GATECRASHERS: A writers lab for genre feature projects
Gatecrashers is a writing lab aimed at supporting genre feature projects from writers from working class or low socio-economic backgrounds. Through dedicated development support, each project will be taken from outline to treatment & script sample stage during two dedicated writing residencies. In addition to this, writers will have access to masterclasses to help them hone their ideas and ready their projects for pitching. Gatecrashers is delivered by Sona Films, through the BFI Creative Challenge Fund, made possible with National Lottery funding.
Writers will spend the lab developing their treatments as well as a script sample, vital materials that can be especially challenging to create without financial stability. This paid opportunity gives writers the luxury of time to work on their ideas in an environment that encourages ambition and provides a rigorous feedback loop for their work. Each writer will work 1-2-1 with one of the Gatecrashers team to develop their project.The lab will culminate in a pitch showcase that will give the writers a platform to share their projects with industry and make meaningful connections in moving their projects on beyond the lab.
Applications are now closed.
Please read the below guidelines carefully before making your application.
What are we looking for?
Ambitious, original and cinematic genre feature film ideas. It’s never been more challenging to get a film project off the ground and we know that commissioners, streamers and studios are looking for distinctive genre projects that can appeal to a commercial market.
We also believe that writers from working class and low socio-economic backgrounds have been undervalued and overlooked in our industry and we want to champion the talented voices we know are out there. Gatecrashers is designed to break down the barriers faced when you grow up with no money and no connections and no access to an industry that can feel impossible to get into.
So we need you to show us what you’re made of and the stories you’ve been itching to tell.
When we say genre ideas, we mean it. This is not a lab to develop your drama ideas. We will be looking for the best Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Rom-Com, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Western ideas and want to be clear that your ideas unapologetically lean into the styles and tones we expect from the genre you’re working in.
For example, if it's a Rom-Com, it must be funny! It needs to be romantic! Or if it’s a Fantasy film, show us something magical or otherworldly! Give us a quest to go on if you want to tell an Adventure story and make sure your Horror idea delivers on giving us goosebumps!
When is the lab taking place and what do you get for taking part?
Gatecrashers is a 4 month development lab designed to take your feature film project from idea to treatment & script sample. The programme can be split into four main elements:
Online Masterclasses: We will kick off the programme with a series of masterclasses to prepare you for writing your treatment and honing your genre project. (6 sessions in January)
Treatment Residency: This will be a week-long residency aimed at creating a treatment for your project. During the residency you will have uninterrupted time to write and alongside this, we will run development and feedback sessions on your projects. (6 days in February)
Script Sample Residency: During this second week-long residency, you will have time to finesse your treatments and then begin writing a script sample for your project. As with the first residency you will have dedicated development support during this time. (6 days in March)
Pitch Showcase: At the end of the lab, you will give a short pitch to industry about your project and have the opportunity to meet with production companies, financiers, commissioners, directors, agents and more. (2 days in April)
Writers will be paid up to £3500 (£175 per day) for taking part in the lab and on top of this we will provide travel, accommodation and food during residencies and for the pitch showcase.
The timeline for the lab is as follows, it’s important that you check you are available for all of the residency and showcase dates before you make an application:
30th October 2025 - Applications open for submission
12pm (midday) Thursday 27th November 2025 - Applications close and assessment begins
December 2025 - Application Assessment
January 2026 - Programme starts with online masterclasses
9th-14th February 2026 - Treatment Residency, Shropshire
Feb-March 2026 - Treatment Development sessions
15th-20th March 2026 - Script Sample Residency, Yorkshire
Mid April 2026 - Pitch Showcase, London
Who can apply?
We are looking for screenwriters with a creative track record who are from a working class or low-socio economic background.
This lab is not for writers who have never written anything and is aimed at Early and Emerging career filmmakers based on the BFI’s following definitions:
‘Early Career’ is defined as not having written, directed or produced a fiction feature film or immersive media project that has received UK distribution in the last five years unless they have self-financed and/or self-distributed the work themselves.
‘Emerging’ is defined as having no more than three feature film projects produced and/or comparable television, theatre or immersive work.
By creative track record, we need you to be able to show to us that as a writer, you are ready to write a feature film script. This could be via:
Previous writing credits in Film or TV
Substantial writing credits in another disciplines such as Theatre, Radio, Literature or Online Content
A demonstrated commitment to your craft through study, writing courses or similar means and proof of written scripts through this work
We know that not every writer will have had the opportunity to have had your writing work produced. However, we need you to show us that through your previous writing work that you are ready to take on the challenge of writing a feature film and will be able to deliver a treatment and script sample during the time constraints of the lab.
By working class or low socio-economic background, we are aiming to support writers who have not had the same access or opportunity to industry due to their financial upbringing or circumstances. We know this can be difficult to define and we encourage you to be open about whether this applies to you.
We are using the Social Mobility Commission recommended questions to assess this which includes information on the type of school you attended and what the occupation of your parent or primary caregiver were when growing up.
We recognise that these questions don’t always paint a clear picture so we will also be adding additional space for you to tell us why you feel this opportunity applies to you (please be aware, we do not expect anyone to disclose personal or upsetting information in this answer and purely want to get a broad sense of how you self define your own socio-economic background).
In addition to the above, in order to apply you must also be:
Over 18 years of age
Out of full time education
A UK resident
This opportunity is specifically aimed at Writers. However if you also wish to direct the project you are submitting we will need to be sure that this is achievable. We will ask for further examples of your directing work and will expect you to have made multiple short films and to be ready to step up to directing a feature film.
This opportunity is open to writers who have already made a feature film, as long as you can demonstrate why you feel this opportunity is needed. You are unlikely to receive support via this lab if you already have numerous projects in funded development.
What do you need to apply?
In order to apply you will have to submit an application via our form here:
You will be asked questions about your project and why you feel you are suited to this lab. In addition to this you will be asked to attach the following documents:
1-3 page outline of your idea: This should be an overview of the idea you want to develop during the lab and should include genre, logline, synopsis, key character bios and an idea of tone/style
A writing sample of 10-15 pages: This must be a screenplay sample that you have solely written. It can be for the idea you are submitting or something else. It does not have to be produced work but should be a writing sample that you feel best showcases your skill or voice as a writer
Your CV: we’d love to get a sense of any writing work or industries you have worked in previously
There will also be space to attach additional optional documents. This is completely up to you and will not go against you if you do not submit anything here. Optional additional documents could be:
A moodboard for your project
Any existing documents you already have for the project you wish to develop with us
When will you hear back?
Applications are now closed.
Following this, all applications will be assessed by the Gatecrashers team in December. We may ask for additional information during this time.
We aim to let everyone know of the outcome by early January 2026, so that the programme can commence later that month and the first residency will take place in February 2026.
Following our FAQ Zoom earlier this month, we’re sharing some of the most common questions asked in order to help you with your application
If you have any further questions, please get in touch at gatecrasherslab@gmail.com
How many writers are you supporting?
The lab will support 10 writers.
Why is the lab called Gatecrashers?
The lab has been devised and run by a team of working class creatives who have long felt that despite the industry claiming to be more inclusive, working class people are still regularly excluded. Gatecrashers is a tongue in cheek name - acknowledging the barriers and celebrating crashing the party and disrupting the status quo.
I’m not sure if I qualify as working class, how do you define this?
The application asks you questions about your parent’s jobs when you were growing up and what school you attended. We are aware this doesn’t always paint an accurate picture so we have given you space to add additional detail. We are putting the onus on applicants to self define their class background as we don't feel it's something that we as a team are here to make a judgement on. So if you feel this fits you then you should apply. It's worth considering the material and financial barriers you may have experienced growing up and the Social Mobility Commission toolkit is a good resource that might be useful for more reading around this.
If I’ve made short films as a writer am I eligible for this lab?
Yes, this lab is open to writers who have only made short film work previously.
If I’ve made a feature film as a writer am I eligible for this lab?
Yes, this lab is open to writers who have made up to three feature films as we recognise the need to support working class creatives who are further along in their careers.
Look at the guidelines, what do you mean by demonstrated commitment to your craft through study, writing courses or similar means and proof of written scripts through this work?
We wanted to include writers who hadn’t yet had the opportunity to have their work produced as we know this is especially true for working class writers for various reasons. However, given the nature of this lab being a feature film lab we also need to ensure that writers are ready for this writing commitment. Therefore we are open to applicants showing us how they feel they have the right level of experience for this opportunity. This could be through study or writing courses, or it could be simply having spent a lot of your own time writing scripts and honing your craft. We know there are people out there who have gone through the process of writing feature scripts off their own back, with no industry support and we want this opportunity to be open to them if they feel it’s right for them and they have a suitable genre project.
Can writer duos apply?
Yes, we just ask that you fill out one single application for the both of you.
Can I apply with more than one project?
No, please only apply with one project.
Should I apply with myself as the director of my project?
If you can show you have a strong directing track record then yes. If this isn’t the case, we may encourage you later down the line to think about working with an established director to give your project the best chance of being made. There is no requirement or expectation for directors to be attached to projects for applying to this lab.
Is there an age restriction?
As long as you are 18+ you are able to apply. There is no upper age limit.
Do I have to be based in the UK?
Yes, this opportunity is only open to UK residents.
Can my project story be based outside of the UK?
Yes, you can base your project wherever you like.
Does my idea have to be related to being working class?
No. We are aware that sometimes the industry will pigeonhole people into telling certain stories. This lab is an opportunity to tell whatever story you want to tell, as long as it’s a genre project.
My idea is a hybrid of genres, is this ok?
Yes, it’s fine if your idea consists of more than one genre (for example, Horror-Comedy). In the application, select the genre that best defines your idea and then use the additional materials to explain how your project fits multiple genres.
Are the dates in the application negotiable?
No, it is important everyone attends the dates set out in the lab outline. Please do not apply if you are unavailable for these dates.
Where will the residencies take place?
The residency locations will be in the South West and North of England whilst the pitch event will be in London. We will provide all writers travel and accommodation for these events.
Can I bring my producer with me?
No, this lab is focused on writers specifically. However, if you have a producer attached they will be able to join development meetings during the lab and be invited to any pitch/networking events.
How much financial support does this lab offer?
Up to £3500 per writer. In addition to this, any food, travel and accommodation for the two residencies and pitch event.
Any other questions please contact gatecrasherslab@gmail.com and we will aim to get back to you within 48hours.