Creating equal chances for everyone within the Polish film industry to succeed and opening up opportunities for new voices to make their creative visions an on-screen reality are important goals that guide Netflix in its contribution to the growth of the creative ecosystem in Poland.
According to a report commissioned by the Polish Film Institute only around 25% of those working as scriptwriters in Poland are women. It is equally difficult for women to cut through and gain recognition within the industry, especially on prominent feature films. In the last 5 years, out of 85 movies nominated for the Golden Lions award at the Gdynia Film Festival, the pre-eminent award in Polish cinema, less than a third had a woman screenwriter on board.
That is why, as part of the expansion of Netflix’s partnership with the New Horizons Association, we are launching applications for a new training program for aspiring screenwriters. The workshops are intended to help participants from all over Poland develop their ideas for full-length feature films and acquire creative writing skills through group sessions and individual consultations. The program is addressed not only to film school graduates, but also to women who love to write and are interested in developing their ideas under the supervision of experienced experts. They just need to have an idea or an outline of the story of a full-length feature film.
“For years we have been supporting aspiring directors and producers by organizing industry events at the New Horizons International Film Festival. Now it’s time for women screenwriters. We want not only to help participants develop their creative writing skills by accompanying them in the process of story development, but also to inspire them, strengthen them in their professional decisions and activities, and facilitate their first, confident steps on the audiovisual market. In the long run, we hope that we will contribute to changing the statistics regarding the number of professionally active women screenwriters,” says Weronika Czołnowska, program director and head of industry at the New Horizons International Film Festival.”
Participants invited to the program will learn, among others: how to develop an idea for a script, how to write convincing summaries and loglines, which are essential elements of working on a complete script. Participants will also learn how to pitch an idea or a story that is just being created and how to deal with comments received on the ideas and content of the script. They will also have the opportunity to learn about the realities of the market. Several experts will share their experiences as part of the programme, among others: Weronika Tofilska, director and screenwriter, author of the script for the Rose Glass film “Love Lies Bleeding” and one of the directors of the Netflix original series “Baby Reindeer”, as well as Anna Ciennik, script consultant for the film “Julie Keeps Quiet” directed by Leonardo Van Dijl, which premiered at this year’s Cannes Festival.
“Good stories worth bringing to the screen can come from anywhere in the world, and our goal is to make it easier for a new generation of creators to break through in the industry with their voice and sensitivity. That is why, together with the New Horizons Association, we are expanding our long-term partnership to give aspiring Polish screenwriters a chance to acquire the skills necessary to write their first long-length script,” says Kaśka Śliwińska-Kłosowicz, manager of local original language productions at Netflix in Poland.:
The program is scheduled to start at the beginning of next year. Selected participants will take part in a total of 5 workshop sessions, and the finale of the program will take place during the largest film festival in Poland – New Horizons IFF.
Applications are open to all women who have an idea for a feature film script and will last until December 20. Participation in the program is free of charge, and details of applications can be found on the website: www.nowehoryzonty.pl/scenarzystki.
The programme is supported by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, which supports external organizations committed to creating a more equitable environment in the TV and film industries.
