OSN, the region’s TV entertainment company and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture have announced the winners of the Writers Room.
This mentorship programme, designed to nurture the development of compelling stories within the region, marks a key moment in the improvement of Arab storytelling.
After 276 submissions to the open call, the jury panel, consisting of Writer Yam Machahdi, Director Hicham Lasri, Director Amin Dora, and Director Mariam Abou Ouf, faced the challenging task of selecting entries.
The programme has revealed the following six projects and their creators as the winners:
- ‘The Day of Your Meeting’ by Rida Benazzouza
- ‘The Art of Surviving’ by Tamer Mohammad Abdulhamid and Noha Hassan Hussien
- ‘Polaroid’ by Basant Ghonimy
- ‘Men Home La Hon’ (Plan B) by Marie-Louise Elia, Julien Kobersy, and Jean-Claude Boulos
- ‘Dyouf’ by Saleh Saadi
- ‘How to find love in 10 steps’ (Guide for Single Men) by Mostafa Youssef and Fatma Abed
Launched last year, the programme will incubate projects until the development of fully-fledged limited series, while providing mentorship support, follow up, and input from specialists and experts during and in-between residencies.
It aims to create a framework for series-writing in the region through writers’ room method, and allows for peer-to-peer learning and participation in the creative process.
Rolla Karam, Senior Vice President, Content Acquisition & Arabic Channels, OSN, said: “At OSN, we believe in the power of local storytelling and the incredible talent that exists within the Arab region. Our partnership with AFAC, the leading support organization for artists in the Arab region, and the ‘Writers’ Room’ initiative is a testament to our commitment to nurturing emerging writers and investing in compelling narratives. We are proud to be providing these talented creators with a platform that showcases their success.”
Rima Mismar, Executive Director of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, said: “The ‘Writers’ Room’ initiative marks a turning point for Arab series creators. With the invaluable support of OSN, we aim to create a nurturing environment for emerging talents, bridge gaps in series development, and cultivate a community of storytellers. It’s not only a testament to the creative vibrancy of storytellers across the Arab world but also a promise of the profound impact these narratives will have.”
With this announcement, the winning projects will now embark on a journey of further development and potential distribution.
A series of three residencies are planned for February, May, and July 2024, led by Writers’ Room mentors director and screenwriter Bassem Breche and screenwriter and producer Maha El Wazir.
Winners will also benefit from OSN’s right to a first look at their projects and the opportunity of potentially being selected for further development beyond the residency program.
You can view more details on the programme here.
