11 years strong
Int’l Labs
The Writers Lab Int’l, our flagship lab, began in 2015 to challenge sexism and ageism in the film industry. The Lab was founded to amplify the long unheard voices of women and nonbinary writers over 40, support gifted storytellers, build community, and diversify content in world cinema. Focusing on script development, the foundation of fictional narrative filmmaking, the Lab cultivates the work of women writers, supporting the successful realization of their scripts.
The only program of its kind in the world, TWL Int’l is produced by co-founders Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon in collaboration with the Writers Guild of America East, with in-kind support from The Black List, Falco Ink, Film Fatales, Final Draft, and Roadmap Writers.
Each year, the Lab selects talented writers with compelling stories to work one-on-one and in group sessions with acclaimed screen industry leaders to develop their feature and pilot scripts, as well as their craft and the tools and strategies to achieve success. During the 4-day lab, mentors and writers engage in rigorous script development through one-on-one meetings, panel discussions, peer workshops, mock writers’ rooms and more.
New York City
November 2 – 6, 2025
Congratulations to our 2025 Participants
Susannah Bohlke, Help Yourself (Half-Hr, Comedy)
Roni Brown-Byrd, 40 Acres (Half-Hr, Comedy)
Cylin Busby, Extremophile (Feature, Horror)
Lisa Cole, Unclaimed (One-Hr, Drama)
Zsofia Darida, Aryana (Feature, Drama)
Sara Hallowell, Lady M (One-Hr, Drama)
Marty Johnson, Public Way to Water (Half-Hr, Comedy)
Jaime Kawamoto, Pickled (One-Hr, Dramedy)
Tamika Lamison, Superman Doesn’t Steal (Feature, Hist. Drama)
Deb McCurdy, The Waters and the Wild (Feature, Dramedy)
MK McGhee, The Re-Education of Jane Brown (Feature, Horror)
Veronica Reyes-How, American Doctor (One-Hr, Drama)
For the first time, we also selected 9 writers to receive our new
Bold Voice Award.
Jamey Claffey, Archetypal (Feature, Drama)
Kathryn Kelley, Independence (One-Hr, Drama)
Stacy Montemayor, The Sea Change (Feature, Drama)
Kaite O’Reilly, Invisible (One-Hr, Drama)
Jo Penn, Death Valley (Feature, Thriller)
Lisa Rosenberg, Cure (Feature, Thriller)
Kristen Ruhlin, The Girls Who Built Auschwitz (Feature, Drama)
Nadia Tabbara, Joint Custody (Half-Hr, Comedy)
Melody Welch, The Mark of Eve (Feature, Drama)
Industry Insights
Since its founding in 2015, TWL has reviewed over 10,000 feature and pilot scripts written by women and non-binary writers over the age of 40.
Int’l Lab
2017
Connecticut River Valley
Int’l Lab
2016
Connecticut River Valley
Int’l Lab
2015
Lake George, NY
TWL gave me the boost of confidence I had no idea I needed. Some things are unquantifiable.”
Peres Owino
TWL US 2015
Their support meant everything, and it has opened doors for me with other projects and helped me expand my community.
Pamela Harris
TWL US 2017
Support brave, visionary storytellers