Manipur State Film Development Society, MSFDS, announces its 6-month, intensive fiction feature film screenwriting Lab (October-March), to be mentored by acclaimed screenwriters of the Film Industry. The incubation-mentorship lab is designed as a hands-on, intensive, project oriented screenwriting lab for Manipuri feature length, fiction films.

Experienced, as well as aspiring fiction screenwriters interested in participating in the Lab, have to fulfill the preliminary online submission for selection in the limited seat, first-of-a-kind lab for screenwriters in Manipur. The preliminary submission includes a one-sentence logline, synopsis (400 words), narrative outline or treatment (2500 words), and story intent & motivation (500 words).

The preliminary online submission closes on 15 October 2022 and the final pitch of incubated screenplays is scheduled to be held on 30-31 March 2023 with attractive cash awards, grants, and commitment to production for the outstanding screenplays. Details of the screenplay are available at the MSFDS office at Palace Gate or on MSFDS websites, namely www.msfds.org and www.msfds.net . The Lab which is in a hybrid format combines online and offline interactions and mentorship.

The takeaway of the lab is Screenplay writing from concept to screen, area specific guidance and input, understanding the 3-act structure story and beyond, scripting scenes, dramaturgy, and narrative thread, developing characters, screenwriting techniques to guide dialogue and action, writing effective logline, synopsis, and treatment and marketing screenplays.

MSFDS urges screenwriters of Manipuri fiction feature films and those aspiring to become screenwriters to avail the opportunity to fine tune story ideas to full-fledged screenplays with inputs from industry experts.

To clarify any doubt or question regarding the Lab, aspiring participants may contact MSFDS Secretary Sunzu Bachaspatimayum for interaction at its Palace Gate Office during office hours. The Screenwriting Lab is supported by Cine Writers & Playwrights Forum Manipur.

The 6-month latest Lab is a part of MSFDS’ promotional activities to encourage good cinema practice in Manipur and help articulate Manipuri stories for the global market.

Between the years 2021-2022, MSFDS has undertaken several skill development training programs like the film archiving workshop,  cinematography Lab, editing Lab, Master Classes on screenplay writing, film direction and editing, a talk series by Aribam Syam Sharma on acting for films, sound & music direction for films and on film direction. Another project incubation and mentorship Lab, by the name of ‘Documentor Imphal’, was also organized in which 8 documentary projects were incubated and cash awards worth Rs. 8 lakhs were doled out to filmmakers who participated in the projects.

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