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Paestum, Italy

HerArts Film Lab

Empowering Women's Voices in Cinema

SUBMISSIONS TO SPRING 2024 LAB ARE BE OPEN UNTIL FEBRUARY 14!

EVENT DATES
Monday, April 28 - Sunday, May 4, 2025
EVENT DATES

Monday, April 28 - Sunday, May 4, 2025

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About the Lab

Believing in the importance of women’s presence in cinema, their stories and their active participation in the creation of the film industry, we have designed a workshop to support and empower their voices. HerArts Lab is meant to serve as a platform for exchanging thoughts, stories and ideas, nurturing female talent and giving it exposure to the international film community.

Event Address

Via Seliano n° 11 - 84047 - Paestum (Salerno) - ITALY -

Time

From April 28 to May 4, 2025



HerArts Film Lab is a week-long residential development workshop, set in Paestum, Italy, focused on content created by women and non-binary filmmakers.

The workshop is addressed to female and non-binary writer-directors from all over the world interested in developing their feature film and TV series projects in a friendly and supportive environment under the guidance of experienced mentors.

The working language of the workshop in English.


The Lab is addressed to women and non-binary filmmakers:

  • writer-directors or
  • teams of screenwriter and director or
  • teams of writer-director and producer (max 2 individuals per project),

working on a fiction feature film or TV series, currently at the stage of treatment, first or advanced draft. There are no restrictions on genre or subject matter.

Each edition we invite 8-10 filmmakers (or teams) from around the world. We especially welcome filmmakers from countries where gender inequality in the film industry is most pronounced.

As English is the working language of the lab, good knowledge of written and spoken English is required.

• The opportunity to work intensively on your script / treatment with the support and mentorship of established professionals during group and one-on-ones sessions;

• An intensive, immersive, communal experience of working in a supportive circle of like-minded female creatives;

• Advice on how to pitch your project to producers, investors, funds and other labs;

• Dedicated writing time;

• Online follow-up session 2-3 months after the end of the residential Lab;

• Participation in additional activities: film screenings, case studies and discussions on cinema and others;

• Exposure to the international film community;

• Pleasures of Southern Italy, including delicious food, beautiful scenery and history.

The lab is project-based, which means that the work revolves around helping participants in developing their stories, treatments and drafts of their feature films or TV series pilots.

As group discussions are an important part of the Lab, participants must be prepared to read other writers' scripts ahead of the Lab and share feedback on their work.

Sample schedule:

DAY 1: Project presentations
DAY 2: Project discussion in groups facilitated by mentors
DAY 3: One-to-ones with mentors
DAY 4: Writing day (optional activities available)
DAY 5: One-to-ones with mentors
DAY 6: Individual work
DAY 7: Final presentations

In the evenings, there are additional activities such as screenings, talks and meetings with guest speakers.


Each day is structured around meals which are a great opportunity to continue conversations started earlier in the day, and to enjoy the fantastic food and drink of Casa Seliano. At the end of the day, we savor homemade limoncello in the “lemon-chill room” together :)


Optional activities such as a visit to Paestum Archeological Park or the beach are possible. Participants also have bikes at their disposal and can visit the town on their own.


 


The Lab takes place twice a year: in the spring and in the fall. The dates of the 7th edition of HerArts Film Lab are April 28 - May 4, 2024 (arrival on April 27, departure on May 5).

 

The Lab is set in the 18th century estate of Azienda Seliano in Paestum, in the beautiful Italian region of Campania, around 80 km south of Naples. The nearest airports are: Salerno-Amalfi Coast and Naples International Airport (Aeroporto di Napoli Capodichino).

The regular fee for the Lab is 2450 euro. If you apply before or on January 31 (23:59 CET zone), you will be entitled to an Early Bird discounted fee of 2190 euro! 

The fee covers:

• 7 days of training & consultations with our mentors;
• Accommodation for 8 nights in a single room with ensuite bathroom;
• Delicious breakfast, lunch AND dinner throughout your stay;
• Transfer between Salerno and Paestum;
• Online follow-up 2-3 months after the Lab.

The regular fee is 3700 euro per team. The Early Bird fee is 3500 euro per team.

Please note we do not cover travel expenses.

We encourage participants to apply for financial support with their national or regional funding bodies.

 


 

SPRING 2025 MENTORS

Teresa Cavina

Teresa Cavina

Festival Programmer and Script Consultant

Teresa Cavina is a festival programmer, curator, script and project analyst. She started her activity at the Venice film festival (1989-1997). In 1998 she moved to the Locarno Film Festival, which she co-directed from 2001 to 2005. In 2006 she launched the Rome Film Festival, working as a Co-Artistic Director until 2008.

Eliza Subotowicz

Writer, Director and Script Consultant

Eliza is a Polish-American writer and director. She earned her MFA degree in Film Directing from Columbia University in New York. Her thesis short BEN was awarded by Directors Guild of America in 2009. Eliza has also worked as a film festival programmer, industry expert and reader of projects for international film funds.

Eliza Subotowicz

Gabriele Brunnenmeyer

Script consultant and pitching expert

Gabriele Brunnenmeyer is a script mentor, project consultant and pitching coach. She ran MEDIA Antenna Berlin-Brandenburg, served as an artistic advisor for Maia Workshops, and developed events such as Connecting Cottbus and IDM Film Conference Incontri.

Eliza Subotowicz

Teresa Cavina

Teresa Cavina

Festival Programmer and Script Consultant

Teresa Cavina is a festival programmer, curator, script and project analyst. She started her activity at the Venice film festival (1989-1997). In 1998 she moved to the Locarno Film Festival, which she co-directed from 2001 to 2005. In 2006 she launched the Rome Film Festival, working as a Co-Artistic Director until 2008.

Susanna Styron

Gabriele Brunnenmeyer

Script mentor and pitching coach

Gabriele is a script mentor, project consultant and pitching coach, after starting off as a journalist and film critic, Gabriele began to work in various fields within the film industry. 

Eliza Subotowicz

Eliza Subotowicz

Writer, Director and Script Consultant

Eliza is a Polish-American writer and director. She earned her MFA degree in Film Directing from Columbia University in New York. Her thesis short BEN was awarded by Directors Guild of America in 2009. Eliza has also worked as a film festival programmer, industry expert and reader of projects for international film funds.

Pricing

Participation Fee

EARLY BIRD FEE FOR APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BEFORE OR ON JANUARY 31, BY 23:59 CET: € 2190* (€ 3500 FOR A TEAM OF TWO). AFTER JANUARY 31 THE FEE IS € 2450* (€ 3700 FOR A TEAM OF TWO)
  • • 7 days of training, talks, meetings & consultations with our mentors;
  • • Accommodation for 8 nights in a single room with ensuite bathroom;
  • • Delicious breakfast, lunch AND dinner throughout your stay;
  • • Transfer between Salerno and Paestum;
  • • Online follow-up 2/3 months after the Lab.

  • *Please note travel expenses are not included.

  • We encourage participants to apply for financial support with their national or regional funding bodies.
    .

PHOTO GALLERY

TESTIMONIALS FROM 2022 HERARTS FILM LAB PARTICIPANTS:

Application Form


How to participate?
 

Fill in the APPLICATION FORM below, and send the required documents as a single pdf attachment to: herartslab@gmail.com by January 31, 23:59 CET for Early Bird Deadline OR February 14 for Regular Deadline.

  • SYNOPSIS of the project (1 page max);
  • TREATMENT (8-10 pages);
  • MOTIVATION LETTER explaining why you want to attend the Lab and what you hope to get out of it (1 page);
  • YOUR CV with filmography (up to 2 pages);
  • LINKS to previous work (up to 2 links);
  • MOOD BOARD (if available);
  • VIDEO PRESENTATION (3-4 mins) in which you introduce us to your story and explain why you need to tell it. The quality doesn’t matter, you don’t have to edit, just shoot with your phone and charm us with your story!

Materials required for TV series projects:
  1. SYNOPSIS of the project (1 page max);
  2. MINI-BIBLE (3-5 pages), including: concept, characters, world and arc of the season, and PILOT OUTLINE;
  3. MOTIVATION LETTER explaining why you want to attend the Lab and what you hope to get out of it (1 page);
  4. YOUR CV with filmography (up to 2 pages);
  5. LINKS to previous work (up to 2 links);
  6. MOOD BOARD (if available);
  7. VIDEO PRESENTATION (3-4 mins) in which you introduce us to your story and explain why you need to tell it. The quality doesn’t matter, you don’t have to edit, just shoot with your phone and charm us with your story!

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview at the beginning of March.

Personal Information

Project Information

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Early Deadline for sending in the application is January 31, 2025. Regular Deadline is February 14, 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview at the end of February.
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