Professional
Clinik.Kathmandu
(Script Lab)
Fiction project development lab for South Asia.
Script review, Pitch training, Production Plan
Project Partner
Key Information
Duration
- 10 days (Workshop)
- 1 month (Optional Residency)
Focus Area
- Fiction
Eligibility: Debutante project,
South Asian filmmaker
Location : Dhulikhel Farm campus
Commencement: March, April
Application : Ongoing
Deadline : 15th January. 2024
Course Fee: 650 USD (10 days)
350 USD (1 month)
Features
- Exclusive to debutante projects
- Peer review and professional advisory process
- Residency to work on a draft project/ teaser
- WIP projects accepted
Introduction
Docskool’s, Clinik.Kathmandu (Script Lab) launched in 2013 is a South Asia focused script advisory workshop. The lab is open to debutante and filmmakers working on second feature fiction projects with a subject based within the region.
The lab focuses on peer consultation and professional feedback to provide filmmakers time to reflect during the development stage of projects. The lab is open to ‘work in progress’ projects which might have been stalled due to various reasons.
Lab Structure
The lab has undergone several changes over the years. However the core idea of supporting filmmakers/writers during the initial stage of their project stays intact. It also continues to be a locally available mentorship option for filmmakers seeking support.
The Script Lab is broken down into three core components. It starts with a 10 day reflection and development time held as a physical workshop in Kathmandu. This is followed by an optional 1 month residency when filmmakers can stay back at the Docskool Campus to finish their writing. The residency may also be used to shoot a demo film with the intention of creating a pitch trailer.
The third stage are online sessions available to those keen to reconvene their discussions with advisors of any given session. Online peer feedback sessions are usually conducted 3 – 5 months from the date of the initial workshop.
What to expect
Participants can expect to have further clarity on their script. The lab will provide time and space to analyse project treatments, to discuss in clarity scope of changes in their script and decide on logistical factors affecting its production. The month long residency provides filmmakers with resources, to complete writing and or work force to perform a demo shoot of selected scenes.
Mentors and Advisors
Several advisors visist the lab each year. We aim to invite atleast 2 advisors each year plus two from Docskool. Advisors from the past and present include :
Marten Rabarts – Script advisor, New Zealand (Binger Film Lab, NFDC Labs)
Jolein Laarman – Scriptwriter, Netherlands
Prof. Giovanni Robbiano – Film academic, Italy (Midpoint, FAMU)
Giacomo Durzi – Script advisor, Italy (Torino Labs)
Lucas Rosant – Producer, France (Rotterdam Mab)
Meenakshi Shedde – Festival programmer, India
Roger Garcia – Festival executive, Producer, Hong Kong (HAF)
Rashid Saini – Film academic, Singapore
Clinik.Kathmandu program advisors include
Marten Rabarts – Script advisor, Cultural campaigner
Gabriel Kelly – Writer, Producer, Trainer (AFI, Sundance, Vgik)
Dominique Welinski – Distributor, Producer (Torino, DW Production)
Nilotpal Majumdar – Documentary advisor, Trainer (DocedgeKolkata)
Industry Partners
Clinik.Kathmandu maintains partnerships with global film labs, festivals, film markets among others. These benefit the participants attending Clinik.Kathmandu as it can build networking and connections. Docskool does not commit to provide positions at any labs/markets.
Partners from past and present include:
International Film festival Rotterdam – Rotterdam Labs
Locarno International Film festival – Open Doors (Key advisor to Open Doors South Asia)
Hongkong Asia Film Financing Forum
NFDC Labs, NFDC India
Midpoint Institute, FAMU
Goteborg Film Festival, Goteborg Film Fund
Mediacorp Singapore
Past Participants
Women in Cinema Support
Women and Queer applicants for the Clinik Script Lab qualify for Docskool’s Women in Cinema support. Please refer to specific page for further details and contact information. (Available under Aid)
Getting Here
The Script Lab and residency will be held at Docskool’s Community Learning Center/ farm in Dhulikhel. (please visit Campus page for details)
Visa to Nepal is on arrival. Flights from all South Asian countries are available except Afghanistan.
We also recommend road/train travel for travellers from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan or Sri Lanka. Airport pickup will be available.