Doha Film Institute extends submission date for 2025 Feature Script Lab
The lab, which accepts only eight participants, is geared toward intermediate to advanced filmmakers.
The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced an extended application window for its 2025 Feature Script Lab. Now, applications must be submitted by June 1, 2025.
This six-month programme is designed to support emerging screenwriters and writer-directors working on original feature-length screenplays through intensive mentorship, peer collaboration, and structured script development.
The lab is delivered across three five-day online sessions scheduled for July 10–15, September 25–30, and December 10–15, 2025. Participants will engage in both group discussions and one-on-one tutorials with seasoned mentors, receiving detailed feedback on character arcs, story structure, and thematic clarity. The lab fosters a collaborative environment where participants are expected to engage deeply with peers' work, meet rigorous deadlines, and complete assignments leading toward a fully developed screenplay.
Selection for the programme is based on the strength of a candidate's screenplay idea, writing skill, and artistic vision, along with a review of previous creative work. Shortlisted applicants will undergo a selection process assessing their potential to develop a personal and impactful story. The lab emphasises projects that reflect contemporary Middle Eastern life and encourages participants to consider various budget scales, including micro-budget filmmaking.
The programme begins with pitching and feedback in Session 1, followed by scene-by-scene breakdowns, character and theme development, and ongoing script revisions. Session 2 advances the projects through new drafts, visual research, and pitch refinement. Session 3 concludes with a comprehensive review of first drafts, a final group feedback session, and a pitch presentation to an external panel.
Participants must attend all three sessions in full, with each day dedicated to intensive development work. The lab will be conducted in English, accommodates eight participants, and is intended for intermediate to advanced-level filmmakers. The total lab fee is 1,800 Qatari Riyals.
Required materials include a synopsis, treatment, script samples (if available), resume, visual materials and a personal statement. Priority is given to applicants from Qatar, the MENA region, the diaspora, and DFI grantees, though filmmakers from emerging regions are also encouraged to apply.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
16 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Pop singer Jessie J says she has been diagnosed with early breast cancer
The English pop singer Jessie J says she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will undergo surgery after her performance at the London music festival Capital's Summertime Ball next weekend. Jessie J, 37, shared the news in an Instagram video on Wednesday. "I was diagnosed with early breast cancer,' she said in the clip. "Cancer sucks in any form, but I'm holding onto the word 'early'." "It's a very dramatic way to get a boob job. I am going to disappear for a bit after Summertime Ball to have my surgery, and I will come back with massive (expletive) and more music.' The annual Summertime Ball will be held at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, June 15. She told her social media audience that she felt compelled to share her diagnosis. "I just wanted to be open and share it,' she said. "One, because, selfishly, I do not talk about it enough. I'm not processing it because I'm working so hard. I also know how much sharing in the past has helped me with other people giving me their love and support and also their own stories. I'm an open book. It breaks my heart that so many people are going through so much similar and worse - that's the bit that kills me.' The Grammy-nominated Jessie J has long been celebrated for her robust soprano and R&B-informed pop hits, like the 2014 collaboration with Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande, "Bang Bang,' and 2011's "Domino.' She has released five albums across her career, most recently, 2018's Christmas album, "This Christmas Day.' She has been releasing new music in 2025, including the singles "Living My Best Life' and "No Secrets.' A new album is expected later this year. She has a son, Sky Safir Cornish Colman, born in 2023. A representative for Jessie J did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment. Associated Press
Broadcast Pro
3 days ago
- Broadcast Pro
DFI announces programming and awards for 2025 Doha Film Festival
Doha Film Festival to have four competition strands with total of over USD 300,000 in prize money to reward artistic excellence. Doha Film Institute (DFI) has unveiled the programming and awards lineup for the upcoming Doha Film Festival (DFF), reaffirming its dedication to championing bold, original storytelling and amplifying underrepresented voices and diverse perspectives in global cinema. The announcement was made during the 78th Cannes Film Festival, marking the 15th anniversary of DFI, which was first launched in Cannes in 2010 by DFI Chair H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa. Set to take place from November 20 to 28, 2025, the festival will offer over $300,000 in prize money and feature a vibrant official selection across four competition categories: the International Feature Film Competition, showcasing compelling new works by emerging and established filmmakers; the International Short Film Competition, which highlights innovative storytelling in short form; the Ajyal Film Competition, judged by a youth jury offering generational insight; and the Made in Qatar Competition, celebrating the creativity and talent of filmmakers based in Qatar. The festival promises a multifaceted experience, with industry sessions, community screenings, youth-focused programming, and a variety of events that will transform Doha into a global hub for filmmakers, artists, and audiences united by a passion for thought-provoking cinema. Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute and Festival Director, said: 'Doha Film Festival is not only a celebration of cinema, but a platform for purpose-driven storytelling amplifying important voices that are redefining the global film landscape with depth, nuance, and truth.' She added: 'It is the next chapter in our continued mission to nurture independent filmmakers, inspire new perspectives and foster cultural dialogue through cinema. The festival will offer a vibrant meeting point for film lovers, a stage for powerful stories and a launchpad for a new generation of cinematic talent. DFF is an expansion of the strong foundation we built with Ajyal Film Festival as a unique platform for self-expression and creative empowerment, and we look forward to guests celebrating the unifying power of film with us in Doha this November.' Each competition will feature awards that not only recognise excellence in filmmaking but also provide significant financial support and international exposure. The International Feature Film Competition will be adjudicated by a five-member jury and include awards such as Best Narrative ($75,000), Best Documentary ($50,000), Best Artistic Achievement ($45,000), and Best Performance ($15,000), along with a Special Mention certificate. The International Short Film Competition, overseen by a three-member jury, will award Best Film – Narrative or Documentary ($20,000), Best Director ($12,000), and Best Performance ($7,000). Meanwhile, the Made in Qatar Competition will honor local talent with awards for Best Short – Narrative or Documentary ($15,000), Best Director ($10,000), and Best Performance ($5,000), further reflecting DFI's strong commitment to supporting homegrown storytellers. The Ajyal Film Competition, continuing its tradition within DFF, will feature a youth jury aged 16 to 25, who will present awards for Best Feature – Narrative or Documentary ($35,000) and Best Short – Narrative or Documentary ($12,000). An Audience Award, accompanied by a certificate and trophy, will also be presented during the festival. DFF will activate iconic locations throughout Doha, with Katara Cultural Village set to host red carpet events and premieres, Msheireb Downtown Doha serving as the central hub for industry activities, and the Museum of Islamic Art providing an intimate venue for short film screenings. The full festival programme, including jury members and competition film titles, will be revealed in the coming months.
Campaign ME
4 days ago
- Campaign ME
beIN, Sony Pictures Entertainment extend content deal across MENA
beIN Media Group has extended its longstanding content agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), securing exclusive multi-year rights to a broad portfolio of acclaimed television series and films which will come to beIN's audiences across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Turkey. As part of the renewed deal, beIN will continue to hold first and second window rights to several film titles from SPE's diverse library. In the Middle East, content will be available in both Arabic and English across beIN's entertainment channels, beIN ON DEMAND, and on its OTT platforms, TOD and beIN CONNECT. In Turkey, content will be available in English and Turkish via Digiturk's entertainment channels, as well as TOD and beIN CONNECT. 'We are proud to extend our valued relationship with Sony Pictures Entertainment — a creative powerhouse that continues to captivate global audiences,' said Esra Özaral Altop, Chief Entertainment Content Officer, beIN Media Group. 'This renewed agreement not only reflects our dedication to curating premium entertainment for viewers across MENA and Türkiye, but also marks a new chapter in strengthening our entertainment portfolio.' SPE's upcoming slate includes highly anticipated titles such as I Know What You Did Last Summer, 28 Years Later, Until Dawn, and Karate Kid: Legends. The agreement could also allow audiences to watch recent hits like Venom: The Last Dance, Kraven the Hunter, Saturday Night, the Oscar-winning I'm Still Here, and Paddington in Peru coming to beIN's audiences. For television series, the agreement covers fan-favourites including Outlander (Seasons 1-8), The Good Doctor (Seasons 1-7), Twisted Metal (Season 1-2), and anime hits from Crunchyroll: Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia (Seasons 1-2). 'Our passion at Sony Pictures is to bring great stories to great audiences, and our friends and partners at beIN remain the perfect home to bring this plethora of amazing content to audiences across MENA and Turkey,' said Mark Young, EVP, Distribution & Networks, EMEA, Sony Pictures Television. 'We are thrilled that their wide audiences will continue to enjoy the wealth of content from SPE's future slate as well as our vast library of beloved classics, and we join them in being incredibly pleased to make this announcement today' First signed in 2021, the renewed agreement aims to build on the longstanding collaboration between beIN and SPE, while underscoring beIN's position as a global entertainment network.
