Submissions for the fifth edition of the Mosalsalat Screenwriters Lab will open in November 2024.
The fourth edition of the Mosalsalat Screenwriters Lab (MSL), organised by the Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC), concluded on May 29. The sessions, held from May 24 to 29 at Azraq Lodge in the Azraq Wetlands Reserve in eastern Jordan, featured five selected television projects by Arab screenwriters developing scripts for their debut TV series.
From an initial 45 submissions from across the Arab region, projects were evaluated by a group of Creative Consultants—experts and professionals in the film and TV industry. The selection process included detailed evaluations and interviews with shortlisted writers.
The five projects selected for the Lab were Al-Michelin by Abdul-Rahman Sakr (Jordan); Hourglass by Alia Zeid (Palestine); The Dry Kingdom by Dana Atrach and Anne Sobel (Palestine); Mankash by Mohamed Elhossieny and Khaled Mansour (Egypt); and Beit Byoot by Saif Qutishat (Jordan).
The participating scriptwriters had the opportunity to work with five Arab and foreign experts, known as the “Creative Advisors.” These advisors included Ahmad Almoghrabi, Jordanian writer and director; Ghada Abdel Aal, Egyptian novelist, screenwriter, and creator of the acclaimed TV series Ayza Atgawez; Kristian Van der Heyden, founder of Harald House Belgium; Giovanni Robbiano, Italian writer, director, producer, trainer, and lecturer; and Nadim Tabet, Lebanese director and co-founder of the Lebanese Film Festival in Beirut.
Giovanni Robbiano said: “In the desert of East Jordan, TV series flourish. This year, I can see that Mosalsalat Screenwriters Lab is growing, and the quality of projects is getting better. We expect some of these projects to reach production in the near future. Despite the complexity of the world of TV series, I believe Mosalsalat is becoming a reference for Arab writers and is founding a base of untraditional collaboration between continents, especially in the audiovisual arena.”
The Lab featured intensive one-on-one sessions, bringing together writers and mentors to enhance their understanding of story and character development, with the aim of advancing their screenwriting careers.
Writer Abdul-Rahman Sakr commented on his participation: “Mosalsalat Screenwriters Lab serves as an invaluable resource for Arab screenwriters. Isolating myself from life’s distractions and immersing myself in a week-long journey alongside advisers and fellows solely dedicated to working on our projects and craft was an amazing experience. Not only have I grown as a screenwriter, but I’ve also gained a new tribe.”
RFC’s Managing Director, Mohannad Al Bakri, stated: “Our commitment to implementing a series lab for the fourth consecutive year comes in the context of the advancing TV industry globally, regionally, and locally. This industry represents a significant and important part of the creative industry worldwide. We are dedicated to supporting Arab and Jordanian TV writers so that their projects can come to fruition soon.”
The RFC launched the Mosalsalat Screenwriters Lab in 2019, recognising the need for a regional workshop specialized in writing for TV.
Submissions for the fifth edition of the Mosalsalat Screenwriters Lab will open in November 2024.
