sundance institute labs directors screenwriters announced

Happy anniversary, Sundance! The Sundance Institute is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its June Directors and Screenwriters Labs; a program that nurtures and develops up and coming talents in the film industry. Over the years these Labs have supported many artists including John Cameron Mitchell, who participated in the 1999 Directors Lab with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Darren Aronofsky, who took part in the 1999 Screenwriters Lab with Requiem for a Dream.

During this year’s Directors Lab, held May 30th to June 30th, eight moviemakers will have the opportunity to workshop their films and hone their craft, with guidance from industry professionals including Sundance founder, Robert Redford, and Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Feature Film Program. These Sundance Fellows will produce and edit key scenes from their screenplays using professional actors and production crews. Six additional moviemakers have been chosen to participate in the Screenwriters Lab, from June 25th to June 30th, in which writers will receive individualized story sessions with professional screenwriters like John August (Big Fish) and Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam).

The participants of this year’s Labs hail from the United States, Israel, Mexico, Romania, the Philippines and Algeria. For more information on the 2011 Directors Lab and Screenwriters Lab Fellows or to view synopses of their projects visit: http://www.sundance.org/press-center/release/sundance-institute-announces-14-projects-for-2011-june-directors-and-screen/