The 2019 Writers Lab is now accepting submissions. An intensive screenplay development retreat for women screenwriters who are 40 or older, the program will host its fifth edition October 2-6, 2019 at the Guest House Retreat Center in Chester, Connecticut. Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman will once again help fund the Lab, which is produced by co-founders Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon alongside New York Women in Film & Television.
The Lab will consist of mentorship, panels, discussions, and one-on-one meetings. Scribes Robin Swicord (“Little Women”) and Theresa Rebeck (“Smash”) will join producers Mary Jane Skalski (“The Station Agent”) and Susan Cartonis (“What Women Want”) and writer-director-producer Pat Verducci (“True Crime”) as mentors this year.
Women who will be at least 40 years of age by August 1, 2019, are eligible to apply. Feature-length narrative scripts of any genre will be accepted and evaluated based on merit. Submissions are open to those with or without industry experience, and to women from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. Women from any country can apply, but their scripts must be in English.
The regular deadline to submit is March 14. The extended deadline is March 28. All applicants will be given access to a webinar with producer Lisa Cortes (“Precious”). Winners will be announced August 1.
Head over to The Writers’ Lab website for more information. You can also email questions to contact@thewriterslab.nyc. Applications can be submitted here.
