Calling All Web Series Creators: IFP Has Big Plans for You

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The Screen Forward Labs will be a year-long program and incubator for the creators of serialized projects who “push storytelling forward.” Eight applicants will be selected each year and provided mentorship, six months free residency at the Made in NY Media Center by IFP and $10,000 of services aimed at helping them to develop cutting-edge, serialized work.

This announcement follows IFP’s previously-introduced Screen Forward Series, which is dedicated to exhibiting and supporting week-long theatrical runs for innovative self micro-distributed features. That series will now expand, becoming the first theatre in New York City to World Premiere serialized content beginning March 2015. “Middle Americans” and “Understudies,” both developed in IFP’s Web Storytellers program, will begin their runs in March and April 2015.

The Lab is open to “innovative media creators with story-driven, serialized projects” which can be created on platforms and formats including web series, VR, or app based work (Instagram, Vine, Snapchat, etc.). All projects must have at minimum representative sample visual content (a completed episode, demo, excerpt) already in place, and cannot have already launched their project publicly. Projects in early development (script/pitch stage only) are not eligible for the Labs.

“Our focus is to support all forms of storytelling regardless of platform. We aim to break down such barriers and create an even more vibrant, inclusive community,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director, in a statement. “IFP has always strived to offer a unique, immersive experience to our artists. We are there every step of the way incubating, developing, marketing and helping to build audiences and exhibiting new work.”

Applications go live on March 17 at ifp.org. The deadline for applying is May 1.

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