Following a fall festival tour for her latest feature film, The Animal Project, indie filmmaker and femme extraordinaire, Ingrid Veninger returned to Toronto with a desire to see more fiction features written and directed by Canadian women. On November 18th, 2013 she proposed the idea of a Screenwriting Lab, and received 20 submissions. To be eligible, applicants had to be Canadian, women, with at least one completed feature film.

“When I received the EDA Award for The Animal Project at the Whistler Film Festival from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists,” explains Ingrid, “I decided to take a chance at the podium. I offered a first look at the 6 scripts written in the Femmes Lab, to the first person who stepped up with $6000… The room was stone silent, until Melissa Leo stood up and shouted, “I’ll do it!”. Now, here we are! 6 months later. The bursary from Melissa was shared amongst the Lab participants. We met once a month from January – June. Each month was led by a different Femme.

On June 30th, the 6 scripts were delivered to Melissa Leo. On July 31st, the Femmes are driving to New York, to spend the day with Melissa. After that? Anything could happen.

Some of the filmmakers share about their experience with the pUNK FILMS FEMMES Lab process.

“Writing can be very lonely.  For hours you sit by yourself, staring into a computer screen, sculpting stories in your head. You hope that what comes out on the page will resonate with someone, someday.  For me, the Femmes Lab was like an island in the ocean. Each month I found myself back on land with five beautiful, talented, strong women. We offered support and encouragement to each other so that we could dive back into the lonely, ocean of creation and do it all over again.  It was bliss!” Michelle Latimer (ALIAS, CHOKE).

“Over the course of the six months of the lab, I felt myself transform. In my writing, but also in the rest of my life. I was suddenly standing up for myself more, and also standing up for my ideas. There was a communal strength that I felt when we came together as a group. It allowed me to push myself further and not be afraid to trust my sense of story. I have Ingrid’s vision to thank. I never imagined that bringing a group of women together once a month could create such tremendous impact.” Mars Horodyski (BEN’S AT HOME).

“I have never experienced such a supportive and inspiring development process. The Femmes Lab has empowered me to reach deeper and to write the best screenplay of my career. I feel that my work has moved to the next level and I feel energized to tackle the film industry with new vigor. Ingrid Veninger and Melissa Leo – that you for making this possible.” Danishka Esterhazy (H&G, BLACK FIELD).

With initiatives such as Veninger’s Femmes Lab, and with the support of filmmakers like Melissa Leo, there is some reassurance that we can see more projects developed by women. The film industry can certainly show much improvement in this respect. Hooray to the Veninger, Leo, and the other 5 talented members of the Femmes Lab!!

Michelle Latimer (left) and Ingrid Veninger (right)

*Photos courtesy of GAT PR.