Cinekid Script LAB

This six-month programme offers screenwriters a unique opportunity to develop their children’s films or series in a safe and professional environment. The twelfth edition of the programme launches in Amsterdam during Cinekid Festival this October and ends during the Berlinale in February.

Cinekid for Professionals is excited to announce the selection for the upcoming edition of our Script LAB programme, featuring fifteen projects from thirteen countries.

• A Last Summer in Calabria (film/ live action) 10+
  Participating writers: Ali Hakim
  Produced by: Hakim + König Film (Germany)

• At our place (film/ live action) 4+
  Participating writers: Ayla Spaans, Nadja Hüpscher
  Produced by: Flinck Film (The Netherlands)
  Nominated by: Netherlands Film Fund

• CROWN (film/ live action) 11+
  Participating writers: Amit Kaur, Bisola Elizabeth Alabi (United Kingdom)

• DRIP (film/ live action) 12+
  Participating writers: Sarah Baur, Evelien Den Tandt
  Produced by: Bulletproof Cupid (Belgium)
  Nominated by: Flanders Audiovisual Fund

• Facing the Mountain (series/ live action) 11+
  Participating writers: Kelly Eve Koopman
  Produced by: Blended Films (South Africa)

• Goodbye, Anne (film/ live action) 8+
  Participating writers: Estefania Ortiz
  Produced by: Shoji Films (Spain)

• I Accidentally Fell in Love (film/ live action) 12+
  Participating writers: Nora Lakos
  Produced by: EJKA Foundation (Hungary)

• Natural Selection (series/ animation) 7+
  Participating writers: Irida Zhonga 
  Produced by: Neda Film (Greece)
  Nominated by: Athens International Children’s Film Festival

• Oriana (film/ live action) 7+
  Participating writers: Nuno Soler
  Produced by: Wonder Maria Films (Portugal)

• Pink Punk Delta (film/ animation) 7+
  Participating writers: Alba Sotorra
  Produced by: Alba Sotorra SL (Spain), Artichoke Films (Slovakia)

• Planet Robin (film/ live action) 9+
  Participating writers: Johan Kaos
  Produced by: Bellebob (Norway)
  Nominated by: Norwegian Film Institute

• Super Granola (film/ live action) 6+
  Participating writers: Nadja Drakoula
  Produced by: NEEDaFIXER  (Greece)

• The Queen of England Stole My Parents (film/ live action) 8+
  Participating writers: Gabija Siurbyte
  Written by: Aleksandra Chmielewska and Gabija Siurbyte
  Produced by: Dansu Films (Lithuania)

• TRUE NORTH (film/ live action) 8+
  Participating writers: Sunna Guðnadóttir and Jón Ármann Steinsson
  Produced by: Bjartsýn Films (Iceland)
  Nominated by: Icelandic Film Centre

• Villain of Villains 2 (film/ live action) 7+
  Participating writers: Jessika Jankert
  Produced by: Strive Stories (Sweden), Paprika filmai (Lithuania)
  Nominated by: Swedish Film Institute

• How to write for young audiences
• How to develop a new (and better) draft of your script
• How to connect and share knowledge and experience with writers who are working on scripts for young audiences
• How to broaden your international network

You’re a writer who has a project in development for a children’s feature film or children’s series. You have some experience, but this isn’t necessarily related to screenwriting or writing for children’s media.

• 12 to 15 writers
• First workshop week takes place during Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam in October
• Second workshop week takes place during the Berlinale in Berlin in February
• Coaching sessions, workshops, and training during the workshop weeks
• Attend events, screenings, and informal networking opportunities during Cinekid Festival and the Berlinale
• Interim online session with your coach between the two workshop weeks

Cinekid Script LAB takes place from October to March.

Please e-mail any questions to professionals@cinekid.nl

You can submit your entry for Cinekid Script LAB from March till May 2025. Submissions are now closed.

Please include at least the following information in your application:

• Project details and specifications
• A treatment
• Brief description of all characters
• Your motivation to join the programme and what you hope to gain by participating
• An artistic statement describing the vision for your film
• A link to previously directed work

There are two routes to participate in Cinekid Script LAB. The main one is nomination by one of our international partners (see list below), who will cover the full costs of your participation. You can also submit your project through an open call, in which case you must cover the costs of participation.

Cinekid also offers scholarships to participants from low-capacity countries in Europe, as defined by the European Commission. If you’d like more information, please e-mail professionals@cinekid.nl.

Cinekid organises the Cinekid Script LAB with the Athens International Children’s Film Festival (GR), Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds (BE), Icelandic Film Centre (IC), Nederlands Filmfonds (NL), Norwegian Film Institute (NO), and Swedish Film Institute (SE).