OSN and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) have announced the Writers Room mentorship program winners today.

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Launched in May 2023, the program entailed the incubation of projects until the development of a fully-fledged limited series and provided mentorship support and input from specialists and experts during and in-between residencies.

The Writers Room aspires to create a framework for series writing in the region by providing a quintessential ‘writers’ room’ method that allows for peer-to-peer learning and participation in the creative process.

“The Writers’ Room initiative marks a turning point for Arab series creators,” said Rima Mismar, Executive Director of the Arab Funds for Arts and Culture, in a press statement. “With the invaluable support of OSN, we aim to create a nurturing environment for emerging talents, bridge gaps in series development, and cultivate a community of storytellers. It’s not only a testament to the creative vibrancy of storytellers across the Arab world but also a promise of the profound impact these narratives will have.”

Winners of the Writers Room Program

The program saw over 276 submissions, making it a hard task for the jury, which includes writer Yam Machahdi, and directors Hichcam Lasri, Amin Dora, and Mariam Abou Ouf, to select the finest entries. Ultimately, six projects were selected as the winners, and they are as follows:

  • ‘The Day of Your Meeting’ by Rida Benazzouza
  • ‘The Art of Surviving’ by Tamer Mohammad Abdulhamid and Noha Hassan Hussien
  • ‘Polaroid’ by Basant Ghonimy
  • ‘Men Home La Hon’ (Plan B) by Marie-Louise Elia, Julien Kobersy, and Jean-Claude Boulos
  • ‘Dyouf’ by Saleh Saadi
  • ‘How to find love in 10 steps’ (Guide for Single Men) by Mostafa Youssef and Fatma Abed

Winners will receive OSN’s right to a first look at their projects and the opportunity of potentially being selected for further development beyond the residency program.

OSN and AFAC plan to continue the program this year as well, with a series of three residences planned for February, May, and July 2024, led by Writers Room mentors director and screenwriter Bassem Breche and screenwriter and producer Maha El Wazir.

Mufaddal Fakhruddin
Mufaddal Fakhruddin

Mufaddal Fakhruddin has been writing about games and technology for the past 15 years. He has lost count as to how many reviews he has written over the years, but he is sure headphone reviews make up at least 70% of that.

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