TEN years strong

US Labs

The Writers Lab US, our flagship lab, began in 2015 to challenge sexism and ageism in the film industry. The Lab was founded to amplify the long unheard voices of women and nonbinary writers over 40, support gifted storytellers, build community, and diversify content in world cinema. Focusing on script development, the foundation of fictional narrative filmmaking, the Lab cultivates the work of women writers, supporting the successful realization of their scripts.

The only program of its kind in the world, TWL US is produced by co-founders Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon, with New York Women in Film & Television, in collaboration with the Writers Guild of America, East, with in-kind support from The Black List, Falco Ink, Film Fatales, Filmarket Hub, Final Draft, and Roadmap Writers.

Each year, the Lab selects talented writers with compelling stories to work one-on-one and in group sessions with acclaimed screen industry leaders to develop their feature and pilot scripts, as well as their craft and the tools and strategies to achieve success. During the 4-day lab, mentors and writers engage in rigorous script development through one-on-one meetings, panel discussions, peer workshops, mock writers’ rooms and more.