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 open now and the deadline is midday (12pm) on Friday 27th November.
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
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
Feb-March 2026 - Treatment Development sessions
19th-24th March 2026 - Script Sample Residency
Mid April 2026 - Pitch Showcase
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 close at midday on 27th November 2025.
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.
We will run a Zoom Q&A for applicants to ask questions about the lab on Friday 14th November at 1-2pm so if you’d like to attend this please email us to request a place.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch at gatecrasherslab@gmail.com