Workshop for Arab Screenwriters with the Royal Film Commission in Jordan

Jordan's Royal Film Commission, in coordination with the Sundance Institute, is calling for applications for the 15th round of its Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab, to be held this year in Jordan from 1 to 7 September 2022.

Each year, fellows and advisors work intensively for five days on their feature narrative screenplays. Each fellow will have several one-on-one story sessions with the lab's creative advisors. The advisors’ guidance ranges from improving the fellow's technique as a screenwriter to life lessons and practical suggestions to be explored in their next draft. Emphasis is placed on each fellow's individual voice and story.

An advisory committee of writers established film critics, screenplay editors, script doctors, scholars and film professionals work with the Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab team throughout the selection process. They are referred to as “Reading Consultants”.

• Rawi Screenwriters Lab is open for screenwriters, co-writers, or writers/directors.
• Screenwriters working on their first or second narrative feature screenplay can apply.
• Applicants must submit a complete narrative feature screenplay. (meaning the script needs to be in the range of 90-120 pages to qualify unless there is a proper justification for having more or fewer pages)
• Only Arab screenwriters/filmmakers are eligible to apply, regardless of their country of residence.

The primary shortlisting is based on script merits:

 The primary shortlisting is based on script merits: 

• The story
• Originality
• Characters
• Dialogue
• Structure
• Writing style
• Individual voices, the status of the screenplay and its suitability to benefit from the Lab. Where applicable, we look very closely at the directing work of the writer.

About Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab:

In 2005 the Royal Film Commission - Jordan (RFC) launched Rawi (Storyteller), a screenplay development lab. For its first 11 years, the lab was run in collaboration with the Sundance Institute and is modeled on the Institute’s renowned Screenwriters Lab. Independent Arab screenwriters (Fellows) are offered the chance to develop their work in a uniquely creative environment under the guidance of internationally acclaimed screenwriters from all over the world (Creative Advisors). Over the past fourteen years, Rawi supported 105 emerging screenwriters. Completed projects by Rawi’s alumni include: Pomegranates and Myrrh by Najwa Najjar, Amreeka by Cherien Dabis, Son of Babylon by Mohamed Al Daradji, The Fifth String by Selma Bargach, My Brother The Devil by Sally El Hosaini, Detroit Unleaded by Rola Nashef, Wadjda by Haifaa Al-Mansour, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Khadija Al-Salami, 3000 Nights by Mai Masri, Until The End of Time by Yasmine Chouikh and Tramontane by Vatche Boulghourijian.

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