In the heart of Indian cinema, the WAVES Film Bazaar’s Screenwriters Lab has emerged as an essential development pipeline for nurturing independent filmmakers. As a rare hub of creativity and mentorship, it stands out in a landscape with few resources for script development, highlighting the importance of the filmmaker’s voice. This vital platform underlines the true essence of storytelling within the film industry.
The Role of the Screenwriters Lab
The National Film Development Corporation’s Screenwriters Lab at the WAVES Film Bazaar plays a crucial role in supporting eight projects annually. This intensive four-to-six-month program offers writers valuable mentorship with international script consultants. Filmmaker and mentor Bikas Mishra, known for his film “Chauranga,” emphasizes that such a program fills a significant gap in the Indian film ecosystem.
“There is no other development support, definitely in India, mostly not in South Asia,” Mishra stated. He highlighted the challenges independent filmmakers face, often expected to present a fully developed script without adequate support during the crucial development phase.
Bridging the Gap in Indian Cinema
The Screenwriters Lab has been instrumental in producing successful projects like “The Lunchbox” and Ajit Pal Singh’s “Fire in the Mountains,” which premiered at Sundance. Recently, Diwa Shah’s project “Kyab” found success at the Cannes La Résidence program and the Cannes Film Festival pitching forum, showcasing the lab’s impact.
Script consultant Claire Dobbin, a long-time collaborator, noted the lab’s unique position in India’s film infrastructure. “People recognize that the screenwriters Lab is a key development program,” she remarked.
Nurturing Diverse Voices
Attracting projects from across India’s regions, the lab intentionally seeks unique voices from beyond traditional urban film centers. Participants benefit from one-on-one mentorship with experts from international programs. The lab, conceived by Marten Rabarts, continues to grow, providing filmmakers the opportunity to pitch their projects to international collaborators at the Film Bazaar.
Bikas Mishra’s experience with “Chauranga” exemplifies this, as he secured initial funding from the Gothenburg Film Festival’s development fund. “That meant a lot. That’s the first money that flew into the ‘Chauranga’ projects account,” he shared.
Innovation and Artistic Freedom
Over the years, the lab has evolved, with stronger projects emerging as industry understanding of development processes enhances. Dobbin observed a shift from less polished submissions to compelling projects and filmmakers with significant potential.
Sessions within the program include lectures and personalized guidance on screenplay craft, challenging mainstream Bollywood conventions. “You don’t make the future by looking at the past. You make the future by coming up with new ideas,” Dobbin emphasized, celebrating innovative works like “All We Imagine As Light.”
Mentors such as Dobbin, Christina Andreef, and Umesh Kulkarni provide tailored guidance, helping writers hone their unique voices and prepare for international markets.
As the market component of the International Film Festival of India in Goa, WAVES Film Bazaar continues to prioritize the filmmaker’s voice, proving indispensable to the future of Indian cinema. Claire Dobbin encapsulates this sentiment: “What these filmmakers are developing here is their voice. Nothing is more important than the filmmaker’s voice.”
