"The Athena Film Festival at Barnard College, in partnership with the Stephens College Master of Fine Arts in Television and Screenwriting and IRIS, have developed an exciting new television and screenwriting lab that will take place in Los Angeles in June, 2018.
The three-day program will target emerging self-identified female writers in both television and film. One day will be devoted to the film lab, one day will be an industry day, and one day will be a TV lab. The program will include mentoring sessions during which the participants are paired with established filmmakers and industry professionals, a mock television writers room, opportunities for peer-to-peer feedback, meetings with production development executives, and networking events with Athena Film Festival community members.
In our first year, our goal is to serve 16 to 20 writers—8 to 10 in film, and 8 to 10 in television—who are selected through a submissions process. The LA Lab is a crucial next step in our targeted programming to reach women storytellers and provide them with the tools and skills they need to take control of their careers. Our goal is to offer more women in entertainment with the training and network they need to succeed, advancing stories and narratives that contribute to a more just and equal society for all.
Now more than ever we need to reframe our culture and break down traditional gender stereotypes. Elevating the voices of women, and providing women filmmakers with the expertise to realize the full potential of their projects, is crucial to changing the narrative."