Sundance Institute Announces Projects Selected for the Feature Film Program 0 January Screenwriters Lab

Sundance Institute Announces 12 Projects Selected for the Feature Film Program 2013 January Screenwriters Lab Dedicated to the Memory of Founding Creative Advisor Frank Pierson

Posted Dec 17, 2012

Los Angeles, CA Sundance Institute has selected 12 projects for its 2013 January Screenwriters Lab, an immersive, five-day (January 11-16) writers' workshop at the Sundance Resort in Utah. Participating independent screenwriters drawn from around the world, including the United States, Iran, Europe, Mexico, and Somalia will have the opportunity to work intensely on their feature film scripts with the support of established writers. The 2013 Lab is dedicated to the memory of Frank Pierson (1925-2012), a founding creative advisor of the Feature Film Program whose body of work and generosity as a mentor served as an inspiration to countless writers.

Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, Across all Sundance Institute Labs, which include offerings for various forms of artistic expression, the constant is creating an environment that encourages innovation and creative risk-taking. We look forward to building a unique community of artists at our Lab, in support of these emerging screenwriters and their stories.

Michelle Satter, Founding Director of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, said, We are thrilled to welcome the new group of writers to the Lab whose stories are timely, ambitious and singular in their vision and independent voice. Exploring themes that resonate across cultures, the writers have found diverse and dynamic approaches to storytelling that will inspire and move audiences in the years to come. The January Screenwriters Labs marks the beginning of a rigorous year-round process of creative and tactical support which is tailored to the needs of each individual project and extends from script development to connecting with audiences.

The Fellows will work with a distinguished group of creative advisors at the Lab, including Marcos Bernstein, D.V. DeVincentis, Michael Goldenberg, Susannah Grant, Walter Mosley, Marti Noxon, Anjum Rajabali, Howard Rodman, David Seidler, Susan Shilliday, Zach Sklar, Dana Stevens, Robin Swicord, Mike White, Tyger Williams and Erin Cressida Wilson.

The projects and Fellows selected for the 2013 January Screenwriters Lab are:

700th and International (U.S.A.)

Chinaka Hodge (writer)

A trash-talking hood track phenomenon named Tuka dies by an unexpected bullet; she awakes to find herself in a corrupt version of heaven where everyone has a jobnamely, to decide the exact moment of death for someone still living on earth.

Chinaka Hodge is a poet, educator and playwright from Oakland, California. She received her BA from NYU's Gallatin School and her MFA from USC's School of Cinematic Arts. After nearly a decade of performing her own words around the globe and on two seasons of Def Poetry, she made the transition to the screen and received her first credit for Brave New Voices on HBO.

The Adderall Diaries (U.S.A.)

Pamela Romanowsky (writer/director)

While covering a real-life murder mystery, writer Stephen Elliott realizes hed rather investigate his own dysfunctional relationships with women, his father and himself. Based on the memoir by Stephen Elliott.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Pamela Romanowsky moved to New York to attend NYU's Graduate Film Program. Her short film Gravity premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival and won the National Board of Review and the Wasserman/King Foundation's student filmmaking awards. Her most recent directorial effort is TAR (James Franco, Mila Kunis, Jessica Chastain, Zach Braff), a multi-director omnibus based on the life and poetry of CK Williams.

Avalanche (Iran)

Morteza Farshbaf (co-writer/director) and Anahita Ghazvinizadeh (co-writer)

When a nurse takes the graveyard shift, a period of sleeplessness and solitude leaves her with a new perspective on her life.

Morteza Farshbaf is an Iranian writer and filmmaker. He studied cinema at the Tehran University of Art, during which time he was a student of and assistant for Abbas Kiarostami. After making several short films, Farshbaf's first feature Mourning won the New Currents Award and FIPRESCI Prize at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival.

Anahita Ghazvinizadeh is an Iranian writer and filmmaker. She studied cinema in Tehran and is continuing her education in film in the United States. She was also a student of Kiarostami, and has made short films in Iran and the US. She has collaborated with Farshbaf on several projects, including as a co-writer of Mourning.

Franny (U.S.A.)

Andrew Renzi (writer/director)

When the daughter and new husband of late family friends move back to Philadelphia, a larger-than-life but damaged man cannot control his desire to recreate the past.

Andrew F. Renzi wrote and directed the short film The Fort, which premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. His newest short film, Karaoke!, will premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Previously, Renzi worked with the New York production company Borderline Films on Antonio Campos Afterschool (Cannes 2008) and Alistair Banks Griffins Two Gates of Sleep (Cannes 2010).

The Incident (U.S.A)

Jan Kwiecinski (writer/director)

When a young man decides to cover up an accidental murder, his whole life comes into focus in ways he never expected.

Jan Kwiecinski graduated from the filmmaking departments of the London Film School and the Wajdas Master School of Directing. His award-winning short film, The Incident, screened internationally at many festivals including the Shanghai International Film Festival and the T-Mobile New Horizons Film Festival. Recently, Kwiecinski directed the segment entitled Fawns of the omnibus feature The Fourth Dimension, co-directed by Alexey Fedorchenko and Harmony Korine. The film premi

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