Writers for Indian Children’s Film Lab announced

November 24, 2009

The Indian Children’s Film Lab will focus on the writing, development and production of high quality children’s films. For the first time in India this programme will offer a unique opportunity for developing talent specialised in writing and film production for a young people’s audience.

The Lab will take place in Matheran, near Bombay, from December 4-14 December 2009.

Eleanora Images and PAL are delighted to announce the screenwriters selected to take part in the first Indian Children’s Film Lab.

The writers and projects are:

• Mukul Srivastra - Atom
• Jyothi Kapur Das - Extra Class
• Jagadish m’Metla - The Curse of the Rat-eaters
• Sajita Majumder - Fireflies
• Sehba Imam - The Imperfect Musical
• Ajaz Rashid - Shejaar
• Bridget Lawless - Nuts

The aim of the Lab is to develop Indian films which also have potential for international coproduction and distribution. Writing mentors Arend Agthe and Sanjay Chouhan will work with the seven selected writers to develop a slate of new Indian films for child and family audiences. There will also be a resident troupe of actors, led by directing mentor Vipin Sharma, and a storyboard artist.  Each writer will bring one project to develop at the Lab.

PAL and its partner Eleeanora Images are grateful to the following organisations for their support in making possible this new initiative to bring films for children and families to the screen in India and the wider world:

• The MEDIA INTERNATIONAL programme of the European Union
• The British Council
• The Goethe Institute
• EON Productions
• The Children’s Film Society, India (CFSI)
• The Prix Jeunesse, Germany
• Cinekid, The Netherlands
• Skillset, UK