FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 24 January 2025

Open Call: Aspiring Screenwriters Invited to Apply for the Arts & Culture Trust’s Writers Lab.

Do you have a passion for writing and film? Want to receive exclusive training and mentorship to write for the screen with an award-winning local filmmaker? With only 10 spots available, this is your chance to be part of a transformative programme designed for emerging screenwriters. The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is excited to announce an open call for aspiring screenwriters aged 18–35 in the City of Ekurhuleni to join the ACT Writers Lab for Screenwriting. This initiative, implemented in partnership with the South African Creative Industries Incubator (SACII) and the Dumisani Masilela Theatre, proudly supported by the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture (DSAC) and aims to empower young creatives by providing them with the skills, tools, and opportunities to thrive in the dynamic world of filmmaking and storytelling.

The Writer’s Lab, facilitated by Arts Sake Productions, aims to develop a shortlist of pitches and projects to be written and tested in the cutting-edge Smart Theatre at the Dumisani Masilela Theatre. The participants will contribute to creating a compelling slate of content including the incorporation of content creation for YouTube, offering participants practical experience in scaling their writing. 

“We are excited to see a new way of working evolve, in the digital and emerging technology space, for our artists. The quality of training for the writers by an award-winning writer and the ability to screen test this developmental writing in the country’s first Smart Theatre at the Dumisani Masilela Theatre in Germiston will be immensely valuable for screenwriters. By embracing cross sector collaboration, emerging technology  and diversified skill sets we’ll enable our artists to compete on the global stage and increase their potential to earn in local and global currencies ” says Jessica Denyschen, CEO Arts & Culture Trust

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Age: 18–35 years old 
  • Must be based in the City of Ekurhuleni (Must be able to travel to the City of Ekurhuleni Library twice a week on designated days)
  • Qualification: Matric certificate (or equivalent)
  • Equipment: Applicants must have access to a laptop and internet connection. 
  • Experience: Previous writing experience is an advantage; writing samples or portfolios are encouraged.

Application Requirements:

  1. Submit a writing sample (e.g., short script or story). 
  2. Provide a brief personal statement explaining your passion for screenwriting and filmmaking. 
  3. Submit your proof of matric qualification (equivalent or higher).
  4. (Optional) Motivational video of no more than 3 mins.

Apply now at www.act.org.za/smarttheatre. 

Applications close on 7 February 2024 at 23:59 PM. 

To keep in touch with the ACT, visit their website, follow them on X or like their Facebook page.  ENDS

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Keitumetse Mbatha, marketing@act.org.za or Awande Dube, awande.dube@icloud.com.

About the Arts & Culture Trust (Since 1994)

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is South Africa’s premier independent development and art investment organisation. The primary aim of ACT is to increase the capacity for arts and culture initiatives to create sustainable futures through development and investment in innovative, sustainable projects that make a meaningful contribution to society. Through structured development programmes, ACT provides support to all expressions of arts and culture, including literature, music, visual art, theatre, and dance. This support extends to festivals, community arts initiatives, arts management, arts education, and arts administration. Over the past 31 years ACT has supported more than 847 arts, culture, and heritage development projects countrywide, including small businesses. 

For more information, please visit the ACT website, follow them on X, or like their Facebook page.

South African Creative Industries Incubator (SACII)

The South African Creative Industries Incubator (SACII) is an experienced business development and incubation entity that has been working in the creative SMME environment for the past eight years, with a particular focus on the creative industries. SACII is a predominantly township-based creative hub providing business incubation, acceleration, entrepreneurial support, and technical skills training. SACII also provides production facilities and equipment to emerging creative economy entrepreneurs. The strategic combination of these services is designed to culminate in leveraging content development, business growth, market access and job creation for creative industry entrepreneurs and practitioners.