WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab
To spotlight and support emerging female writing talent in film and TV, Women in Film & TV UK hosts an annual WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab.
Applications are now closed.
About the programme
The programme will consist of craft writing masterclasses and workshops led by two course tutors, independent writing time to focus and hone your script and a 1-2-1 session with a tutor to offer project guidance. In addition, across the week there will be evening sessions with special guests from the industry.
This 5-day writers’ lab will be a fully funded opportunity for 13 screenwriters will take place from 15-20 September 2025.
The WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab will be an opportunity for you to work intensely on one script at final draft stage and develop it over the course of the lab to be pitch ready, create a network of peers and industry colleagues, build confidence in your craft and develop your writing voice in a supportive and distraction free environment.
Eligibility Criteria
On this occasion WFTV is defining a writing credit as:
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Any feature-length film or TV project
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Has had professional distribution by a cinema or streamer
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Has been broadcast on TV or online in the English language
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A writing credit for a factual or non-scripted project for writing significant dramatic reconstruction sequences
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International writing credits do count if they are in the English language
For this opportunity we are not considering the following a writing credit:
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Any self-funded project
Terms & Conditions
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Writers who have received bursaries, grants and public funding for projects are eligible to apply.
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Writers who have projects which are currently under option with a contract agreement in place or have received paid development with a production company are not eligible to apply.
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This opportunity is for women and people who identify as women who are currently unrepresented by an Agent or Manager and do not yet have a professionally produced writing credit in film or TV.
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If you receive a film or TV writing credit during the application process or before the Screenwriters’ Lab date your application will no longer be eligible, meaning we can offer this opportunity to another writer.
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You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of your application.
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You must be a permanent/full time resident of the UK, but do not need to have been born in the UK or have UK citizenship.
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We are not accepting co-written scripts or projects. Applications with a co-written script submitted as a writing sample will be disregarded.
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Applications must be made on an individual basis.
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Only one application per person will be accepted, additional submissions will be disregarded.
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Applicants who are represented by an Agent or Manager in another capacity (e.g. Literary Agent) or represented for their work as a Director, Actor or Producer are eligible to apply.
WFTV reserves the right to close applications early for this opportunity.
Meet the former cohorts
2024 Cohort
Hosted at the renowned Arvon’s centre The Hurst in Shropshire. 2024’s programme brought together 13 emerging writers for a week of intensive workshops, mentorship, and industry insight. The lab was led by an outstanding team of tutors: celebrated screenwriter Lisa Holdsworth (Fat Friends, Call the Midwife, Waterloo Road) and seasoned producer Carol Harding (Black Ops, The Confessions of Frannie Langton, My Name is Leon).
With their combined expertise in writing and production, Holdsworth and Harding guided participants through a series of hands-on workshops and one-on-one tutorials, helping bring scripts closer to reality. Additionally, the lab featured a special guest speaker, BAFTA nominated writer-director Sally El Hosaini (The Swimmers, My Brother the Devil) who will share her journey and expertise with the writers.
2023 Cohort
In October 2023 WFTV UK launched its inaugural WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab 2023, sponsored by Miss Scarlet Limited, to spotlight and support emerging female writing talent in the film and TV industry.
Hosted at the Arvon Foundation’s Lumb Bank house located in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, the 5-day writers’ lab programme consisted of craft writing masterclasses and workshops was led by course tutors Lisa Holdsworth (Ackley Bridge, Call the Midwife, Waterloo Road) and Olivia Hetreed (Girl with a Pearl Earring, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Wuthering Heights).
In addition, evening sessions included a conversation with Happy Valley creator and writer Sally Wainwright OBE, and Life in Pictures – a retrospective look at Kay Mellor’s work with Yvonne Francas-Mellor and Gaynor Mellor, Managing Director and Creative Director at Rollem Productions.
About Kay Mellor
Born and bred in Leeds, Kay Mellor was a unique talent in the industry, creating some of the most talked about TV and stage shows in the country. A director, actress and executive producer as well as a writer, Kay was perhaps best known for creating ground-breaking drama series such as Band of Gold and Girlfriends.
Kay was always passionate about mentoring emerging talent – she worked closely with new writers to develop their ideas for television and stage through schemes with the BBC and Leeds Playhouse. Rollem came from her desire to tell real stories, to work with local people and to shine a spotlight on creativity. Rollem continues along the trail she blazed to honour her incredible legacy and ensure the next generation of writing talent get their voices heard.
Kay was awarded the BAFTA Dennis Potter Award in 1997 for Outstanding Writing for Television. She was appointed an OBE in the 2009 Birthday Honours, and in 2014 she was awarded the Writers Guild Award for Outstanding Contribution to Writing. She also received a Fellowship for significant contribution to television from the Royal Television Society in November 2016.
FAQs
Why is a script sample and pitch document required as part of the application process?
This opportunity is for writers who are currently at final draft stage of a script with a developed project idea and are looking to take the next step to achieving their first film or TV screenwriting credit, whether that’s finding representation or pitching your project to a production company.
Over the course of the Lab, writers will be working on and developing one script across the week.
Your script and pitch document will be read by an industry panel and jury to get a sense of your writing style and project idea so the jury can determine whether it is at the right stage to benefit from the opportunity.
What’s the selection process?
All eligible application forms (i.e. those that meet the selection criteria and have complied with the submission requirements) are reviewed by WFTV. Longlisted candidates will then have their scripts read by a panel of industry figures who work in scripted. Applications of shortlisted candidates will then be reviewed by a jury of experienced industry figures who will award the 13 places to writers.
I’m freelance and don’t know my work schedule – what happens if I can’t make the Lab dates?
In order to the most out of the Lab, all writers awarded a place must be available to attend the course for the full five days, 15-20 September.
Of course, we all understand that life gets busy and sometimes work commitments can’t be altered however to make the most of this opportunity candidates must be available to attend the full retreat and we encourage you to keep the dates pencilled in your diary.
What happens if I receive a screenwriting credit in Film or TV before the Lab takes place?
If you receive a film or TV writing credit during the application process or before the Screenwriters’ Lab date your application will no longer be eligible, meaning we can offer this opportunity to another writer who is looking to achieve their first film or TV writing credit.
Can WFTV accommodate access requirements?
At WFTV we’re keen to ensure that all our programmes are accessible for everyone. If you have any access requirements, please let us know within the application and we will happily accommodate you. Please contact admin@wftv.org.uk if you’d like to discuss in more detail.
Do I have to pay a fee to take part in the Screenwriters’ Lab?
All places on the Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab are fully funded.
For the opportunity to be financially accessible to all candidates, a discretionary bursary is available for limited contributions towards travel and access if this is a barrier to attending.
Is it possible to save my answers on the Typeform application form?
Unfortunately it isn’t. Please note that we strongly recommend that you write and save your responses to the application questions on a word processor such as Microsoft Word, Pages or a Google Document first before copying and pasting them into our Typeform application form.
Do I have to be a member of WFTV to apply?
No. You do not have to be a member to apply. If you are awarded a place for the Lab we would expect you to become a member by the time the programme starts in September.
Key Terms for entering the 2025 WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab:
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This opportunity is for female and non-binary screenwriters who are unrepresented by an Agent or Manager and do not yet have a professionally produced writing credit in film or TV.
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If you receive a film or TV writing credit during the application process or before the Screenwriters’ Lab date your application will no longer be eligible, meaning we can offer this opportunity to another writer who is looking to achieve their first film or TV writing credit.
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You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of your application.
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You must be a permanent/full time resident of the UK, but do not need to have been born in the UK or have UK citizenship.