Having completed its inaugural screenwriting session, Maisha will be holding its second Screenwriters’ Lab and first Directors’ Lab in Kampala, Uganda in August 2006. The deadline for receiving all Lab applications is February 1st, 2006. All application information is located on the Maisha website, www.maishafilmlab.com. Citizens and residents of Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania can apply for the program along with citizens of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Created by acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair), Maisha operates under the belief that if we don’t tell our stories, no one will.

The Screenwriters’ Labs are for intermediary writers who are working on feature film projects. It is an annual 10-day workshop providing participants with an opportunity to work intensively on their feature film scripts under the guidance of experienced visiting mentors. The selected screenwriters each have individual sessions with the mentors, during which they work on revising their screenplays. In addition, participants attend seminars and screenings led by the mentors to refine their storytelling and screenwriting skills.

The Directors’ Labs will also be at an intermediary level for those who are working on developing feature films. The annual Directors’ lab will span 15 days, consisting of informatory sessions on filmmaking, marketing, and distribution in addition to each participant being able to direct the shooting of select scenes from their feature film scripts. Visiting mentors with various specialties- production, direction, cinematography, and editing- will guide the students in preparing and shaping their projects. The goal of the Maisha directors’ lab is to allow the participants to learn the characteristics of a successful director- as opposed to teaching technical minutia.

For the participants, Maisha will cover costs associated with participation, including: travel, accommodations and meals as well as all production materials for the Directors’ Lab.

The Maisha Advisory Committee includes Sofia Coppola, Raoul Peck, Peter Chappell, Karen Cooper, Lydia Dean Pilcher, Spike Lee, Sabrina Dhawan, Liz MacLennan, Mumbi Kaigwa, Amandina Lihamba, Eric Kabera, and Michelle Satter. This group of internationally recognized directors, artists, and academics has been instrumental in supporting Maisha’s mission.

Maisha is financially supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, OSI Development Foundation, the Pannonia Foundation and Home Box Office (HBO). We also receive in kind sponsorship from Moonstone International Screen Labs, the Criterion Collection, Azur, and naomba.com.