The Drama Series Co-Writing Residency between Israel and France is a program initiated by the CNC (Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image animée), France and the GMFF (Gesher Multicultural Film Fund), Israel, in cooperation with the Israeli Scriptwriters Guild, The Israeli Producers Association and the French Embassy in Israel. Series Mania is one of the main partners of the project.
Call for applications
The Drama Series Co-Writing Residency between Israel and France launches its sixth call for applications!
Up to 5 projects will be selected to take part in the residency. Each project will be carried by a team composed by at least two screenwriters, one from Israel and one from France. The selected screenwriters will participate in three residency workshops: a first workshop in December 2024 in Israel or online, a second online follow up in January 2025, and a final workshop in March2025 at Series Mania festival in Lille, France. During all this period, the selected teams will co-write the full bible of a fiction series and be trained by experienced mentors.
At the end of this process, the projects will be presented to potential international financial partners (producers, broadcasters, platforms…) during a dedicated pitching event that will take place during the Series Mania Forum (March 25-27, 2025, in Lille, France)
WHO CAN APPLY?
Teams of scriptwriters, directors and creatives from Israel and France.
Applications must be made by a team composed by at least two co-writers (one from Israel and one from France) with a common project.
- IMPORTANT: screenwriters who want to apply for the residency but don’t yet have a partner or a project, can seek a partner through the dedicated Facebook group opened by the CNC, GMFF and Series Mania. The group will be monitored by the Script Writers Guild of Israel and enable the seeking and structuring of teams.
Also, two webinars will be organised in order to facilitate the pairing between the writers :
The 1st webinar will take place on June 17th and will present the residency and to answered some questions.
The 2nd one on July 4th will be an online pitching sessions of 3 min per series projects where all writers with no projects can find a fellow writer to partner with.
Each team must have at least one experienced writer on board. To qualify as experienced, a screenwriter must have either:
Each team must have at least one experienced writer on board. To qualify as experienced, a screenwriter must have either:
- written at least one episode in a drama series (30/60 minutes) that has been produced and broadcast, or
- written a series that was produced and aired on the internet, with the sum of the episodes exceeding 70 minutes.
To submit a project, you must accept the Rules and Regulations, which specify the eligibility criteria, and complete the application form in English.
OUTCOME
Cowrite the full bible of a fictional drama series.
DURATION
One in-person workshop in December in Israel or online , an intensive online follow-up in January, a final in-person workshop in March at Series Mania in Lille, France.
COST
The residency is free of charges for the selected participants. The residency covers air travel between Israel and France, accommodation, and hospitality as per the program.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
September 16 at 17:00 (CET)
WORKING LANGUAGE
English
Schedule
29/05/2024 – 16/09/2024: Time period for projects submission.
17/06/2024 and 04/07/2024: Webinar “Meet the residency” & “Pitch yourself”
28-29/10/2024 : 20’ interviews with shortlisted candidates
Early November 2024: Results announcement
03/12/2024 at 10:00 am CET: Launch of the residency and meeting with partners, discussion with guests
09/12/2024 – 12/12/2024: 1st in-person workshop in Israel or online
28/01/2025 – 30/01/2025: Online workshop
February 2025: Private Work for Writers
21/03/2025 – 27/03/2025: Final in-person workshop in Lille followed by the pitching event at Series Mania Forum
All members of each selected team must be available and participate in the three workshops.
MENTORING
The residency will include two mentors, one French, one Israeli and will be hosting professional guests to enhance the creative path the writers are taking.
The mentors will be available all through the process.