Climate Spring’s development lab returns
Climate Spring’s The Hot House development lab is returning, with screenwriters encouraged to craft “stories of the climate transition.”
Last year’s iteration of the scheme received almost 500 submissions, with successful projects shared with a range of production companies and industry stakeholders, with several active negotiations currently underway for further development.
The project is open to long-form TV and feature film projects; entrants are asked to write engaging and relatable climate stories set in a near future without fossil fuels and polluting practices. The initiative is run in partnership with BBC Writers and Film London.
For this year’s The Hot House development lab, six final projects will be selected to each receive an award of £1,000 and three months of development support. This includes editorial input from Climate Spring on how to successfully weave climate into the storylines, advice from industry partners on how best to best develop the projects as well as on how to pitch the project.
At the end of the lab, the projects will be showcased to producers and will be considered for development funding from Climate Spring, in partnership with production companies.
Applications open today, 22nd April 2024 at 12pm, and will close on 30th June 2024 at midnight.
Climate Spring will hold an information webinar in May to provide more information about the creative brief and application process.
To find out more about The Hot House development lab 2024, visit: https://www.climate-spring.org/latest-categories/opportunities.
Josh Cockcroft, director at Climate Spring, said: “We're delighted to bring back The Hot House development lab, this year with a focus on stories of the climate transition. There is an ever-increasing demand from screenwriting talent to tell the greatest story of our time; the story of the climate transition.”
Jess Loveland, head of new writing for BBC Drama Commissioning and BBC Writers, added: “BBC Writers is thrilled to be partnering with Climate Spring again on the second iteration of the Hot House Lab. The inaugural lab last year uncovered some incredible climate-focused stories and storytellers and we can’t wait to see what this new call-out brings.”
Sustainability manager at Film London, Laurence Johnson, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to once again partner with Climate Spring. After the success of last year’s The Hot House: Shorts competition, we’re looking forward to seeing how long-form screen content can help open up our cultural discourse around climate. While the current challenges posed by the climate crisis are clear, this is a unique opportunity to help inform and shape a more environmentally and socially connected future.”
Photo: There Will Come Soft Rains, winner of Climate Spring's The Hot House: Shorts competition 2023; image credit: Ella Dowling Gubb @elladowlingphotos.
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