The Hamptons International Film Festival’s Screenwriters’ Lab, going into its 12th year, is an intimate gathering that takes place each Spring in East Hampton, New York (April 13- 15, 2012). The Lab develops emerging screenwriting talent by pairing established writers & creative producers with up-and-coming screenwriters (chosen by HIFF in collaboration with key industry contacts). The mentors advise in a one-on-one creative laboratory setting while additional events bring the participants together with board members, sponsors, the local artistic community, and other friends of the festival. With scripts from past writers produced year after year, the Lab continues to be a safe and inspiring place for artists to find and hone their creative vision.

Recent mentors at the lab include Michael Cunningham (The Hours, Evening); James Vanderbilt (Zodiac); Mark Heyman (Black Swan); Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson, Sugar, It’s Kind of a Funny Story); Billy Frolick (Madagascar); J.D. Zeik (Ronin); J. Robin Baitz (People I Know, The Substance of Fire); Whit Stillman (Metropolitan, The Last Days of Disco); Ira Sachs (40 Shades of Blue, This Married Life); Jeff Sharp (Producer, You Can Count on Me, Evening); Maria Maggenti (The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love); Sabrina Dhawan (Monsoon Wedding, Cosmopolitan); Gregory Widen (Highlander, Backdraft); Mark Christopher (54); Maggie Greenwald (Songcatcher, Ballad of Little Jo); Lawrence Lasker (Sneakers, War Games); Chap Taylor (Changing Lanes, National Treasure); and Dylan Kidd (Roger Dodger, P.S.).

We seek a broad selection of screenplays addressing a wide subject matter. Additionally, in collaboration with The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s initiative in furthering the public understanding of science, we encourage writers to submit screenplays that explore science, technology, mathematics, invention, and engineering in fresh and innovative ways.

GENERAL RULES
Submission Process:
The following materials are required for your application:

1) A feature-length screenplay.
2) Cover letter with a brief synopsis (one or two sentences describing the plot of the screenplay).
3) The non-refundable application fee. Please make checks payable to The Hamptons International Film Festival.

We invite you to submit your screenplay either electronically through withoutabox.com (click on link) or by mail, but sending in a hard copy of your screenplay via mail is requested and strongly advised to better facilitate the review of your screenplay.

We also strongly advise that you submit a brief writer CV or bio focusing on other screenplays you have written and whether they have been or will be produced.

Please click below to submit to our annual Screenwriters’ Lab: