If you are a UAE resident over the age of 21, with a passion for writing, this is your chance to tell your story through our new scriptwriting for features training program.
Image Nation Abu Dhabi’s annual training initiative AFS Scriptwriting gives participants a one of a kind opportunity to go on a 10-month journey through storytelling and scriptwriting for the big screen, commencing on the 5th of October, 2023. This training program enables aspiring screenwriters to master their craft, with the potential of getting your script optioned for production.
To be eligible for this program you should have written at least two short films that have been produced and or one novel that has been published, and submit the following documents, in Arabic or English:
- Motivation letter/writer’s statement (2-3 pages)
- Logline (up to two sentences)
- Synopsis (up to 300 words)
- Treatment (10 to 20 pages)
- Biography
- Links to previous works
- Apply by 30th of August 2023
- All shortlisted candidates need to be available for an interview during the month of September, 2023
- Training cost covered by Image Nation Abu Dhabi.
Tutors
Scandar Copti (photography)
Scandar is a Palestinian filmmaker whose debut full-length feature film Ajami (co-directed by Yaron Shani) won the Camera d’Or Special Mention and was nominated for the 82nd Academy Awards. Formerly a mechanical engineer, he has written, directed, and edited several fictions, documentary, and experimental short films. Copti was part of the team that launched the Doha Film Institute where he headed the Education Department and taught screenwriting, directing, and working with non-actors.
Zaid Abu Hamdan (photography)
Zaid holds an MFA from the New York Film Academy in Hollywood and BA in Communication Arts from the Lebanese American University. In 2009 Zaid founded Zaha Productions, producing six award-winning, internationally distributed short films to date. His film Bahiya & Mahmoud was the first Arab short film to qualify for an Oscar nomination in 2012 after winning Best Of Fest Award at the Palm Springs International Shortfest, and has now been developed into a TV series. In 2021, Zaid started touring the international film festival circuit with his debut feature film Daughters of Abdulrahman, winning multiple audience awards and high critical acclaim.