Participants will also benefit from a two-week trip to Los Angeles, where they will attend workshops and take part in the Film Independent Forum.
Red Sea Labs has revealed the teams selected for the second edition of its SeriesLab programme, developed in strategic partnership with the nonprofit arts organisation Film Independent. The initiative is designed to nurture creative independence in television storytelling by offering an educational framework.
SeriesLab is an intensive training programme aimed at helping 14 emerging TV writers and content creators hone their craft. Through a combination of virtual and in-person residencies, participants receive guidance from professional television writers, showrunners and industry experts. The programme helps creators refine their scripts, build essential skills and prepare to pitch their TV series pilots by the programme’s conclusion.
Among the selected projects for this year are B’itha from Saudi Arabia (Writer Noorah Al-Eidi, Producer Almotaz Aljefri), Saria Othman Needs No Man from Lebanon (Producer Hiba Louis, Writer Estephan Khattar), Bazuzu’s Breath from Iraq and Saudi Arabia (Writer/Producer Ali Kareem, Co-writer Dania Altayeb), Generation A from Kenya (Writer Mona Ombogo, Producer Louise Kamwangi), Switch from Uganda (Writer/Producer Nathan Magoola, Co-writer Lucky Lola Atwine), Cold Case-One (Pullukandam Murder Case) from India (Scriptwriter Nithin Lukose, Co-writer Hari Krishnan) and Shani Bazaar from India (Scriptwriter Karan Kabir, Co-writer Nitin Koul).
Speaking about the selected projects, Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Managing Director of Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “The Foundation remains at the forefront of advancing the film industry through education, mentorship, funding, and more. Our flagship programme, Red Sea Labs, is a cornerstone of our efforts, focused on nurturing emerging talent. Last year, we broadened its scope to include the development of TV series through our SeriesLab programme, which underscores our commitment to cultivating talent across all areas of filmmaking. Partnering with experts in the field like Film Independent enables us to equip rising creators with the essential skills and insights needed to bring their unique visions to life.
Ryan Ashore, Director of Red Sea Labs, added: “Our partnership with Film Independent gives our writers direct access to the critical tools, mentorship, and industry connections needed for success. Engaging directly with leading experts, enables our creators to gain invaluable insights into the TV industry, and refine their projects to meet international standards. We believe this will strengthen the SeriesLab programme and help our writers make a lasting global impact.”
María Raquel Bozzi, Senior Director of Education & International Initiatives at Film Independent, commented: “We are excited to welcome this group of talented creators in the SeriesLab to Los Angeles, where in addition to their training, they will be joining a group of 40 international filmmakers from across all of our international programmes at the Film Independent Forum.”
The training program features an exclusive two-week trip to Los Angeles, where participants will attend intensive workshops and participate at the Film Independent Forum. This event aims to empower filmmakers to tell captivating stories by providing them with the tools and industry connections needed to bring their projects to life.
The second edition of the SeriesLab programme is scheduled to start in September 2024 and finish in late December 2024, coinciding with the fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival. The selected projects will have the opportunity to pitch their Series at the Red Sea Souk.
