The Writers Lab Canada 2025
presented by Firecracker Department & Female Eye Film Festival
Canada Lab 2025
The Writers Lab Canada (TWL Canada) Intensive is devoted to script development for Canadian women and nonbinary film and TV writers 40 years of age and over, in partnership with Firecracker Department and Female Eye Film Festival. Firecracker Department is a hit podcast and a vibrant international community of women and nonbinary artists empowering each other to take creative action by building platforms for our voices and stories. Working together to go further and change the world! www.firecrackerdepartment.com. Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) is a competitive international women directors’ film festival established in 2001, as a not-for-profit organization. Voted “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” by MovieMaker Magazine for 12 consecutive years (2013–2024). www.thefemaleeyefilmfestival.com
During this four-day, in-person intensive in Toronto, a small group of selected writers will engage in individual script work, one-on-one mentor meetings, and group sessions aimed to develop their scripts, elevate their craft, and build community.
Overview
- The Intensive is open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are women and nonbinary script writers 40 years of age or over.
- All scripts must be in English and submitted WITHOUT the writer’s name and contact information, in order to maintain anonymity in the judging process.
- Submitted scripts must be professionally formatted.
- Narrative scripts only: feature film screenplays (80 to 120 pages), half-hour TV pilots (22 to 44 pages) and one-hour TV pilots (45 to 75 pages).
- TWL Canada Intensive Application Fee: $70 USD Regular | $90 USD Extended
- If accepted, TWL Canada Intensive Fee: $1,650 CAD
- ONLY 8 in-person participants will be selected.
- Scripts will be submitted via FIlmFreeway. You will need to create a free account in advance.
Important Dates
Jul 15 to July 31 – TWL Canada Intensive Regular Submissions – $70 USD
Aug 1 to 14 – TWL Canada Intensive Late Submissions – $90 USD
Jan 6 to 9 – TWL Canada Intensive in Toronto, Canada
For more information go to
www.firecrackerdepartment.com
www.thefemaleeyefilmfestival.com
Firecracker Department Script Prep Sessions
Liesl Lafferty, Head of the Firecracker Writing Department, offers optional story consultations and script coverage. To apply click here Script Prep Form or contact firecrackerwritingdepartment@gmail.com
Liesl is an award-winning director, and a nominated writer, producer and dramaturg. She facilitates Scriptwriting Workshops, provides Story Editing Services, and hosts a free Writer’s Accountability Room. For the Firecracker Department, she co-produces the Comedy Film Igniter with Canadian Film Fest, The Writers Lab Canada Script Intensive with the NYC founders, curates the Firecracker Film Fest in Vancouver, and she is co-creator and writer for Bagged, a Bell Fibe TV1 Series. Liesl graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
Industry Insights
Since its founding in 2015, TWL has reviewed over 10,000 feature and pilot scripts written by women and nonbinary screenwriters over the age of 40.
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