Authentica Series Lab Seeks African Screenwriters

A New Opportunity for African Screenwriters

The AuthenticA Series Lab is now accepting applications from African screenwriters. Now in its fifth year, this initiative has become a vital platform in an industry that is currently facing significant challenges and instability. The programme aims to provide emerging talent with the resources and support they need to thrive.

This six-month programme is organized by the Realness Institute, a South Africa-based non-profit organization, and is delivered in partnership with The StoryBoard Collective, a Swiss non-profit dedicated to supporting storytellers from underrepresented communities. The collaboration between these two organizations highlights a shared commitment to amplifying diverse voices in the global storytelling landscape.

Programme Structure and Key Milestones

The programme begins with in-person sessions in Ethiopia, marking a new chapter for the lab. Following this, participants will engage in online sessions before moving on to a two-month residency in Geneva, Switzerland. The final phase of the programme culminates in a pitch session at Series Mania in Lille, France.

Each participant will be required to present a pitch deck and a pilot script as part of their final project. Importantly, the rights to the material developed during the programme remain with the individual writers, ensuring their creative ownership.

Series Mania returns as the festival partner for the programme, offering participants the opportunity to pitch their projects to industry decision-makers during the African Series Pitch event in March 2027. This event serves as a crucial platform for connecting African creators with international industry professionals.

Canadian Support and Inclusivity

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) continues its support for the programme, returning for a third consecutive year. As part of this partnership, the CMF will sponsor the participation of one African-Canadian writer in the programme. This sponsorship reflects the fund’s ongoing commitment to investing in Canadian African diaspora storytellers.

Jessica Lea Fleming, Director of Industry Development at the CMF, emphasized the importance of initiatives like AuthenticA. “Programmes like AuthenticA create meaningful opportunities for creators to develop bold, unique stories while building the international relationships that are increasingly essential in today's screen industry,” she said.

Selection Process and Mentorship

The programme will select four writers to participate, with the selection process open to original series projects in any genre. Eligible applicants must be based in Africa or the African diaspora, and the story concept must be set in Africa.

Selected writers will receive mentorship from experienced industry professionals. Selina Ukwuoma, story consultant and director of Writing Programmes, and Mehret Mandefro, creative producer and managing director of the Realness Institute, will guide the cohort throughout the programme.

Ukwuoma highlighted the value of the lab. “The lab offers writers a rare opportunity to take creative risks. It gives them the confidence to trust their most audacious ideas and shape them into series with real craft, rigour and clarity,” she said.

Mandefro added, “Giving writers the time and space to bring their boldest ideas at a time when the industry is so unstable is the best way we know how to meet this moment.”

Industry Expertise and Guest Speakers

The programme also features a range of guest speakers who share their insights and professional journeys with the participants. Past contributors have included notable figures such as Anthony Q. Farrell, Layla Swart, Aoife Lennon-Ritchie, Sameer Gardezi, and Pauline Fischer.

Laure de Peretti de la Rocca, Director of The StoryBoard Collective, expressed her belief in the programme’s mission. “This programme reflects what we believe in: backing bold storytelling from voices the industry hasn't made enough room for," she said. “Partnering for this lab, and hosting the AuthenticA writers in Geneva at the StoryBoard House, is how we put that belief into action.”

Francesco Capurro, Forum director at Series Mania, praised the impact of the AuthenticA pitching sessions. “AuthenticA’s pitching sessions have become one of the Forum’s most anticipated highlights. International industry professionals continue to show a strong appetite for distinctive voices emerging from African content, and this is due to the outstanding preparation and mentoring work carried out by the teams at the Realness Institute and StoryBoard Collective. I am already looking forward to discovering the 2027 cohort.”

Call for Applications

The call for applications is currently open and will close on Saturday, 1 August 2026. Interested applicants can find more information on eligibility and application procedures by visiting the official website or emailing submissions@realness.institute.

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