The M
Film Lab

Empowering Minority Filmmakers

Film Labs

Fall 2022 Programs: AMPLIFYING LATINX STORIES

Despite comprising a significant and rapidly increasing segment of the audience, and a higher-than national average of the spend on entertainment (streaming services, box office), Latinx stories continue to be underrepresented on the screen. Beyond the increase in demand, and the economic argument for creating more Latinx content, there is an immense depth and richness of stories, with varied cultural nuances and breadth of experiences, that remains largely untapped. Hollywood continues to forgo this veritable goldmine of stories for exhausted tropes of narco-culture. The M Film lab’s goal is to explore genuine and authentic stories from a Latinx perspective, that defy this reductionist trend. We are looking for stories of any genre and subject matter, so long as they are delivered with a uniquely latinx voice.

Spring 2022 Program: EMPOWERING BLACK SCREENWRITERS

We are proud to announce the launch of the M Film Lab's Spring 2022 program, focusing on developing the talents of Black screenwriters. This is an opportunity for Black screenwriters to submit a working draft of a 15-minute short film screenplay for a chance to have it produced. You will work with a team of acclaimed mentors and industry professionals in virtual, 1-on-1 sessions over the course of 10 days to develop that screenplay and submit it for consideration to the M Film Lab Board. The best screenplay will be filmed and produced!**

Fall 2021 Program: Muslims in the West

Tired of seeing harmful stereotypes of Muslims on film & TV? Then this is your chance to help us change the narrative! M Film Lab is a free-to-join screenwriting workshop and mentorship opportunity for storytellers and creators committed to fair artistic representation of Muslims and Islam in film & television. Six (6) talented artists will be selected to work with acclaimed industry professionals to develop their screenplays, and the top screenplay will be guaranteed production! Applications are now closed. Congratulations to those selected to participate in our Fall 2021 Program! Thank you to all who applied.

Key Dates

22JULY

Applications Open

30SEPT

Application Deadline

28OCT

2nd Cohort Announcement

11NOV

Film Lab Starts

21NOV

Film Lab Ends

02DEC

Winning Screenplay Announcement

Lab Mentors

Arturo Muyshondt

Actor, Producer

Bianca Gonzalez

Development Executive, MFA In Writing For Screen & TV, USC

Felicia Hilario

Television Screenwriter, MFA In Writing For Screen & TV, USC

Maggy Torres-Rodriguez

Writer/Producer, MFA In Writing For Screen & TV, USC

Santiago Paladines

Writer/Director, MFA Directing, AFI

Gareth-Dunnet-Alcocer

Writer, Director, Producer, MFA In Writing For Screen & TV, USC

Arturo Muyshondt

Actor, Producer

Selected Finalists

The six talented writers below were selected to participate in the M Film Lab Fall 2022 Program, where where they will work and learn from a team of experienced mentors and industry professionals to develop their screenplays. At the end of the program, one winner will be chosen, and their screenplay will be selected for production!