The Athena Film Festival (AFF) is launching a new program for rising women screenwriters. In partnership with IRIS and the Stephens College Master of Fine Arts in Television and Screenwriting, AFF will host a three-day program of mentorship, mock writers’ rooms, peer review, development meetings, and networking opportunities. The Athena Film Festival LA Women’s Television and Screenwriting Labs will be held in Los Angeles this June.
One day will be devoted to the film lab, one to the television lab, and one will be an industry day. The program’s mission is “to offer more women in entertainment with the training and network they need to succeed, advancing stories and narratives that contribute to a more just and equal society for all.”
Applicants must identify as women. Projects with more than one writer will be considered, but the entire writing team must identify as women. In order to be considered, writers cannot have had a feature, TV pilot, or teleplay produced. Sixteen to 20 applicants will be selected — eight to 10 in film, and eight to 10 in television.
Scripts must be in English and center on a woman in a leadership role. Film lab scripts should be no more than 120 pages, and TV lab scripts no more than 60 pages.
Submissions will be accepted through April 10, 2018. There is a submission fee of $65. Applicants are welcome to submit to both labs, but must complete two applications and pay two submission fees.
Go to AFF’s website for details on the labs and the application process. Submit feature scripts here and TV scripts here.
