It’s a fact that ScriptLab sets a record each time opens its call for applications: this new edition collected 857 applications! Out of 773 film ideas submitted, 16 projects were selected (9 debuts, 2 second features and 5 more mature works), presented by 18 professionals (16 writers/directors and 2 co-writers); joined by 4 aspiring story editors, picked from 84 candidates, who will support the screenwriters throughout the development process. The class will be made up of 22 professionals – 11 women, 3 non-binary participants and 8 men – from 21 countries (Brazil, Cuba, Estonia, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Palestine, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Türkiye, UK, USA, Vietnam).
In charge of the pedagogical team, Eva Svenstedt Ward (Swedish script consultant, Head of Studies of the programme) and Amra Bakšić Čamo (Bosnian producer, curator). With them, four internationally renowned tutors, each paired with a story editor trainee to work in groups on 4 projects: Anna Ciennik (France), Miguel López Beraza (Spain), Marietta von Hausswolff von Baumgarten (Sweden) and Aleksandra Świerk (Poland).
Starting in April, ScriptLab will gather participants for 5 sessions (3 residential ones in Luxembourg, Estonia and Italy, and 2 online), and will end in November in Turin with the TFL Meeting Event (26-28 November), TorinoFilmLab’s co-production market.
Let’s meet them!
THE PROJECTS
Anywhere Anytime by Helio Pu (France), co-writer Eli Ligonnet Lam (France/Vietnam) – first feature
Fiesta by Coralie Lavergne (France) – first feature
Gap Year by Marija Kavtaradze (Lithuania) – third feature
Half and Half by Hoi Ying Chu (Hong Kong/Taiwan) – first feature
I Wanna Dance with Myself by Khozy Rizal (Indonesia) – first feature
In Quiet Hands by Mickey Lai (Malaysia) – first feature
King of Vegetables by Arjun Talwar (India) – third feature
Lampblack by Nicolò Folin (Italy) – first feature
The Last Angel of Beirut by Valentin Noujaïm (France/Lebanon) – first feature
Love in the Paleolithic by Isadora Neves Marques (Portugal) – first feature
Mo Tori by Eeva Mägi (Estonia) – fourth feature
Norheimsund by Ana Alpizar (Cuba/USA) – first feature
The Older Sister by Rafaela Camelo (Brazil), co-writer André Pereira (Brazil) – third feature
Pale Comfort by Reuben Hamlyn (UK/USA) – second feature
The Pessoptimists by Abdallah Alkhatib (Palestine) – third feature
The Sky Below Us by Eric Lamhène (Luxembourg) – second feature
THE STORY EDITOR TRAINEES
Each story editor trainee is assigned to a working group to support the tutor and immerse themselves in the feature film development process, focusing on the early stage of scriptwriting. ScriptLab 2026 welcomes Esra Demirkiran (Türkiye), Naomi Lladó Quer (Spain), Kris Ong (Singapore) and Vėjūnė Tamuliūnaitė (Lithuania).
Read the dedicated article on Screen International.
ScriptLab is organised by TorinoFilmLab – Museo Nazionale del Cinema with the support of Creative Europe – MEDIA Sub-programme of the European Union. ScriptLab 2026 is realised in partnership with Film Fund Luxembourg, hosting the 1st workshop in Luxembourg, Tartu Film Fund and Estonian Film Institute, hosting the 2nd workshop in Tartu, Estonia.