With the support of Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme, we are delighted to announce that we have selected 18 experienced storytellers (writers, directors and producers developing a feature-length project) for the next edition of The Rewrite Stuff – 12 Ways to a Stronger Screenplay, Emmanuel Oberg’s hands-on rewrite workshop.

This 2025 Edition will start off in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal in Ireland (7-12 January 2025) and will continue online until May 2025.

Here are, in no particular order, the talented storytellers who have started to explore 12 Ways to a Stronger Screenplay:

We are thrilled to have them on board, and Emmanuel is very much looking forward to meeting them all in person in January!

Here is a 9-page booklet presenting the participants in more detail — six creative teams and six solo writers, for a total of twelve projects, split into two half-groups for project work. This document can be printed or downloaded by clicking on the corresponding icons in the upper right corner of the frame below.

 

If you’ve applied and have not been selected…

First of all, thank you for your application, and please don’t let this deter you from applying again in the future! We’ve received dozens of high-quality applications, with strong applicants and fascinating projects, but as we could only take a maximum of twelve projects on this workshop, we had to make some difficult choices.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the resources to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants, but just as a reminder, and as per the Call for Applications, we have prioritized storytellers experienced in feature-length script development, creative teams (development teams, especially if led by a producer, or co-writers) and projects that, beyond their potential to reach a wide audience at home and abroad, were as advanced as possible, as this is a rewrite workshop.

It was a plus if at least one member of a creative team (or if the solo applicant) was already familiar with the Story-Type Method. We also focused this year on the northwest region of Ireland and Northern Ireland, so six participants were from Co. Donegal, Sligo or Mayo, and one was from Derry (out of a total of eighteen).

Finally, due to the limited number of places, we were unable to select applications coming from top-notch participants of a previous rewrite workshop, as they had already benefited from the training, even if on a different project (TV series). If the competition had not been so fierce, they would have been most welcome at this workshop.

If you’re not experienced enough in feature-length script development, if you applied without a project, with an early-stage project (especially as a solo writer or co-writers without a producer) or with a non-eligible project (for example a TV Series or a documentary) and if you aren’t familiar with the Story-Type Method, this would have significantly reduced your chances — even if you’re from the region in focus — irrespective of your overall experience and of your project’s potential.

To sum it up, applying as a creative team, preferably with an advanced project (first or revised draft, particularly if you apply as a solo writer or without a producer), and having already done an Advanced Script Development Workshop or interactive online course would significantly increase your chances.

If you decide to re-apply in the future (which we are encouraging you to do), please make sure that you keep the above in mind.

We hope that you’ll find this limited feedback useful, and we wish you the best of luck with your projects, until the next time!

Special Thanks

Many thanks to Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland for supporting this six-month programme through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme, and to the Donegal Film Office and the Regional Cultural Centre for their support in relation to the one-week in-person event in Letterkenny.

This programme is supported by Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme

The one-week in-person workshop in Letterkenny is also supported by the Donegal Film Office and the Regional Cultural Centre.