Next Edition: Los Angeles, 9-11th January 2027
THE WHALE LAB
From the margins to the mainstream…
“Until the lions can tell their stories, tales of hunting will always glorify the hunter.”
THE WHALE is an intensive, three-day immersive development program meticulously designed for emerging and mid-career screenwriters who are dedicated to crafting stories that originate from the margins. We specifically seek out voices, identities, and experiences that actively challenge and disrupt dominant narratives within the film and television landscape.
This unique, cross-European lab begins its journey in the striking creative environment of one of the world’s stunning capitals, providing an inspiring backdrop for intense development and collaboration. Each edition partners with established International Creative organisations to provide seamless on-the-ground running and assist participants with local tips and guides.
THE WHALE offers a unique and supportive space for writers to collaborate, experiment with form and structure, and refine their pitching skills. Participants will work under the direct, hands-on guidance of experienced mentors, established showrunners, and accomplished writers who specialise in innovative and impactful storytelling.
The program's core components include:
Intensive Writers’ Room Simulation: Participants will be integrated into a fast-paced writers' room environment, developing essential collaborative skills and reflecting on their projects.
Personalised Project Feedback: Each writer will receive dedicated feedback sessions and in-depth critical feedback on their individual projects from mentors and peers.
12-month Mentorship Program: Each Lab will be followed up by a 12-month online program intended to maintain accountability and readiness, so that participants arrive at pitch day prepared and confident.
The lab culminates in a professional pitch session where participants will present their developed projects to a carefully curated panel of industry professionals. This conclusive event is designed to allow writers to practise presenting under realistic conditions, answer industry questions, understand how their work is received, and identify what needs to become clearer or stronger,
UPCOMING EDITIONS
Before applying, please carefully read our Programmes Framework to understand what to expect from participating in our labs.
THE WHALE Screenwriting Lab September 7-9, in collaboration with New Image Film Festival, Paris
Mon, Sep 7, 2026 - Wed, Sep 9, 2026
THE WHALE Screenwriting Lab March 22-24, in collaboration with The Stockfish Film Festival, Reykjavik
Sun, Mar 22, 2026 - Tue, Mar 24, 2026
THE WHALE Screenwriting Lab January 9-11, Los Angeles
Sat, Jan 9, 2027 - Mon, Jan 11, 2027
Our Family of Mentors
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Tina Gharavi
SCRIPT MENTOR
Tina is a screenwriting professor with over 20 years training experience who has taught from Oxford to Arvon to Stowe and now to Paris and Iceland. She is also an award-winning filmmaker, and artist trained in the United States and France. Her work has been broadcast internationally, and she is noted for innovative cross-platform work on migration as well as issues related to equality and diversity.
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Matt Graham
SCRIPT MENTOR
Matt is a professional screenwriter based in LA with over 20 years of experience. His background includes participation in several Hollywood projects and a significant collaboration with established filmmaker Oliver Stone on the documentary miniseries, The Untold History of The United States. He serves as a visiting Professor of Writing at prestigious international workshops.
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Hrafnkell Stefánsson
SCRIPT MENTOR
Hrafnkell is an Icelandic screenwriter, script consultant and educator with nearly twenty years of experience. His credits span Netflix originals and Lionsgate productions, including City State, Polite People and Brave Men’s Blood (later acquired by James Mangold’s company). Creator of the Action Blocks engagement method, he also runs The Insecure Screenwriter, offering advice and industry insights
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Inga Pelosi Leighton
SCRIPT MENTOR
Inga is a British-Italian scriptwriter, scriptwriting coach, and educator working across independent film, theatre, and the arts. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Scriptwriting Tutor for the Open College of the Arts and Open University. Her consulting work includes collaborating with Oscar nominee, BAFTA-winner Michael Radford and coaching through Script Angel Ltd and international retreats.
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Joy Gharoro Akpojotor
SCRIPT MENTOR
Joy is a producer, writer, and director, founder of Joi Productions, a company championing Queer, Black, and female-led stories. Her works include the hit film Blue Story (2019), the first all-Black Christmas film out of the UK, Boxing Day (2021), and her directorial debut Dreamers, an immigration story centered around queer love. She was named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow and a BAFTA Breakthrough in 2020.
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Kas Graham & Rebecca Pollock
SCRIPT MENTOR
Kas and Rebecca are a successful screenwriting duo known for high-profile, character-driven projects. Their joint feature screenplay about Betty Ford was featured is set for production with Ryan Murphy directing and Sarah Paulson starring. Rebecca's individual credits include the writers' room for the Apple series Lessons in Chemistry, while Kas is writing The Book of Ruth and adapting Kill the Father for eOne.
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Kidda Rokk
INDUSTRY GUEST
Kidda is an Icelandic producer and co-founder/CFO of POLARAMA. A key figure in Nordic physical production and international co-productions, she has built a career bridging regional storytelling with global studio projects. Her extensive experience brings invaluable feedback on project packaging, pitch execution, and the realities of bringing international screenplays into production.
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Philippe Carcassonne
INDUSTRY GUEST
Philippe is an acclaimed French film producer with decades of experience at the highest levels of global cinema. He possesses a masterclass understanding of the industry landscape and commands an extensive, worldwide network of talent and executives. His notable production credits include the BAFTA 1996 Best non English Film, Ridicule, and the multi Oscar-winning The Father, starrign Anthony Hopkins.
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Meg Thomson
INDUSTRY GUEST
Meg Thomson is EVP of Globalgate Entertainment. In her career she has guided countless screenplays from early development through production and release, helping them navigate the complexities of international financing and packaging. Amongst her many credits are Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day, Freud’s Last Session ( with Anthony Hopkins), and Do The I (Tom Hardy).
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Pippa Lambert
INDUSTRY GUEST
Pippa Lambert is a renowned television agent and packaging expert at WME, specializing in international series and global sales. She previously ran the London TV division for ICM Partners, where she was key in securing major global remakes like Wilfred (FX) and Secrets & Lies (ABC). Her background provides vital expertise on script packaging, financing, and the global market.
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Wendy Mitchell
INDUSTRY GUEST
Wendy is a highly respected journalist, editor (Screen International, Close-up), and film festival consultant. She offers screenwriters unparalleled expertise in global film trends and marketplace viability, drawing on her advisory roles for top events like San Sebastian and Rotterdam. Her experience ensures writers receive guidance that is both creatively sharp and practically market-oriented.
FAQs
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No. We welcome all kinds of written projects, provided there is a clear dedication from the writer to develop the work further. Our curriculum and mentoring sessions are intentionally structured to provide high-level support for both long-form series and feature-length screenplays.
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This lab is designed for emerging to mid-career screenwriters, not beginners.
We particularly encouraged submission from writers who identify with groups historically underrepresented in film and television.The program is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that reflects the diversity of the global audience, aiming to discover and develop unique voices and narratives that are currently underserved in mainstream media.
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All submissions are managed thorugh the FilmFreeway platform.
Applicants must submit a single PDF document (maximum 15 pages, double-spaced, 12pt Courier) containing the materials for a feature film, television pilot, or limited series project.
Your 15-page proposals should include the following:
Short bio (max 500 words)
Project synopsis (max 500 words)
Writer’s statement: Why this story? Why now? (max 500 words)
What you hope to gain from the lab (max 500 words)
Notes on production goals: potential collaborators, target audience, and distribution vision
Optional visual materials: lookbooks, moodboards, or reference imagery (optional)
Each proposal must be accompanied by a writing sample (e.g., screenplay, pilot, or feature excerpt), which is considered supplemental to the 15-page limit. This can be attached as a separate file or all merged into one PDF file using a free online PDF editor.
All submissions must be in English.
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No. You do not need a full script draft at the time of application. Your proposal must be accompanied only by a writing sample—such as a screenplay, pilot, or feature excerpt—to help us understand your unique writing style and storytelling skills.
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Yes. We welcome submissions that are adaptations of existing works.
However, it is an absolute requirement that the writer(s) submitting the project must have officially cleared the necessary rights for the subject matter. This means you must have either:
Secured a formal option agreement with the original rights holder (author, agent, or publisher).
Obtained a full transfer of the underlying rights necessary for a screen adaptation.
Confirmed that the work is definitively in the public domain.
We cannot accept adaptations for which the writer does not legally control the screen rights, as the projects must be professionally viable for pitching to industry partners at the lab's conclusion. Proof of clearance must be submitted upon request.
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No. While we love seeing our MINNOWS alumni progress, THE WHALE is a competitive, advanced lab designed for emerging and mid-career writers with projects that have already reached a specific level of development.
Participation in MINNOWS provides you with an excellent foundation and a stronger portfolio, but all applicants for THE WHALE must go through the standard selection process. Admission is based on the strength of your current project proposal, your writing sample, and your readiness for an intensive, 12-month professional mentorship and industry pitch cycle.
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You can only apply once to each edition of the Lab, but there is no limit to the number of editions you can resubmit your project to.
We welcome resubmissions of projects, provided the writer(s) can demonstrate significant progress on the material and/or verifiable professional development since their last application.
To be reconsidered, applicants must clearly articulate the specific creative advancements (e.g., a new draft, developed series arc) and/or career achievements (e.g., completed fellowships, professional work) in their application statement, showing commitment to both the project's evolution and their own growth as a screenwriter.
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Yes. To ensure our mentors and international participants can collaborate effectively, all workshops and submissions must be in English.