The course will be running from Monday 18th – Saturday 23rd July. Previous course attendees are welcome to reapply.

If you are interested in applying, please complete the online form.

Deadline for applications is Monday 11th July at 5pm. 

BFI Film Academy Labs events are part of the BFI Venue Education Fund programme delivered in Northern Ireland by Nerve Centre, Queens Film Theatre and Film Hub NI, kindly supported by the National Lottery.

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