Red Sea THE LODGE 2024
Open to teams of Saudi, Arab, Asian, and African filmmakers and producers, this intensive creative and professional training program will take your project from idea to reality. Every year, it turns ambitious emerging filmmakers into a further stage.
For these filmmakers on the cusp of their big break, The Lodge in partnership with the TorinoFilmLab and is sponsored by Film AlUla, selects projects for creative and professional mentorship, development, and next-level industry opportunities. Submit your project for your chance to be part of the long-term program.
Applications for Saudi projects are accepted until January 20, 2024, 11:59 PM KSA time, and Arab, African, and Asian applications until January 30, 2024, 11:59 PM KSA time.
In 2024, the Lodge will expand across five workshops – the first one exclusively addressed to selected Saudi teams, and the other four to all the selected projects – to give you a broad overview and strong grounding to explore your project’s full dramatic and production potentials. You’ll be mentored by a Head of studies and a Head of Script Development, with guidance from international specialists across all segments of cinema and the industry.
Alongside ongoing script development sessions, the program features a producer coaching program and covers professional development in artistic aspects and also production, financing, sales, and marketing. During the workshop, participants will also have the opportunity to work with internationally experienced experts from the fields of directing, cinematography, editing, sound and post-production, sales, etc.
Following development and meetings with industry professionals, The Lodge Filmmakers will pitch their projects at the Red Sea Souk during the 4th Edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival 2024.
- Applications must be made in teams of 2 or 3, comprising:
- A writer-director and producer or
- A director, a writer and producer
- The director should be a Saudi/Saudi Resident or of Arab nationality/origin; African nationality/origin; or Asian nationality/origin.
- Aimed at first or second-time feature directors, applications from more established voices will be considered if they demonstrate daring new ideas and approaches.
- The producer needs to have demonstrable production experience (previous work).
- A screenwriter must have experience with realized scripts in any form, including shorts, TV, web series, or theater.
- The team must confirm their full availability for all the workshops and sessions as per the schedule outlined below, as well as at the Red Sea International Film Festival, once the dates are announced.
- The working language of the workshops, meetings, and events is English; therefore, English proficiency is a must.
Outcomes
- By the end of the program the teams will have all the necessary documents to approach potential regional and international partners towards realizing their feature film project.
- All the participants will have an in-depth understanding of the project development process from creative, production, and marketing perspectives and have developed skills and knowledge that they can use in further projects.
- At the end of the Lodge program, teams will present their projects to an audience of international producers, sales agents, and other film industry professionals at the Red Sea International Film Festival.
- During the Festival, the teams will also have one-on-one meetings with key decision-makers and gain visibility through The Book of Projects and network.
- Winners will share a pot of $200,000 in award prizes, based on merit. The awards will be announced during the Festival.
- A committee of international jurors of professionals will make the award selection.
