The fourth edition of the Mosalsalat Screenwriters Lab (MSL), organized by the Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC), was concluded today Wednesday 29th of May. The sessions were held from 24th until 29th May at Azraq Lodge, in the Azraq Wetlands Reserve east of Jordan, with the participation of five selected television projects by Arab screenwriters working on developing scripts for their first TV series projects.

45 projects from the Arab region were initially submitted and evaluated by the Creative Consultants, a group of experts and professionals in the film and TV industry. Qualified projects were selected through a lengthy process that included detailed evaluations of each project and interviews with shortlisted writers.

Five projects have been selected to participate in the Lab:

• “Al-Michelin” by Abdul-Rahman Sakr (Jordan) 
• “Hourglass” by Alia Zeid (Palestine)
• “The Dry Kingdom” by Dana Atrach and Anne Sobel (Palestine)
• “Mankash” by Mohamed Elhossieny and Khaled Mansour (Egypt)
• “Beit Byoot” by Saif Qutishat (Jordan)

The participating scriptwriters had the opportunity to meet with five Arab and foreign experts, the “Creative Advisors”:

• Ahmad Almoghrabi, Jordanian writer, and director, who has worked on various regional projects, including the acclaimed TV series "The Lover" and "Asphalt Collar."
• Ghada Abdel Aal, Egyptian novelist, screenwriter, and creator of the acclaimed TV series “Ayza Atgawez” (I Want to Get Married).
• Kristian Van der Heyden, who founded Harald House Belgium in 2016 after eight years in Los Angeles as a writer, producer, and actor. A BlueCat and Midpoint Institute screenwriting alum.
• Giovanni Robbiano, Italian writer, director, producer, trainer, and lecturer, who has extensive experience in cinema and television in Italy and Europe. He commented on this round by saying: “In the desert of East Jordan, TV series flourish. This year, I can see that Mosalsalat Screenwriters Lab is growing, and the quality of projects is getting better. We expect some of these projects to reach production in the near future. Despite the complexity of the world of TV series, I believe Mosalsalat is becoming a reference for Arab writers and is founding a base of untraditional collaboration between continents, especially in the audiovisual arena”.
• Nadim Tabet, Lebanese director, and Global Media Makers Fellow known for his cinematic work and for co-founding the biennial Lebanese Film Festival in Beirut. Tabet also directs fashion and music videos and teaches cinema at various universities.

Intensive one-on-one sessions brought together writers and mentors to enhance their understanding of story and character development, with the aim of providing them with the means to start or advance their screenwriting career.

Writer Abdul-Rahman Sakr commented on his participation, saying: “Mosalsalat Screenwriters Lab serves as an invaluable resource for Arab screenwriters. Isolating myself from life's distractions and immersing myself in a week-long journey alongside advisers and fellows solely dedicated to working on our projects and craft was an amazing experience. Not only have I grown as a screenwriter, but I've also gained a new tribe.” 

Commenting on the Lab, the RFC’s Managing Director, Mohannad Al Bakri, said: “MSL is designed to foster extensive engagement between participants and advisors during five immersive days dedicated to the creative process, aiming to bolster the film and TV industry across the region. This year’s event will be held at the Azraq Wetlands Reserve, offering a natural setting that we believe significantly enhances script development.”

The RFC had launched Mosalsalat Screenwriters Lab in 2019, as it believed in the necessity of curating a regional workshop specialized in writing for TV.

Submissions for the fifth edition of Mosalsalat Screenwriters Lab will open in November 2024.

About the Royal Film Commission – Jordan

The Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC) is a public institution, with administrative and financial autonomy, established in 2003 with a mandate to promote for and contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Jordanian audio-visual industry. The RFC organizes training workshops, screenings and provides production support services.

For any further information, please call: +962797557116