CINEPHILIA FILM & TV DEVELOPMENT WORKROOM
The Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom is an intensive, project-based development program for emerging and professional writers, directors, and writer-directors developing narrative film and television projects. The Workroom takes place four times per year — once each quarter.
During every quarterly cycle, Cinephilia runs three separate Workrooms:
1. Narrative Short Film Workroom
2. Narrative Feature Film Workroom
3. Episodic TV Workroom
Each Workroom is intentionally small and includes 5–8 selected projects maximum, allowing every project to receive focused feedback and individualized attention.
WORKROOM FORMAT: 5 weeks | 6 sessions | Virtual
Over the course of the program, participants develop their projects through a combination of group sessions, hands-on writing and development exercises, project feedback, packaging guidance, and pitch training.
WORKROOM STRUCTURE:
The program focuses on three areas:
SCREENPLAY DEVELOPMENT
Strengthen the dramatic foundation of your project through work on story, structure, character, theme, tone, and the screenplay itself.PROJECT PACKAGING
Learn how to articulate the creative identity of your project and develop the materials needed to present it professionally, including a project pitch deck.PITCH TRAINING
Learn how to communicate your project clearly and compellingly through verbal pitch development and practice.
By the end of the Workroom, participants are expected to leave with a stronger and more developed version of their screenplay, a project pitch deck, a refined verbal pitch, and a clearer understanding of how to move the project forward.
PARTICIPATION FEE:
Application fee: Free
Participation fee upon selection: $575
The participation fee is a one-time, non-refundable fee required only if you are selected for the Workroom. Payment plans are available. We do not currently offer fee waivers or discounts.
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2027 CINEPHILIA FILM & TV DEVELOPMENT WORKROOM.
Four Workroom cycles will take place throughout 2027, with one cycle offered each quarter. Each quarterly cycle includes: Short Film Workroom, Feature Film Workroom, and Episodic Workroom.
HOW TO APPLY:
Read the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Complete the application form at the bottom of this page. There is no application fee.
Applications are reviewed by the Cinephilia selection committee.
Only selected applicants are notified by email.
Upon acceptance, selected participants must confirm their place by paying the participation fee and signing the Workroom agreement.
PARTICIPATION FEE
Application fee: Free
Participation fee upon selection: $575
The participation fee is a one-time, non-refundable fee required only if you are selected for the Workroom.
Payment plans are available. We do not currently offer fee waivers or discounts.
2027 WORKROOM SCHEDULE:
Workroom 1: January 11 - February 5, 2027
Submissions open October 10, 2026
Application Deadline: November 10, 2026
Notification: December 15, 2026
Workroom 2: March 15 - April 8, 2027
Submissions open January 10, 2027
Application Deadline: February 10, 2027
Notification: February 20, 2027
Workroom 3: June 1 - 30, 2027
Submissions open March 15, 2027
Application Deadline: April 15, 2027
Notification: May 10, 2027
Workroom 4: October 1 - 30, 2027
Submissions open August 1, 2027
Application Deadline: August 30, 2027
Notification: September 10, 2027
MENTOR: DARINE HOTAIT (writer/director)
Named on Disney’s 2022 List of Directors on The Rise, Darine Hotait’s narrative films can be seen on Sundance Channel, The New Yorker, AMC Networks, BBC, Forbes, Outfest, ShortsTV, and at numerous Oscar-qualifying international film festivals. She is the recipient of the New York Council on the Arts Artist Award, the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, the Jerome Hill Finalist Award, and the AFAC Cinema Grant. Her work has been supported by The Sundance Institute, Comedy Central, The Independent Film Project, Maison Des Scenaristes, NYFA/NYSCA, and the Jerome Foundation.
Darine has worked as a script consultant with hundreds of filmmakers and as a mentor, advisor, and consultant for film institutions and organizations such as The Sundance Institute, the New York Foundation for The Arts IAP, Films Femmes Francophones Méditerranée, Students For Justice…to name a few.
Darine is the founder of Cinephilia Productions— a film incubator championing the next generation of African and Middle Eastern filmmakers. Under her leadership, Cinephilia has supported the education of over 1700 filmmakers and the development of over 500 film projects. Darine resides in New York City.
LEARN ABOUT THE PREVIOUSLY SELECTED PROJECTS
LATEST WORKROOM PROJECT RELEASES :
satisfaction (wORLD pREMIERE AT sxsw 2025)
kentucky gaza (wORLD PREMIERE AT clermont ferrand 2026)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How often does the Cinephilia Workroom take place?
The Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom takes place four times per year, once each quarter.
During each quarterly cycle, we run three separate Workrooms: Short Film, Feature Film, and Episodic.How many projects are selected?
Each individual Workroom includes between 5 and 8 projects. For example, a quarterly cycle may include 5–8 short film projects, 5–8 feature film projects, and 5–8 episodic projects, each participating in its respective Workroom.We typically receive between 90 and 150 applications per cycle, and selection is competitive.
Which Workroom should I apply to?
Apply according to the format of the project you are currently developing: Short Film Workroom, Feature Film Workroom, and Episodic TV Workroom.Do I need to have a project before applying?
Yes. The Workroom is project-based, and you must apply with a specific narrative short, feature, or episodic project that is currently in development.At what stage should my project be?
You should have completed at least a full treatment or a draft of your screenplay. The Workroom is designed for projects that already have a creative foundation but would benefit from further development, rewriting, feedback, packaging, and pitch preparation.
Do I need to have a completed screenplay?
No. You may apply with either a full treatment or an existing screenplay draft. However, you should have developed the project enough to actively work on it throughout the five-week program.
Is the Workroom only for filmmakers from a particular racial, ethnic, or national background?
No. The Cinephilia Workroom is open to applicants from around the world, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, or background.This is my first writing experience. Is this Workroom right for me?
Yes. The Workroom welcomes both emerging and professional writers and filmmakers. Selection is based primarily on the project and the applicant's commitment to developing it. Because the program is project-focused, participants can enter with different levels of professional experience.
Can I apply with a co-writer?
Yes. Co-writers may apply together with the same project. If selected, each participating co-writer must register separately and pay an individual participation fee.
Can I submit more than one project?
You may submit one project to each Workroom. We strongly recommend applying with the project you are most committed to developing. If you wish to submit different projects for different quarterly Workroom cycles, you may do so through separate applications.Do I need to be based in New York since Cinephilia is based in New York?
No. The Cinephilia Workroom is fully virtual and open internationally. All sessions take place online via Zoom. Applicants should carefully review the session dates and times listed in the application before applying.
Do I have to attend all six sessions?
Yes. Selected participants are expected to attend all six sessions. Because the Workroom is collaborative and each session builds on the previous one, full attendance is an important part of the program.
Where do the sessions take place?
All Cinephilia Workroom sessions take place virtually via Zoom.How are my project and creative ideas protected?
All selected participants are required to sign an NDA with Cinephilia Productions before the Workroom begins. Participants also sign an agreement establishing that they retain the rights to their projects and to the creative materials they share with Cinephilia and fellow participants during the program.Do I have to credit Cinephilia if my project is produced?
Yes. Projects developed through the Cinephilia Workroom must include the following acknowledgment in the end credits: “Project Developed at Cinephilia Productions Workroom.” The Cinephilia Productions logo must also be included, subject to review by Cinephilia Productions prior to the project's release.What happens if I am selected but cannot afford the participation fee?
We do not currently offer fee waivers or discounts. However, payment plans are available to help selected participants divide the participation fee into installments.Is the participation fee refundable?
No. Participation fees are non-refundable. Once a filmmaker accepts their place, pays the participation fee, and signs the Workroom agreement, Cinephilia does not provide refunds. Because each Workroom is limited to only 5–8 projects, accepting a place reserves one of a very small number of available spots.Do I receive support from Cinephilia after the Workroom ends?
Participants who complete the Cinephilia Workroom become part of the Cinephilia community. Cinephilia continues to support its fellows through industry insights, networking opportunities, connections, and consideration for future development opportunities.
Is there a more advanced program after the Workroom?
Yes. Cinephilia offers a three-month Advanced Development Lab by invitation only. Priority consideration is given to filmmakers who have previously participated in the Cinephilia Workroom and whose projects are ready for continued development.
I have additional questions. How can I contact Cinephilia?
Please email info@cinephiliaproductions.com with the subject line “Cinephilia Workroom Inquiry.”
APPLICATION FORM
FILMMAKERS TESTIMONIALS
“The overall CFDW experience was enlightening and encouraging. It exceeded my expectations. I didn’t expect to feel so connected to all of the other writers and their projects. The mentor was very insightful. She gave us tasks that really helped us focus on developing our stories in positive ways.”
“I was pushed out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. Cinephilia Film Development Workroom is so valuable to the development of my debut feature script, In Time. The mentor and workroom participants gave such wonderful feedback that’s taken my screenwriting process to a whole new level, especially regarding character development. Everyone brought fresh ideas that I hadn’t considered myself. Cinephilia Film Development Workroom exceeded my expectations. The mentor had a clear and well-thought-out structure to our time together while respecting our various project stages. I still use some of the writing activities from the first session to get myself in the habit of exercising my screenwriting brain.”
“I didn’t expect to find so much creative refuge and insight in this workroom! I loved that we were all from different corners of the world, but we were able to connect and relate to the power of storytelling. The workroom proved that the art of storytelling, if developed and used intentionally, can contribute to inclusion, connection, and even bring about change.”
“Improving, inspiring, and mind-opening. I am very happy to have participated in the Film Development Workroom as it helped me move my project forward. It was really encouraging to be among filmmakers from different backgrounds all with wonderful film projects.”
“Prosperous, eye opening and exuberant. Cinephilia Film Development Workroom gave me confidence in myself as a writer and in my script and storytelling approach. The mentor demonstrated a firm interest in helping us grow as screenwriters and was never shy of making us sweat to reach the mountain top. It was a pleasure & a joy just to watch her digest all of our ideas and immediately respond with a crucial critique and mind growing direction to go with. Her knowledge & grasp of the art form is inspiring & humbling and her spirit & availability makes you connect with her willingly.”
“Very fulfilling experience! The mentor was extremely knowledgeable, passionate, and generous. She created an inclusive learning environment and was able to adapt to the skill and progress of each individual while advancing the development of the entire group. The in-class and between assignments are well-paced and challenging and provide practical experience to advance projects. It’s the right blend of conceptual and practical learning with a lean towards execution.”
“Very useful and insightful. The exercises gave a different perspective on the writing process. Most useful was how to write dialogue which I’d always going very difficult. The mentor was very experienced and perceptive. The feedback was tailored to each project though each was extremely different.”
“This truly was a unique workshop, which raised my ability both as a writer and creative. ”
“It was inspiring and eye-opening. I learned a lot more than I expected from observing others’ work and hearing feedback from the mentor and other fellows.”
“I managed to make good progress on my project that was consistent and almost guaranteed given the overall structure and format of the workroom. I received different perspectives on aspects of my script I was struggling with. The mentor pointed out important issues in my script and asked questions that helped me better develop the project. She also addressed questions about the industry in general.”
“The workroom pushed me to question some of the aspects of my story and gave me the energy to proceed further.”
“Cinephilia Workroom was very insightful and the collaborative environment helped me answer many questions and move forward with my story. ”