éQuinoxe Europe

The éQuinoxe Europe Screenwriters' Workshop is a unique experience for independent filmmakers. An international jury selects nine talented screenwriters per Workshop (once in Spring, once in Autumn). During these one-week Workshops, the screenwriters meet in one-to-one discussions with nine advisors - internationally known and experienced writers, directors and producers - from all over the world. At the end of the Workshops, a one-day Master Class with a renowned writer will be held for the workshop participants and the local film community.

Thanks to an agreement between éQuinoxe Europe e.V. and FOCAL, one screenwriter living in Switzerland or Swiss screenwriter living abroad can participate in each Workshop. The candidates must have a minimum of one produced feature length scripts. Screenplays are recommended to be at an advanced stage of development (third draft) and have a producer attached to the project.

On the last day of the Workshop, the producers of the projects are invited to take part in an extensive wrap-up discussion about the script with the screenwriter and three advisors.

"In the éQuinoxe program, I met the most professional, experienced, humorous, strict, and constructive advisers who any author could dream to have as sparing partners."
Petra Volpe

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Application material and selection process

• Script for the cinema (3rd draft, no more than 135 pages)
• CVs of writer and producer
• Motivation letter

The application material has to be sent to info@focal.ch which pre-selects two projects per Workshop. For this preselection, the scripts may be submitted in French, German or English. The two projects (and some additional application material) must then be delivered in English or German for the international jury, which will select one of the projects at the end of April. The selected project must be translated into English for the Workshop itself.