Out of Africa: AuthenticA Series Lab Invites Applications From African Screenwriters

The AuthenticA Series Lab, a screenwriting programme powered by South Africa-based non-profit Realness Institute, has opened applications for its fifth edition.

The six-month programme, supported by the Canada Media Fund and the Series Mania Forum, is delivered in partnership with The StoryBoard Collective, a Swiss non-profit organisation dedicated to creating space for storytellers from underrepresented communities.

AuthenticA is open to all African screenwriters. The six-month programme, which will consist of a combination of online and in-person sessions, is set to take place from 17 September 2026 – 27 March 2027:

• Residency in Ethiopia: 17 – 24 September 2026
• Work from home with weekly online meetings: 25 September – 12 December 2026
• Break: 15 December 2026 – 2 January 2027
• Work from home with weekly online meetings: 5 – 14 January 2027
• Residency in Switzerland: 19 January – 19 March 2027
• Residency at Series Mania: 20 – 27 March 2027

AuthenticA will give four African screenwriters the unique opportunity to develop original episodic stories across all genres. Throughout the development process, they will be supported by Selina Ukwuoma, Director of Writing Programmes, and Mehret Mandefro, Managing Director and Creative Producer. At the end of the programme, each participant will deliver a Pitch Deck, a pilot script and a Bible of international standards. The rights to the material developed through the programme will remain with each writer.

Each of the four participants will receive a monthly stipend of 1,250 EUR for the duration of the programme. This is to help cover living expenses. All travel and accommodation for the Ethiopia, Swiss and Series Mania legs of the programme will be covered by the programme. Selected participants have to arrange and cover the costs of their visas and travel insurance.

Eligibility

• Open to all African nationals
• Age requirement: 18+
• Writers with experience in either film or television
• If the writer is part of a writing team, only the applicant will be able to participate if selected
• The story concept must be set in Africa, and the language of the produced work must be in English and/or a local language
• The application form must be completed in English
• The programme will be delivered in English. Therefore, applicants must be able to speak English
• Open to all genres
• No producer/production company attachment is necessary
• Participants must be willing to commit to 8 days in person in Ethiopia, 2 months in Switzerland, one week in France and attend the online sessions from home.

Deadline for applications is 1 August 2026. Find out more about AuthenticA and apply here.