Script LAB 2025-2026 selection confirmed
Cinekid announces the fifteen selected projects in development for this year’s Script LAB.
Cinekid for Professionals is excited to announce the selection for the upcoming edition of Script LAB, featuring fifteen projects from thirteen countries. The twelfth edition of the programme launches in Amsterdam during Cinekid Festival this October and ends during the Berlinale in February. In total, nineteen writers will join, guided by internationally acclaimed script coaches. This six-month programme offers screenwriters a unique opportunity to develop their children’s film or series in a safe and professional environment.
In this year’s selection we are happy to include twelve live action films, a live action series, an animation film and a stop motion series. The target age groups of the projects cover an entire range of young audiences. For the kids of 4-6 years old, Ayla Spaans and Nadja Hüpscher are writing At our place, a family film about the importance of exploration. For the young teenagers of 12+, Sarah Baur and Evelien Den Tandt offer a class-conscious story of climate activism with DRIP.
We are also thrilled to welcome both new participants and returning alumni: supervillains and superheroes will crash in Villain of Villains 2 written by Jessika Jankert (Script LAB 2018-19) and the story of the young writer Nina will continue in I accidentally fell in love – sequel to I accidentally wrote a book by Nora Lakos (Script LAB 2020-21).
This year we have received a record number of 56 submissions from 25 countries all over the world. For the first time we have projects from Portugal – adventurous Oriana by Nuno Soler, based on the classic Portuguese children’s book A Fada Oriana by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, and South Africa – magical Facing the Mountain by Kelly-Eve Koopman. A first-time selection from the UK as well, Crown, written by Amit Kaur and Bisola Elizabeth Alabi, tells a story of familial tradition and an individual’s passion – the conflict and reconciliation between the two.
Thematical tension - between the serenity of summer and the weight of family death - is also explored in two projects: Goodbye, Anne written by Estefania Ortiz, and A Last Summer in Calabria by Ali Hakim and Max König.
The Queen of England stole my parents by Gabija Siurbyte from Lithuania and Super Granola by Nadja Drakoula from Greece combine humour with touching, feel-good elements, while the relationship between humans and animals is explored in the darkly comedic stop-motion series Natural Selection, written by Irida Zhonga.
Eco-consciousness is especially prominent in the rebellious Pink Punk Delta by Alba Sotorra, and the moving True North written by Sunna Guðnadóttir and Jón Ármann Steinsson. Lastly, writer Johan Kaos joins with Planet Robin, a sci-fi feature project developed from his short of the same name, screened at Cinekid Festival 2022.
This year, we are pleased to support the writers of The Queen of England stole my parents, Oriana and Super Granola with a scholarship to participate in the LAB.
Script LAB has a proven track record of guiding projects from development to production, and ultimately to critical and festival success. Over the past year alone, several standout titles have emerged from the program. I Accidentally Wrote a Book by Nora Lakos premiered at Cinekid Festival 2024, won the Audience Award at Just Film Tallinn, and has become one of the highest-grossing family films in Hungarian cinema history. Meanwhile, Boom! by two-time LAB alumna Lote Eglīte made its debut at the 2024 Nordic Film Days Lübeck. Looking ahead, Belgian filmmaker Frederike Migom is currently filming her highly anticipated second feature, Sorry, developed through Script LAB 2021–22 and Directors LAB 2024.
“Each year, Script LAB brings together an extraordinary group of writers from around the world, and this twelfth edition is no exception. We are especially proud to offer a dedicated programme where writers can truly focus on the development process. Script LAB provides the time, mentorship, and international feedback that helps stories stand out in a crowded market. We are excited to see the programme receive increasing international recognition with the record number of applications we received this year. And we are deeply grateful to our partners for their continued support in helping us promote bold, original storytelling for young audiences.”- Jessica Cohen, Cinekid for Professionals Coordinator
About Cinekid Script LAB
Cinekid Script LAB offers writers a unique chance to develop children's films or series with the guidance from internationally renowned coaches and the support of their peers. Participants receive project-tailored feedback and industry knowledge. In addition, the LAB offers valuable networking opportunities at the two world-leading industry events for children’s media: Cinekid for Professionals and the Berlinale. The LAB emphasizes team building and idea sharing in a supportive environment.
Our partners
Cinekid Script LAB is organised with the support of:
Swedish Film Institute
Norwegian Film Institute
NL Film Fonds
Icelandic Film Centre
Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds
Athens International Children's Film Festival
Full List of projects
- A Last Summer in Calabria (film/ live action) 10+
Participating writers: Ali Hakim
Produced by: Hakim + König Film (Germany)
- At our place (film/ live action) 4+
Participating writers: Ayla Spaans, Nadja Hüpscher
Produced by: Flinck Film (The Netherlands)
Nominated by: Netherlands Film Fund
- CROWN (film/ live action) 11+
Participating writers: Amit Kaur, Bisola Elizabeth Alabi (United Kingdom)
- DRIP (film/ live action) 12+
Participating writers: Sarah Baur, Evelien Den Tandt
Produced by: Bulletproof Cupid (Belgium)
Nominated by: Flanders Audiovisual Fund
- Facing the Mountain (series/ live action) 11+
Participating writers: Kelly Eve Koopman
Produced by: Blended Films (South Africa)
- Goodbye, Anne (film/ live action) 8+
Participating writers: Estefania Ortiz
Produced by: Shoji Films (Spain)
- I Accidentally Fell in Love (film/ live action) 12+
Participating writers: Nora Lakos
Produced by: EJKA Foundation (Hungary)
- Natural Selection (series/ animation) 7+
Participating writers: Irida Zhonga
Produced by: Neda Film (Greece)
Nominated by: Athens International Children’s Film Festival
- Oriana (film/ live action) 7+
Participating writers: Nuno Soler
Produced by: Wonder Maria Films (Portugal)
- Pink Punk Delta (film/ animation) 7+
Participating writers: Alba Sotorra
Produced by: Alba Sotorra SL (Spain), Artichoke Films (Slovakia)
- Planet Robin (film/ live action) 9+
Participating writers: Johan Kaos
Produced by: Bellebob (Norway)
Nominated by: Norwegian Film Institute
- Super Granola (film/ live action) 6+
Participating writers: Nadja Drakoula
Produced by: NEEDaFIXER (Greece)
- The Queen of England Stole My Parents (film/ live action) 8+
Participating writers: Gabija Siurbyte
Produced by: Dansu Films (Lithuania)
- TRUE NORTH (film/ live action) 8+
Participating writers: Sunna Guðnadóttir and Jón Ármann Steinsson
Produced by: Bjartsýn Films (Iceland)
Nominated by: Icelandic Film Centre
- Villain of Villains 2 (film/ live action) 7+
Participating writers: Jessika Jankert
Produced by: Strive Stories (Sweden), Paprika filmai (Lithuania)
Nominated by: Swedish Film Institute
The header image is from the project in development Pink Punk Delta, selected for Cinekid Script LAB 2025-26 © Alba Sotorra SL, Artichoke Films