Screenwriters Lab - Hamptons International Film Festival

David Nugent, Justin Kuritzkes, Aliza Brugger, Rachel Shukert, Pepi Ginsberg, Keaton Ventura, Matthew Jackett, Dan Janvey at the 2025 Screenwriters Lab

The HamptonsFilm Screenwriters Lab champions the artistic visions of up-and-coming filmmakers from around the world.

An intimate gathering taking place each spring on Long Island’s East End, the Lab fosters emerging talent by pairing selected fellows with established writers and creative producers for a weekend of one-on-one mentorship. Over the course of the weekend, these film industry veterans advise the participating fellows on their feature length projects in a series of individual and group development sessions.

Additional events include nightly salons, roundtables, and happy hours with industry guests, board members, alumni of the Lab, and members of the local artistic community.

Director/writer Anu Valia with producer Olivia Wingate at HIFF 2024 with WE STRANGERS

HIFF was thrilled to welcome Lab participant Anu Valia (2018 Screenwriters Lab) back with her feature debut WE STRANGERS, which screened in Competition at HIFF32.

> > Archive of Lab Screenwriters

“The HIFF Screenwriters Lab is a uniquely valuable experience for emerging writers, an opportunity in one-on-one sessions and group settings to hone their craft and learn about navigating the industry. Both times I’ve served as a mentor (2016, 2019) I’ve come away from the weekend energized and inspired by these new voices, and in the years since it’s been thrilling to see so many of them become established, working writers and directors.” — Michael H. Weber, Oscar® nominated co-writer of THE DISASTER ARTIST and 500 DAYS OF SUMMER

Mentors and screenwriters attend the final group session at the 2019 Screenwriters Lab

Since its inception, over seventy-five screenplays have taken part in the Lab. Recent projects include Anu Valia’s WE STRANGERS (SXSW 2024), Andrew Semans’ RESURRECTION (IFC Films, Sundance 2022), Annabelle Attanasio’s MICKEY AND THE BEAR (Utopia, SXSW 2019), Michael Tyburski and Ben Nabors’ THE SOUND OF SILENCE (IFC Films, Sundance 2019), Cathy Yan’s DEAD PIGS (Film Movement, Sundance 2018), Christina Choe’s NANCY (Samuel Goldwyn Films, Sundance 2018), and Ísold Uggadóttir’s AND BREATHE NORMALLY (Netflix, Sundance 2018).

Other selected highlights include Destin Daniel Cretton’s SHORT TERM 12, starring Academy Award®-winning actors Brie Larson and Rami Malek, which won the Grand Jury and Audience Award at SXSW in 2013; Justin Schwartz’s THE DISCOVERERS, starring Griffin Dunne, which made its world premiere at HIFF 2012; Sara Colangelo’s LITTLE ACCIDENTS, which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, starring Elizabeth Banks and Chloe Sevigny; and Claudia Myers’s FORT BLISS, starring Michelle Monaghan and Ron Livingston, which was released in 2014. With projects from participating fellows produced year after year, the Screenwriters Lab continues to be an inspiring and safe space for artists to find and hone their creative vision.

“The Screenwriters Lab gave me two of the things that screenwriters most crave: Honest, insightful feedback from creatives working at an incredibly high level in their field, and dedicated time devoted solely to bettering our scripts. The array of mentors and industry guests provided insight into both the creative process and the professional process of getting our films made. And because this Lab coincided with the Covid-19 quarantine, it gave me the permission and motivation to continue to work, which was a huge gift in itself. There’s no doubt that this Lab has made and will continue to make my script stronger, and I know the guidance I received will have a positive impact on all my future scripts.” — Kelly O’Sullivan, 2020 Lab Fellow (MOUSE), writer of SAINT FRANCES, and Melissa Mathison Award Recipient

Recent Screenwriters Lab Mentors and Master Class participants include Celine Song (PAST LIVES), Michael Covino (THE CLIMB), Bart Freundlich (AFTER THE WEDDING, THE MYTH OF FINGERPRINTS), Samuel D. Hunter (THE WHALE); Ekwa Msangi (FAREWELL AMOR); David Hinojosa (PAST LIVES, BODIES BODIES BODIES); Debra Granik (WINTER’S BONE, LEAVE NO TRACE); Tamara Jenkins (PRIVATE LIFE, THE SAVAGES); Jim Taylor (SIDEWAYS, ELECTION); Mark Heyman (BLACK SWAN); Michael H. Weber (THE DISASTER ARTIST, (500) DAYS OF SUMMER); Oren Moverman (THE MESSENGER, LOVE AND MERCY); Michael Cunningham (THE HOURS, EVENING); James Vanderbilt (ZODIAC, TRUTH); Robin Swicord (When They See Us; THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON); Alex Dinelaris (BIRDMAN); James Ponsoldt (THE SPECTACULAR NOW), Nicole Perlman (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY); Peter Hedges (WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE); Darius Marder (SOUND OF METAL); Caroline Kaplan (BOYHOOD, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU), Sara Colangelo (THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER), Rob Siegel (THE WRESTLER, THE FOUNDER); Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (CAPTAIN MARVEL, HALF NELSON); Mollye Asher (producer: NOMADLAND); Sabrina Dhawan (MONSOON WEDDING, COSMOPOLITAN); Jesse Andrews (ME, EARL, AND THE DYING GIRL), David Siegel (WHAT MAISIE KNEW); Alec Sokolow (TOY STORY); Hawk Ostby (CHILDREN OF MEN, IRON MAN); Alice Wu (SAVING FACE, THE HALF OF IT); J. Robin Baitz (PEOPLE I KNOW, THE SUBSTANCE OF FIRE); Ted Griffin (OCEAN’S ELEVEN); James V. Hart (CONTACT, HOOK); Whit Stillman (METROPOLITAN, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP); Ira Sachs (PASSAGES, LOVE IS STRANGE); Andy Bienen (BOYS DON’T CRY); Jeff Sharp (BOYS DON’T CRY, EVENING); Lawrence Konner (The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire); Maria Maggenti (THE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO GIRLS IN LOVE); Gregory Widen (HIGHLANDER, BACKDRAFT); Mark Christopher (54); Maggie Greenwald (SONGCATCHER, BALLAD OF LITTLE JO); Laurie Collyer (SHERRYBABY); Lawrence Lasker (SNEAKERS, WAR GAMES); and Dylan Kidd (ROGER DODGER, P.S.).

Each year, the Lab presents the Melissa Mathison Award to a female lab participant. Established in 2016 and named for the late, beloved Oscar®-nominated screenwriter, the Mathison Award strives to foster the continued development of female writers in the industry. In 2025, Pepi Ginsberg and her project The Pirex will receive the award, which also includes a live screenplay reading of the work in NYC. Previous recipients include Cathy Yan (DEAD PIGS, 2018 Sundance Film Festival), and Annabelle Attanasio (MICKEY AND THE BEAR, 2019 SXSW Film Festival).

To support women in film, please consider a donation to the Melissa Mathison Award.