NFDC Invites Applications for WAVES Film Bazaar Screenwriters’ Lab 2026

Annual Screenplay Development Programme to Mentor Indian Screenwriters with Feature-Length Fiction Projects

The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India has invited applications for the WAVES Film Bazaar Screenwriters’ Lab 2026, its annual screenplay development programme for Indian screenwriters working on feature length fiction film projects. The programme is open exclusively to Indian citizens residing in India.

Organised by NFDC in association with WAVES Film Bazaar, the Screenwriters’ Lab seeks to nurture original storytelling by enabling promising writers to strengthen and refine their feature film screenplays under the guidance of renowned script mentors and industry professionals.

Through intensive mentoring and industry interactions, the programme familiarises participants with internationally recognised screenplay development practices and prepares them to effectively pitch their projects to producers, financiers and industry decision-makers from India and across the world.

Eligibility

Applicants are required to fulfil the following criteria:

The programme is open only to Indian citizens residing in India.
Only feature-length fiction film projects are eligible for submission.
The screenplay must be registered with the Screenwriters Association (SWA) or an equivalent recognised body. Unregistered scripts will not be accepted.
An application will be considered complete only upon payment of the non-refundable application fee. No additional fee will be charged for subsequent stages of the Lab.
At the application stage, the screenplay and all dialogues must be submitted in English. The completed film may, however, be produced in any Indian language.
Once submitted, the application form cannot be edited.
Selected participants will be required to sign an Undertaking Statement in person.
The programme comprises three stages. Attendance at all three sessions, as well as participation in WAVES Film Bazaar, is mandatory.

Application Fee and Deadlines

Early Bird Deadline: July 28, 2026 – ₹8,000
Extended Deadline: August 4, 2026 – ₹9,000
Applications will close at 11:59 PM IST on the respective deadline.

Lab Schedule

Session 1 (5 Days): End of August 2026
Session 2 (Online): Mid-October 2026 (Tentative)
Session 3 (5 Days): Before WAVES Film Bazaar
WAVES Film Bazaar: November 20–24, 2026

Interested applicants may refer to the official WAVES Film Bazaar website for detailed eligibility criteria, submission guidelines, and Rules & Regulations.

About the Screenwriters’ Lab

The WAVES Film Bazaar Screenwriters’ Lab is an intensive annual screenplay development programme of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). Through one-on-one mentoring, group sessions and interactions with acclaimed script experts, the Lab supports writers in developing feature-length fiction screenplays while introducing them to internationally recognised screenplay development practices. The programme also prepares participants to present their projects before producers, financiers and industry professionals at WAVES Film Bazaar.

About NFDC

The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, promotes Indian cinema nationally and globally through film development, production, preservation, promotion, training and international collaborations, while supporting emerging talent.