Ferial Khalifa
Maya Abu Alhayyat
The “Next Generation” Program is an inspiring initiative aimed at promoting and enhancing cinema culture among children and youth in Palestine. The program is designed to nurture young talent by offering a combination of film screenings followed by discussion sessions, alongside filmmaking workshops. These activities aim to provide children and youth with a unique opportunity to develop their creativity, skills, and imagination in a peaceful and expressive manner, encouraging them to share their personal stories through the medium of film.
A key aspect of the program was the Children’s Content Scriptwriting Workshop, which is specifically focused on developing content for children aged 6 to 15. In line with the program's goal of fostering creative storytelling for younger audiences, Filmlab: Palestine invited Danish screenwriter and expert in children's film scriptwriting, Jenny Lund Madsen, to lead the workshop. The workshop, held from June 22 to June 26 in Ramallah, provided Palestinian filmmakers with the tools and techniques needed to craft engaging and age-appropriate scripts that can be developed into short films.
The workshop offers an exceptional opportunity for Palestinian filmmakers to explore the world of children’s cinema, creating content that resonates with young audiences and addresses themes relevant to their experiences. The selected scripts, developed during the workshop, will undergo a selection process by a specialized committee, and the chosen scripts will be produced by Filmlab: Palestine. Filmlab will provide the necessary production funding within a specified budget to bring these short films to life.
Once completed, the short films will have the chance to be showcased at the Palestine Cinema Days Festival, an annual event organized by Filmlab: Palestine. This provides filmmakers with a significant platform to present their work to a wider audience and to be part of the growing film culture in Palestine.
The program primarily targets Palestinian filmmakers who wish to expand their expertise in creating children’s content. To apply, filmmakers are required to submit the following (in English):
- A proposal or summary of their concept or work.
- The target age group for the film.
- A preliminary estimated budget for the production.
- Samples of previous work.
- A biography or CV.
The Program serves as a valuable initiative for both the filmmakers and the young audiences, allowing filmmakers to develop their craft while engaging with the next generation of film lovers. It contributes to the broader mission of building a dynamic and creative cinema culture in Palestine, one that encourages storytelling, personal expression, and cultural exchange
Previous Participants
- Ferial Khalifa
- Maya Abu-ALhayyat