The Writers Lab is crossing the pond. A press release announced that the program for women screenwriters aged 40 or older is launching a new edition: The Writers Lab U.K. & Ireland. Supported by Cate Blanchett’s Dirty Films, the lab will be held virtually June 10-13, with additional sessions in the following months.
The Writers Lab U.K. & Ireland was organized in partnership with Untamed Stories and in association with Birds’ Eye View. Support also comes from Screen Scotland, Screen Skills Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen, Ffilm Cymru Wales, and BFI NETWORK, with funding from the National Lottery.
Feature and pilot scripts are eligible for the lab. Up to 12 scribes “reflecting the diversity of the populations across Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, and Northern Ireland” will be selected to participate. The program involves writers working “one-on-one and in group sessions with acclaimed screen industry leaders to develop their scripts and their craft, and to build tools and strategies to achieve success.”
“The incredible work that The Writers Lab are doing in providing a platform for underrepresented creative voices resonates deeply with all of us at Dirty Films, so we jumped at the opportunity to support their expansion to the U.K. and Ireland,” stated Blanchett and her partners Coco Francini and Andrew Upton. “We’re excited to see the results of this year’s lab and we look forward to working with Untamed Stories, [original lab producer New York Women in Film & Television,] and The Writers Lab to discover some of the amazing untapped talent in this region.”
“We are delighted to be a part of The Writers Lab U.K. & Ireland 2021 and the mission to amplify the oft-unheard voices of women over 40,” said Birds’ Eye View’s Mia Bays, “addressing ageism and sexism in the screen industry — an industry that, not surprisingly, overlooks the many benefits to being an older writer — such as more life experience and a greater understanding of human motivation. We cannot wait to unite with this strong network of collaborators and lift up the talent we know are out there and can thrive in these encouraging conditions.”
Since The Writers Lab U.S.’s 2015 inception, alumnae have gone on to writer-for-hire jobs, signed with managers and agents, and had their projects optioned or moved into production. This year, the Lab’s first completed project, Alyson Richards’ horror film “The Retreat,” is set to premiere. “Old Guard” director Gina Prince-Bythewood, Robin Swicord (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”), and playwright Theresa Rebeck are among the past mentors. The U.S. edition’s supporters include Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Oprah Winfrey.
Submissions for The Writers Lab U.K. & Ireland will be open April 1-20. Head over to the lab’s website for more information. Registration is also still open for the 2021 Writers Lab U.S.
