Development Lab for Filmmakers - Scriptwriting & Producing in Central Asia

development lab

Bukhara, Almaty and online, June–November 2024

The Development Lab is designed for filmmakers from Central Asian countries who want to enhance their skills in scriptwriting or film producing, establish new professional connections, and, under the guidance of international experts, write a full-length feature film screenplay and/or create a producing strategy for a project with international potential. The lab comprises two educational programs: the producers section and the screenwriting section. The goal of the lab is to develop a project for its further presentation to potential partners and international film institutions, as well as clients and producers in the region.

FAQ: Development Lab

Filmmakers with full-length feature film projects in the early stages of development. Authors without projects but with experience in the film industry or creating audiovisual content in literature, journalism, playwriting, video blogging, or art may also participate in the program. Such participants will work on colleagues' projects.

Full information on the requirements for participants' professional experience and their projects is provided in the Rules & Regulations.

Participants must be over 18 years old and come from one of the Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. A good command of Russian and/or English is obligatory.

The maximum number of places in each section is 10, of which at most 3 are reserved for participants without projects.

Both sections will run simultaneously and consist of three modules, with the first module scheduled in 1-7 June in Bukhara (Uzbekistan), followed by an online module in 1-7 September and a final module in 1-7 November in Almaty (Kazakhstan). In the offline modules participants will work for 5 days from 9:00 to 22:00. The online module will last up to 10 days. Exact dates of the modules will be announced by May 1st. The program covers travel expenses and accommodation.

Modules will be conducted in English with synchronous or consecutive translation into Russian.

Participants in the producers section will develop a complete set of documents for seeking international and regional financing.
Participants in the scriptwriting section will develop a final text of the screenplay.

The open call for the Development Lab is held from March 6th to April 28th. Applications will be reviewed by the Alternativa Film Project team. Results will be announced on May 16th.

Biography and filmography
Motivational letter
Links to previous works
Brief synopsis and treatment of the project (for applications with a project in the scriptwriting section)
Brief synopsis, presentation, treatment, and preliminary budget of the project (for applications with a project in the producers section)

PARTICIPANTS. Producers

PARTICIPANTS. Scriptwriters

Tutors

FAQ: Development Lab

We answer your questions about applying to the film lab

This year at the Development Lab, we will only be working with full-length feature film projects

Submission and participation are free of charge. Alternativa covers transportation to the venue and accommodation

English with translation to Russian

In English, Russian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Uzbek, and Turkmen languages in any combination. If you have documents in multiple languages, please submit all of them

Yes, but each project needs to be submitted separately

April 28th at 23:59 GMT+3

In a free-form style

This year, we are only accepting participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan for the Development La

One representative of the project can participate in the Development Lab

Open links to audiovisual projects in which you have participated

Tell us why you need this lab, what professional skills you currently lack, and what development you want to give to your project

Describe yourself, your education, and your professional and creative experience

A list of audiovisual works in any format you have participated in, such as music videos, short films, series, etc.

A brief summary of the screenplay on one page

A detailed summary of the screenplay (5–15 pages). It may also include the project's concept, plotlines, and dialogue excerpts

No, we expect a complete package of documents. There is still time before the deadline to write a treatment and prepare an estimated budget for the project

We guarantee that any materials provided are reviewed by our team and lab tutors only. All rights to them remain with the authors