CINEPHILIA FILM & TV DEVELOPMENT WORKROOM
Screenplay Development . Project Packaging . Pitch Training
WORKROOM FORMAT
4 weeks | 6 sessions | online
Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom is designed to offer a unique experience for emerging and professional film & television writers and directors. During the 4-week sessions, filmmakers will be guided through the process of developing a narrative screenplay using hands-on exercises, creating project decks, and training to pitch. Filmmakers can expect to have a developed draft of their screenplay, a project pitch deck, and industry insights.
SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN FOR 2024 WORKROOM
FILL THE APPLICATION FORM BELOW.
HOW TO APPLY:
1- Read the FAQ below.
2- Fill the application form at the bottom of this page. Submissions are free.
3- Selected filmmakers will be notified by email.
4- Selected filmmakers will be required to pay a one-time non-refundable participation fee.
FEES:
Submissions are free.
A one-time participation fee of $500.00 is required upon selection
Participation Fees are non-refundable.
2025 WORKROOM SCHEDULE:
There are 4 workroom sessions per year.
Workroom 1: January 13 - February 6, 2025 OPEN
Submissions open October 25, 2024
Application Deadline: December 1, 2025
Notification: December 20, 2025
Workroom 2: March 3 - March 27, 2025
Submissions open January 1, 2025
Application Deadline: January 20, 2025
Notification: February 10, 2025
Workroom 3: August 4- 28, 2025
Submissions open May 15, 2025
Application Deadline: June 15, 2025
Notification: July 10, 2025
Workroom 4: November 3 - 27, 2025
Submissions open September 1, 2025
Application Deadline: September 30, 2025
Notification: October 10, 2025
2024 WORKROOM SCHEDULE:
There are 4 workroom sessions per year.
Workroom 1: January 15 - February 10, 2024 CLOSED
Application Deadline: December 1, 2023
Notification: December 20, 2023
Workroom 2: March 15 - April 15, 2024 CLOSED
Application Deadline: February 1, 2024
Notification: February 10, 2024
Workroom 3: August 5 - 26, 2024 CLOSED
Application Deadline: July 8, 2024
Notification: July 15, 2024
Workroom 4: November 1 - 30, 2024 CLOSED
Application Deadline: September 30, 2024
Notification: October 10, 2024
MENTOR: DARINE HOTAIT (writer/director)
Named on Disney’s 2022 List of Directors on The Rise, Darine Hotait’s narrative films that 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
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How many filmmakers are selected in the workroom?
Up to 8 writers make the final selection to join the workroomDo I need to have a project already to join the workroom?
YES. You must be working on a narrative short, feature, or pilot for an episodic show in the development stage.
What do you mean by the development stage?
You must have written a treatment and have an understanding of the plot and characters.
Is the workroom only for filmmakers from the Middle East and Africa?
NO. The Cinephilia workroom is the only program at Cinephilia that is open to all filmmakers from all over the world.
This is my first writing experience. Is this the right workroom for me?
This workroom is designed equally for emerging and professional writers.
Can I have a co-writer?
YES. Co-writers can submit the same form. If selected, writers must pay separate fees.
Can I submit more than one project?
You can submit only one project per workroom. We strongly advise that you submit the project that you are most committed to. You can submit more than one project if each is submitted to be considered for a different workroom schedule.
Do I have to be located in New York to join this program?
NO. The sessions will be held online and writers can be based anywhere. Please check the preferred dates and times that we propose in the application form.
I can only attend some of the sessions and not all 8 sessions. Is it still ok to participate?
NO. Selected writers must attend all the sessions.
Where do the sessions take place?
Cinephilia Workroom is the only program at Cinephilia that takes place virtually via sessions on Zoom.I have concerns about protecting my creative ideas.
To protect your ideas and the material that you share in the workroom with fellow filmmakers, all selected filmmakers must sign an NDA form with Cinephilia Productions prior to the start of the sessions.
Do I have to credit Cinephilia when the film is made?
YES. All projects selected at Cinephilia Workroom must include a mention in the ending credit section “Project Developed at Cinephilia Productions Workroom” and include the Cinephilia Productions logo.I do not have the budget to pay the workroom fees. Can I still apply?
Unfortunately, we do not extend fee waivers or discounts. Selected filmmakers are required to pay the participation fee upon acceptance. However, we do offer payment plans to accommodate the selected filmmakers’ financial needs.If I pay the participation fee and decide later not to proceed with the workroom, can I get a refund?
NO. Participation fees are non-refundable. Once selected filmmakers pay the participation fee and sign the agreement, Cinephilia does not provide a refund under any circumstance. Due to the high volume of applications and the rigorous selection process, the review committee selects only 6-8 projects maximum per workroom.Do I receive support from Cinephilia beyond the workroom?
A selected filmmaker is a Cinephilia fellow. Cinephilia extends its support post-workroom by providing industry insights, networking opportunities, and connections.
If selected, is there a follow-up after the workroom?
Cinephilia offers a 3-month advanced development lab that is open by invitation-only with priority to filmmakers who have attended the workroom.
I have more questions. How can I connect with you?
Please email info@cinephiliaproductions.com with subject line “Cinephilia Workroom Inquiry”
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. ”