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Paestum, Italy

HerArts Film Lab

Empowering Women's Voices in Cinema

Call now open for
the Spring 2026 edition!Deadline: February 20, 2026.

EVENT DATES
Monday, April 20 - Sunday, November 26, 2026
EVENT DATES

Monday, April 20 - Sunday, November 26, 2026

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About the Lab

Believing in the importance of women’s presence in cinema, their stories and their active participation in the creation of the film industry, we have designed a workshop to support and empower their voices. HerArts Lab is meant to serve as a platform for exchanging thoughts, stories and ideas, nurturing female talent and giving it exposure to the international film community.

Event Address

Via Seliano n° 11 - 84047 - Paestum (Salerno) - ITALY -

Time

From April 20 to April 26, 2026



HerArts Film Lab is a week-long residential development workshop, set in Paestum, Italy, focused on content created by women and non-binary filmmakers.

The workshop is addressed to female and non-binary writer-directors from all over the world interested in developing their feature film and TV series projects in a friendly and supportive environment under the guidance of experienced mentors.

The working language of the workshop in English.


The Lab is addressed to women and non-binary screenwriters and writer-directors working on a fiction feature film or TV series.
Applicants should have a proven track record, i.e. short films, documentaries or features that traveled to international film festivals or that have been distributed in theatres or online. There are no restrictions on genre or subject matter.

Since English is the working language of the lab, good knowledge of written and spoken English is required.

  • The opportunity to work intensively on your story idea and treatment with the support and mentorship of established professionals during group and one-on-ones sessions;
  • An intensive, immersive, communal experience of working in a supportive circle of like-minded female creatives from around the world;

  • Dedicated writing time;

  • Online follow-up session 2 months after the end of the residential Lab;

  • Participation in additional activities: film screenings, case studies and discussions on cinema and storytelling;

  • Being part of a larger international HerArts film community;

  • Pleasures of Southern Italy, including delicious food, beautiful scenery and history.

The Lab is project-based, which means that during the week we focus on helping participants in developing scripts & treatments of their feature films or TV series pilots. Each edition we invite 8-10 projects from around the world. The participants work in groups, have one-to-one meetings with mentors and time for individual writing.

Since group discussions are an important part of the Lab, participants must be prepared to read other writers' scripts ahead of the Lab and share feedback on their work.

In the evenings, there are additional activities such as screenings, talks and discussions.

Each day is structured around meals which are a great opportunity to continue conversations started earlier in the day, and to enjoy the fantastic food and drink of Casa Seliano.

Optional activities such as a visit to Paestum Archeological Park or the beach are also possible.


 


The ninth edition of HerArts Film Lab will take place between April 20-26, 2026 (arrival on April 19, departure on April 27).

 

The Lab is set in the 18th century estate of Azienda Seliano in Paestum, in the beautiful Italian region of Campania, around 80 km south of Naples. The nearest airports are: Salerno-Amalfi Coast and Naples International Airport (Aeroporto di Napoli Capodichino).

SPRING 2026 MENTORS:

Teresa Cavina

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Teresa Cavina

Festival Programmer and Script Consultant

Teresa Cavina is a festival programmer, curator, script and project analyst. She started her activity at the Venice film festival (1989-1997). In 1998 she moved to the Locarno Film Festival, which she co-directed from 2001 to 2005. In 2006 she launched the Rome Film Festival, working as a Co-Artistic Director until 2008.

Susanna Styron

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Helena Medina

Writer and script consultant.

EMMY-nominated HELENA MEDINA (UK) started her career as a screenwriter at NBC in New York. Since then, she has created and written numerous series and miniseries that have won international awards and nominations.

Teresa Cavina

Learn More

Teresa Cavina

Festival Programmer and Script Consultant

Teresa Cavina is a festival programmer, curator, script and project analyst. She started her activity at the Venice film festival (1989-1997). In 1998 she moved to the Locarno Film Festival, which she co-directed from 2001 to 2005. In 2006 she launched the Rome Film Festival, working as a Co-Artistic Director until 2008.

Susanna Styron

Learn More

Helena Medina

Writer and script consultant.

EMMY-nominated HELENA MEDINA (UK) started her career as a screenwriter at NBC in New York. Since then, she has created and written numerous series and miniseries that have won international awards and nominations.

Pricing

Participation Fee

EARLY BIRD FEE FOR APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
BEFORE OR ON FEBRUARY 5, 23:59 CET IS € 2190.
REGULAR FEE IS € 2450.

  • The fee covers:
  • - 7 days of training, talks, meetings & consultations with our mentors;
  • - accommodation for 8 nights in a single room with ensuite bathroom;
  • - delicious breakfast, lunch AND dinner throughout your stay;
  • - transfer between Salerno and Paestum;
  • - online follow-up 2/3 months after the Lab.

  • *Please note travel expenses are not included.

  • **We encourage participants to apply for financial support with their national or regional funding bodies. Our participants have been awarded financial aid by the British Council, Screen Ireland, Swiss Films and the Polish Film Institute, among others.
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PHOTO GALLERY

TESTIMONIALS FROM 2022 HERARTS FILM LAB PARTICIPANTS:

The idea of a workshop for female filmmakers is critical, especially in this phase of learning to take my story to the next level and bring my project to life because it creates a space that feels safe to explore what the story is about. I’ve never had an experience or space like this, and I feel supported, not at all in a way that’s related to my gender but as a creator.
GG HAWKINS
project “Murder Podcast”
I feel like there is an inherent way that women communicate with each other that puts emotion, at least in some way, at the forefront, and that’s not to say that it’s "emotional" but that there’s care at what’s said. So I find it’s important that we create spaces where women and non-binary folk are able to come together to have these sorts of dialogues and feel safe doing so.
PAIGE WOOD
project “Haute to Death”
It was just a really wonderful, beneficial experience because it felt like everyone was emotionally invested in one another’s work and really wanting to see everyone succeed and progress as the lab went on, and to find clarity in our projects.
BROOKE SEBOLD
project “Interspace”
Being here really reminds you that storytelling is a human experience that everyone can take part in and that storytelling is universal, it transcends language and borders. You can be in a room filled with a global presence – people from Peru to Germany to the United States and Italy – and really just talk about what it means to be human.
ALIK TAMAR BARSOUMIAN
project “Song of Sorrow”
We got so much out of that week because not only were we working with the mentors but we were also talking with one another, and in this beautiful space to write and think. And then all the other things like having screenings of our works and screenings of other female filmmakers’ work and Q&A’s with them – all of that were such wonderful additional activities that I haven’t had at other labs.
ELIZABETH CHATELAIN
project “Løvset's Manoeuvre”
For me it’s been the perfect trip: being able to walk and promenade and see this amazing place, which is so beautiful, in Italy, with these ruins around you, feeling inspired, and at the same time to work on your project.
ENRICA PEREZ
project “On Top of the Cliff”
My favorite part of the workshop was: to be in this wonderful surrounding that helps to free your mind, the food, and the openness of everyone.
FRANZISKA SCHÖNENBERGER
project “Paper Plane”

Application Form


How to participate?
 

Fill in the APPLICATION FORM below, and send the required documents as a single pdf attachment to: herartslab@gmail.com by February 5 (early bird) or February 20 (regular deadline).

Materials required for a feature-length film project:

  1. SYNOPSIS of the project (1 page max);
  2. TREATMENT (5-10 pages);
  3. MOTIVATION LETTER explaining why you want to attend the Lab and what you hope to get out of it (1 page);
  4. YOUR CV with filmography (up to 2 pages);
  5. LINKS to previous work (up to 2 links);
  6. MOOD BOARD (if available);
  7. VIDEO PRESENTATION (2-3 mins) in which you introduce us to your story and explain why you need to tell it. The quality doesn't matter, don't edit, just shoot with your phone and charm us with your story!

Materials required for TV series projects:
  1. SYNOPSIS of the project (1 page max);
  2. MINI-BIBLE (3-5 pages), including: concept, characters, world and arc of the season, and PILOT OUTLINE (1-3 pages);
  3. MOTIVATION LETTER explaining why you want to attend the Lab and what you hope to get out of it (1 page);
  4. YOUR CV with filmography (up to 2 pages);
  5. LINKS to previous work (up to 2 links);
    MOOD BOARD (if available);
  6. VIDEO PRESENTATION (2-3 mins) in which you introduce us to your story and explain why you need to tell it. The quality doesn't matter, don't edit, just shoot with your phone and charm us with your story!

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview at the beginning of March.

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