top of page

WFTV 2024 Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab cohort of screenwriters revealed

Updated: 3 days ago

 Photo Credit: Mary Wycherley.
Photo Credit: Mary Wycherley.

Women in Film and Television UK has announced the 2024 writers selected for the WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab, sponsored by Miss Scarlet Limited.


The lab, an annual event dedicated to nurturing and empowering female screenwriters, will take place from Monday 30 September to Saturday 5 October 2024 at the Arvon’s centre The Hurst in Shropshire. This year’s programme brings together 13 emerging writers for a week of workshops, mentorship, and industry insight.


The 2024 lab will be led by screenwriter Lisa Holdsworth (Fat Friends, Call the Midwife, Waterloo Road) and producer Carol Harding (Black Ops, The Confessions of Frannie Langton, My Name is Leon).


Additionally, the lab will feature a special guest speaker, writer-director Sally El Hosaini (The Swimmers, My Brother the Devil).


This year’s cohort includes:


  • Alison Rayner

  • Anna Cummins

  • Emily Isaacs

  • Jaimini Jethwa

  • Nikki Williams

  • Noemie Nakai

  • Olivia Ababio

  • Phoebe Yemi Ara

  • Rosalind De Aragues

  • Rosemary Evans

  • Ru Briant

  • Ruth D’Silva

  • Sophie Stemmons


The WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab was established to honour the legacy of the late Kay Mellor OBE, a trailblazing writer, producer, and director who was a fierce advocate for women in the industry.


The lab offers the writers an opportunity to develop their scripts in a focused, supportive environment, with access to leading industry professionals. By the end of the lab, participants will have advanced their projects to a pitch-ready stage and gained the tools and insight to support them in their next step to seek representation or production deals.


Katie Bailiff, CEO of WFTV UK said:


"Kay Mellor’s passion for storytelling and her dedication to supporting women in film and television lives on through this lab, and we’re excited to see what this year’s writers will achieve."

Patty Lenahan Ishimoto of Miss Scarlet Limited said:


“WFTV’s championing of female writers continues to inspire us, and we are committed to supporting this new wave of storytellers as they hone their skills and prepare to make their mark on the industry.”

bottom of page