Learn  |  Professionals  |  Workshop ScriptLab & Screenwriting with Miguel Machalski Workshop with Miguel Machalski

During two sessions of five days each, participants in the CNA ScriptLab & Screenwriting workshop will explore, question, and experiment with the challenges of scriptwriting, whether for fiction, documentary, or series. In this new format, we will establish the foundations of scriptwriting, focusing on the development process, dramatic choices, and their impact on storytelling through a combination of theoretical and practical work.

For this purpose, we will select a maximum of 5 scripts in development and their authors, who will be the subjects of study and work. Additionally, we will include up to 8 authors as observers and active participants in the writing process. Guided by Miguel Machalski, they will assess the strengths and weaknesses of their stories and the elements that support them.

A comprehensive examination and reflection on the structure and story of the film will be conducted, and at the conclusion of the first session, proposals for rewriting or improvement will be presented.

The second session will focus on the presentation and analysis of the new writing directions and/or script developments, explaining the choices and decisions made regarding these new directions.

This training is intended for Luxembourgish authors/directors or residents in Luxembourg, whether or not they have an ongoing writing project. We welcome fiction, documentary, and series projects of any format (short, feature-length, medium) and genre.

We accept a maximum of 5 projects (co-authors are welcome) per year, and 8 author/director participants without projects for a two-session, 5-day training (10 days in total).

Born in Buenos Aires to a Polish father and a British mother, based in Montpellier after many years in Paris and Barcelona, Miguel Machalski has a multicultural and multilingual profile evident in many of his activities: general project development, scenario consultation and editing, workshops, and screenwriting.

Miguel has written or co-written over 20 film scripts (across genres) in three languages (French, English, and Spanish). He regularly conducts workshops in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. He serves as an advisor and lecturer for SOURCES 2, EAVE, MAIA, and several programs supported by MEDIA. Additionally, he works as a consultant for the national film funds of Catalonia, Colombia, and Jordan, as well as with the Binger Institute in Amsterdam.

Practical Information:

1st Session: April 29 to May 3, 2024

2nd Session: October 7-11, 2024

Participation in both sessions is required.

Application deadline: April 10, 2024

Audience: Screenwriters, groups of screenwriters, directors, producers, film and audiovisual students, with an ongoing writing project or knowledge/experience in scriptwriting, Luxembourgish or residents in Luxembourg.

Application Procedure:

For the "authors" group:

Submit an application including:

• CV/biography detailing all writing and directing experiences.
• Fiction projects: a synopsis of the ongoing project (1 page A4) + a continuous first draft of the project, including the subject, direction, characters, plot, and 2-3 more developed scenes. Projects at the treatment or sequencing stage are also accepted.
• Documentary/non-fiction projects: a description of the project, theme, concept, potential characters. Include a description of envisioned scenes, information on the visual style, whether there will be voice-over or not, sound/musical elements, and any initial materials if available (photos, videos). Projects at the treatment or sequencing stage are also accepted.

For the "observers" group:

Submit an application including:

• CV/biography detailing all writing and directing experiences.
• Portfolio of achievements (scripts and/or productions)

All applications are treated with the utmost confidentiality, and the selection is jointly made by Mylène Carrière (CNA) and Miguel Machalski. Please send your applications to: mylene.carriere@cna.etat.lu

Note: This is a training based on collective reflection and work; all selected participants will receive all documents and projects and are expected to read them attentively.

For more information: mylene.carriere@cna.etat.lu

Location: National Audiovisual Center (CNA) 1b, rue du Centenaire, 3475 Dudelange, Luxembourg

Dates:

1st Session: May 6-10, 2024

2nd Session: October 7-11, 2024

With: Miguel Machalski

Number of participants:

Authors Group: maximum 5

Observers Group: maximum 8

Language(s): English, French