HamptonsFilm, home of Hamptons International Film Festival, has announced the selected fellows, screenplays, and mentors for the 25th edition of its annual Screenwriters Lab, which will take place April 4 to 6.
The three selected screenplays for 2025’s Lab are “Lullaby” by Aliza Brugger, “Halloween 1999” by Keaton Ventura, and “The Mirex” by Pepi Ginsberg. The Lab pairs rising screenwriters with established screenwriters, directors, and creative producers for a weekend of one-on-one mentoring sessions.
“After reviewing this year’s submissions, we were impressed by how these three projects stood apart with their originality and fresh storytelling. We’re also pleased to have three esteemed creative voices to assist in fostering and mentoring the next generation of creative talent,” stated Artistic Director David Nugent.
This year’s mentors include Academy Award-winning producer and Head of Film at Ventureland, Dan Janvey (“Rebuilding,” “Nomadland”), playwright, novelist, and screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes (“Challengers,” “Queer”), and executive producer/showrunner Rachel Shukert (“The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Nine Perfect Strangers”).
HamptonsFilm will also present Pepi Ginsberg for “The Mirex” with the 2025 Melissa Mathison Award. The award was established in 2016 and named for the late, beloved Oscar®-nominated screenwriter, and strives to foster the continued development of female writers in the industry. The recipient will receive access to a casting director and a staged reading of their project in New York City.
For more information on this program, visit the HamptonsFilm website.