A residential mentoring experience for emerging independent screen-
writers of India
Who is it for?
The Process
Writers ready with a script idea and a detailed outline, looking for feedback to refine their scripts. Rewrite Screenwriter's Residency
A guided writing experience to arrive at a refined version of a screenplay relying on interpersonal conversations with a personal mentor.
"An electrifying experience to be surrounded by such diverse talent. Rewrite provided a safe space for the participants and mentors to have vulnerable discussions."
Atika Chohan
Mentor, Rewrite 1.1
Timeline
01
Applications Open
2024
03
Announcement of Selection
TBA
02
Application Deadline
TBA
04
Residency Dates
TBA
Selection Criteria
01
Novel Ideas
02
Progressive Themes
03
New Approach to Writing
Motivation to Participate
04
Mentors for Rewrite 2.0
Abhijeet Deshpande
Director-Writer-Actor
Abhijeet Deshpande is an award winning Writer and Director who has won accolades for his written work as well as his directorial films. A product of FTII, Abhijeet started his career with writing Marathi blockbusters and critically acclaimed films like Nattsamrat which changed the grammar of Marathi Industry. He has also written successful OTT series such Breathe 1 & Breathe 3. Abhijeet debuted as a director with his first film “Ani Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar” a blockbuster Marathi drama about the first superstar of Marathi theatre. Apart from working on various writing assignments, he has been mentoring writers and students over the years.
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Pubali Chaudhuri
Screenwriter
Pubali Chaudhuri is a graduate of the Screenplay Writing department of the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) and is best known as the screenwriter for Rock On (National Film Award for Best Hindi Film in 2008), Kai Po Che (Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay in 2014) and Rock On II. She has served as Mentor and Honorary H.O.D at the Screenplay Writing Department at FTII and has previously been a faculty member of the Screenwriting department at Whistling Woods International Ltd. More recently Pubali has directed and produced an indie short film ‘Chithi’/ The Letter which premiered at the New York Indian Film Festival in 2023.
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Ridham Jahve
Director
Ridham Janve trained as a communication designer before finding his calling in the medium of moving images. His debut film as a writer-director-producer, The Gold-Laden Sheep and the Sacred Mountain, featured at leading international film festivals and won several awards. Apart from making films, he writes, paints and sculpts, pushing the boundaries of form and often landing in unexplored territories.
Mentors for Rewrite 1.1
Ashish Mehta
Screenwriter, Story Consultant
Ashish Mehta's recent projects include the forthcoming Amazon mystery-drama series Hush Hush directed by Tanuja Chandra, and an untitled horror feature by Bishal Dutta. He has worked for 8+ years as a script reader and story consultant, covering screenplays for Spec Scout, Slated, and RSVP/Ronnie Screwvala, among other clients in the US, UK, and India. He has also served as an Additional Producer for the critically acclaimed short film Sisak, directed by Faraz Arif Ansari.
Gurvinder Singh
Director
Gurvinder Singh is an Indian film director. He is best known for his Punjabi language films Anhe Ghore Da Daan, and Chauthi Koot (The Fourth Direction) which premiered at Venice and Cannes Film Festival, respectively. His recent, Adh Chanani Raat, is the third film in his Punjabi-language trilogy. Gurvinder is an alumnus of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.
Atika Chohan
Screenwriter
Widely known for penning Bollywood’s most progressive, inclusive, and unflinching stories, screenwriter Atika Chohan won immense critical acclaim for co-writing Chapaak, a film based on the life of acid attack survivor, Laxmi. Her stellar work also includes ‘Margarita with a straw’ (2015)” ‘Waiting’ (2016) and ‘Guilty’ (2020) with MWAS bagging a National Award among many other laurels.
Picture Courtesy: Tejinder Singh Khamkha
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Tushar Paranjape
Film Writer
Tushar Paranjape is a screenwriting alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. His first feature film as a writer was the critically acclaimed Marathi film ‘Killa’ (The Fort) directed by Mr. Avinash Arun which had won the Crystal Bear award at Berlin International Film Festival (2014) and a national award for best Marathi film (2015). He was also the creative director of the Marathi feature film ‘Picasso’ (2020) directed by Mr. Abhijeet.
Mentors for Rewrite 1.2
Aastha Tiku
Film Writer
Aastha Tiku is the writer of the Vidya Balan starrer, SHERNI (2021). A film about tiger conservation and human-animal conflict, the film received rave reviews for its sensitive depiction of the subject in one of a kind ecological fiction genre. Currently based in Mumbai, Aastha is the co-founder of Critical Mass Films where she develops feature film projects.
Ajitpal Singh
Director
Ajitpal Singh is a self-taught filmmaker living in Mumbai. His first feature film, Fire in the Mountains, premiered at Sundance Film Festival in the world cinema dramatic competition. Tabbar has topped most of the Indian list of best series from 2021, and it was at number five in the Variety magazine’s list of best International series of 2021. Earlier, his short film Rammat Gammat won an award at the prestigious Oberhausen International Short film festival in 2018.
Bikas Mishra
Screenwriter-Director
Bikas Mishra is an award winning screenwriter-director known for his debut feature Chauranga that won Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and was declared Best Indian Feature at Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI) in 2014. Bikas, currently a Global Media Makers (GMM) fellow of Film Independent, Los Angeles, is a recipient of the prestigious Hubert Bals Fund for his upcoming project.
How to Apply for Rewrite 2.0
1 / Fill out the application form that includes:
Your Introduction
Story Logline
Short Synopsis
Long Synopsis
Beat Sheet
Character Details
Story Setup
Writer's Statement
Note: You can request for Scholarship explaining the circumstances.
2 / Share not more than two past works as a writer and/or filmmaker.
3 / Application fee
Join as an Observer!
A chance for aspiring writers to observe the proceedings and learn from the various works in progress.
As an observer, you will:
Attend all group sessions on scriptwriting.
Be a keen observer of the process of constant feedback and revisions that the writers and mentors go through.
You need not have previous experience or ongoing work to attend.
Additionally, you reside at the venue and enjoy amazing food and stay!
Writers
Rewrite
Screenwriter's
Residency
Mentors
Observers
Fee for Rewrite 2.0
Observer
INR 50,000/-
Writer
INR 45,000/-
Pay What You Can Model:
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The idea is to make the residency inclusive and not let the fee be a deterrent for emerging writers from diverse backgrounds. For this reason, we have adopted the Pay What You Can model.
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We would like to carry forward the Pay What you Can basis for years to come. For this to be a sustainable model, would encourage participants capable of paying the ideal fee in full, the ones in need of scholarship will be evaluated on the basis of their Request for Scholarship column in their application.
Our Ask:
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All works submitted should be registered.
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Credit to rewrite residency and the mentors for each mentored script is mandatory.
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Commitment to general sense of decorum during the stay.
The fee includes:
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Expenses for boarding and lodging at the residency venue in Jaipur city, three veg meals a day of excellent quality, mentoring and operations fee.
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A well-maintained double occupancy room on a shared basis. Single room available on request at an additional fixed cost on the basis of availability.
