Script LAB 2026-2027 selection confirmed

Cinekid for Professionals is excited to announce the selection for the upcoming edition of Script LAB, featuring fourteen original stories from ten countries. This 13th edition of the programme launches in Amsterdam during the 40th Cinekid Festival this October and ends during the Berlinale in February, offering screenwriters a unique opportunity to develop their children's film or series in a safe and professional environment, guided by internationally acclaimed script coaches.

This year's selection reflects the full range of formats within children's storytelling: 8 live action projects, 4 animations, 1 documentary, and a live action–animation hybrid that pushes the boundaries between the two forms. All participating writers are attending for the first time, drawing on a wealth of backgrounds from comics to documentary practice.

We are especially proud to include two projects developed specifically for the first cinema experiences of the very youngest audiences. Lena von Döhren will workshop Bats and Bugs, the feature version of her eponymous short that premiered at Berlinale this year, while Annette Saugestad Helland will continue to develop her IP with Morningbird and Murmelton on Adventour.

Script LAB also continues to grow its international network, welcoming two new partners to the programme this year: Estonian Film Institute and Slovenian Film Centre. Through these partnerships the projects Hesitation Step by Juri Krutii and Mozart, Dead Fish And Blind Black Ducks by Barbara Zemljič and Nik Škrlec will participate.

Alongside this expansion, we're thrilled to welcome our first LAB project from Taiwan, A Heaven in a Wildflower by Zhuang Rong-Zuo following the premiere of his short Tutti in Generation this year, a milestone that underlines Script LAB's commitment to broadening the geographic and cultural scope of high-quality children's storytelling internationally.

The LAB selection continues to reflect Cinekid’s mission to supporting stories with socially relevant themes for young audiences. Both Olga Ponjee and Alexandros Tsilifonis celebrate neurodivergence with Cringe and THE PASSED P4WN respectively; and Ami-Ro Sköld explores the experience of a child whose parent is in transition with their stop-motion animation Mum is in puberty.

The selection committee included former participants of Cinekid Script LAB (Nuno Soler and Irida Zhonga) and talent development specialists (Karlijn Landman, Michaela Sabo and Masha Andryushchenko).

Cinekid Script LAB continues to develop stories headed towards festival success. Everyone’s Sorry Nowadays (Script LAB 2021-22) Atlas of the Universe (Script LAB 2023-24) both premiered in Generation K+ at this year’s Berlinale with critical acclaim.

For the last thirteen years Cinekid Script LAB has offered screenwriters 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.

Cinekid Script LAB is organised with the support of: 

Athens International Children's Film Festival

Estonian Film Institute

Flanders Audiovisual Fund

Icelandic Film Centre

Norwegian Film Institute

Netherlands Film Fund

Slovenian Film Centre

Swedish Film Institute

Cinekid’s LABs are funded by Creative Europe MEDIA.

• Bats & Bugs (film / animation) 3+
  Participating writer: Lena von Döhren
  Produced by: Catpics (Switzerland)
  
• Cringe (film / live action) 10+
  Participating writer: Olga Ponjee
  Produced by: Family Affair Films (Netherlands)
  Nominated by: Netherlands Film Fund
  
  
• EMBROIDERIES (for the end of the world?!) (film / animation) 8+
  Participating writers: Georgia Zachari and Fokion Xenos
  Produced by: Neda Film (Greece)
  Nominated by: Athens International Children’s Film Festival
  
  
• Finding Home (film / animation) 7+
  Participating writer: Anja Mánou Hellem
  Produced by: LØV Film (Norway)
  
  
• A Heaven in a Wildflower (film / live action) 10+
  Participating writer: Zhuang Rong-Zuo
  Produced by: inJECT Films (Taiwan) and Midpoint Films
  
  
• Hesitation Step (film / live action) 12+
  Participating writer: Juri Krutii
  Produced by: Wedia Productions (Estonia)
  Nominated by: Estonian Film Institute
  
  
• Kindlings (film / live action) 7+
  Participating writer: Álfheiður Marta Kjartansdóttir
  Produced by: NRDR and Sviðin skógur (Iceland)
  Nominated by: Icelandic Film Centre
  
  
• Lisa’s Ballet Battle (film / live action) 12+
  Participating writer: Sarah Van Dale
  Produced by: Movie Bank Productions (Belgium)
  Nominated by: Flanders Audiovisual Fund
  
  
• Morningbird and Murmelton on Adventour (film / live action and animation) 3+ Participating writer: Annette Saugestad Helland
  Produced by: Mikrofilm (Norway)
  Nominated by: Norwegian Film Institute
  
  
• Mozart, Dead Fish And Blind Black Ducks (film / live action) 7+
  Participating writers: Barbara Zemljič and Nik Škrlec
  Produced by: Filmservis (Slovenia)
  Nominated by: Slovenian Film Centre
  
  
• Mum is in puberty (film / animation) 7+
  Participating writer: Ami-Ro Sköld
  Produced by: Onoma Productions (Sweden)
  Co-produced by Family Affair Films (Netherlands), Indyca (Italy) and Morph Film (Denmark)
  
  
• THE PASSED P4WN (film / live action) 12+
  Participating writer: Alexandros Tsilifonis
  Produced by: Central Athens Film Productions (Greece)
  Co-produced by: Mera Mera Films, Sweetdoh Films (United Kingdom) and Dark Alley Pictures (Netherlands)
  
  
• Zanzara (film / documentary) 12+
  Participating writers: Lieza Röben and Liza Kemman
  Produced by: BIND (Netherlands)
  
  
• 1 2 3 - Action! (film / live action) 7+
  Participating writers: Anna Brodin and Victor Lindgren
  Produced by: Lampray (Sweden)
  Nominated by: Swedish Film Institute

The header image is from the film Atlas of the Universe, which was workshopped during Cinekid Script LAB 2023-24 © DeFilm