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1497
1497 Features Lab
2023
Reads in Coverfly
Active Since 2020
The 1497 Features Lab is designed to elevate and develop screenplays by writers of South Asian descent while providing career support.
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About

1497 is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting and uplifting talent of South Asian descent to challenge their historical exclusion from and underrepresentation in the American film and television industry. Our name signifies the last year that the area now known as South Asia (consisting of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) was free from colonization.
The 1497 Features Lab is designed to elevate and develop screenplays by writers of South Asian descent, while providing career support. We want to empower writers in the South Asian diaspora to write whatever stories they feel compelled to tell, unbounded by genre, cultural content, geographic location, or any other stereotypical expectation. Then we want to challenge the gatekeepers in the American film and television industry to bring those stories to light.

We believe in a holistic approach to foster writers' creative and career journeys. As a result, the selected Mentees will move through a multi-tiered process in the 1497 Features Lab:

  • Script Development
  • Mentorship
  • Connecting with Industry


Eligibility

In order to be considered for the 2023 Lab, applicants must:
-be of South Asian descent
-be 18 years of age or older at the time of application
-be eligible to be in the United States for the duration of the Lab
-have a completed draft of a narrative feature screenplay with an anticipated budget less than $5 million


Selection Process

-Round 1: all submissions will be blinded, and the Artistic Statement, Script Synopsis, Logline, and first 10 pages will be read and scored by at least 2 members of the Round 1 Selection Committee.

-Round 2: Semifinalists' submissions will be unblinded, and the Artistic Statement, Script Synopsis, Logline, and first 10 pages will be read and scored by at least 2 members of the Round 2 Selection Committee.

-Round 3: 10 Finalists' submissions and full drafts will be read and scored by 5 members of the Round 3 Selection Committee and the 3 Co-Founders of 1497, while Finalists participate in interviews via zoom with members of Team 1497. All Finalists will receive feedback from those who read and scored their scripts, regardless of whether or not they're chosen to be a Mentee.

-THREE MENTEES will be selected for the 2023 Lab, which will be a fully in-person retreat October 18-23, 2023 in Malibu, California, USA.

Benefits

  • Script Development: Every Mentee's script will undergo a rigorous development cycle during the Lab, consisting of feedback from multiple perspectives (from the four members of their Pod) as well as guidance from a Script Consultant who focuses on the emotional journey of the screenplay. Adrienne Weiss was the Script Consultant for the 2021 and 2022 Labs.

  • Mentorship: New this year, every Mentee will be assigned a Pod (comprised of an established filmmaker Mentor, an experienced producer, an industry representative, and a 1497 Features Lab alum) with whom they can continue interrogating their scripts. These Pods will help recognize gaps in the Mentees' script while offering advice and insight to launch or further the Mentees' careers. Past Mentors were Gurinder Chadha, Aneesh Chaganty, Maryam Keshavarz, Deepa Mehta, Nisha Ganatra, and Minhal Baig. Mentees will also have the opportunity to participate in masterclasses and attend seminars on various professional development topics.

  • Connecting with Industry: A few months following the Lab, all Mentees and Lab Alums will have the opportunity to participate in a daylong Pitch Day, where they will pitch their films to a slate of producers, financiers, and other industry professionals.

  • Lab Costs: Since the 2023 Lab will be an intensive retreat, 1497 will reimburse 50% of airfare (round trip, economy class) and cover 100% of all accommodations, food, and other costs from the moment Mentee lands at the airport to attend the Lab to the moment Mentee arrives back at the airport after the Lab ends. In addition, Lab alums whose screenplays are subsequently produced are required to include 1497 in a credit line and logo placement in the end credits and provide a producer fee. This fee is tied to the production budget on a sliding scale and will contribute to 1497's ongoing work to support new generations of emerging South Asian filmmakers. Visit our FAQ page for more details.

2023 Finalists on Coverfly

See Other Placements

Announcements

Aug 13th
Finalists
Sep 22nd
Mentees

Rules

At the program's request, Coverfly will automatically remove your title page for you if you include one when submitting to this program.

  1. Screenplays entered must:

    1. Be submitted in PDF form and fit all standard screenplay format guidelines.

    2. Be owned and created solely by the writer or writing team listed and have the appropriate intellectual property rights reserved and attached.

    3. Be written in English.

  2. Writer must be 18 years of age or older at the time of application submission. The Features Lab will take place at a location in the continental United States and the writer(s) must be able to attend the full retreat in person. Any Visa, vaccination, and/or other legal travel requirements will be the sole responsibility of the writer(s). 

  3. 1497 claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remain with the original rights holder(s).

  4. Screenplays entered may be in any genre or combination of genres. All will be treated equally and read by an unbiased slate of Selection Committee members. The scripts should adhere to the mission of 1497 which is to support and uplift talent of South Asian descent to challenge their historical exclusion in the American film and television industry.

  5. Screenplays submitted must not have been previously sold or produced.

  6. For a submission to be valid it must be accompanied with the appropriate payment based on the submission deadlines.

  7. All deadlines are at 11:59pm PST on the date listed. Any deadline alteration or promotion of any kind does not make any entry valid for a refund of any kind.

  8. 1497 reserves the right to delay announcements for any reason. While we never anticipate any delays, such delays will not alter the standing of any screenplay entry and will not qualify an entry for a refund under any circumstance.

  9. By entering a 1497 competition every entrant is agreeing to all the 1497 Terms of Service listed here and FAQ listed on the 1497 website, Coverfly application page, and additional terms agreed upon at checkout. If you disagree with any terms you may not submit to the contest.

  10. By submitting to the 1497 Features Lab you are hereby releasing and holding harmless 1497 or any affiliates from any claims, expenses, and liabilities, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, copyright, libel, trademark infringement, slander, personal property infringement, etc.

  11. All prizes provided by sponsors or mentors are subject to said sponsor or mentor providing the prize and subject to their schedules. 1497 will do everything in its power to collect the prize packages promised, but due to the ongoing pandemic and any other scheduling issues the packages may be subject to delays or changes in scheduling.

  12. Except where prohibited by law, participation in the contest constitutes each entrant’s consent to 1497 and its agents’ and contest sponsor’s use of entrants’ names, likenesses, photographs, and/or personal information for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. All uses of entrants' information are in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

  13.  RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

    1a. In return for participation in the 1497 Features Lab, Lab Alums whose projects are developed in the 1497 Features Lab and subsequently produced are asked to continue the spirit of giving back by contributing to 1497's work to support new generations of emerging South Asian filmmakers:

    i. If the Project is produced for a gross budget equal to or less than $1,500,000, no contribution is due to 1497.

    ii. If the Project is produced for a gross budget between $1,500,001 and $3,000,000, the Owner will make a contribution to 1497 in the amount of $4,500.

    iii. If the Project is produced for a gross budget between $3,000,001 and $5,000,000, the Owner will make a contribution to 1497 in the amount of $7,000.

    iv. If the Project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or exceeds $5,000,001, the Owner will make a contribution to 1497 in the amount of $9,500.

    v. All payments are due within 10 business days of the start of principal photography. Any revenue that is designated to 1497 is directly allocated to the 1497 Features Lab and is used on an annual basis to provide critical support for the Lab and Mentees.

    vi. Additionally, 1497 will receive a credit line and logo placement in the film's end titles, stating "This film was supported by the 1497 Features Lab."

    2a. You agree that you have no obligations to 1497 except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, and that no other obligations, implied or expressed, exist or shall exist or shall be deemed to exist. You agree that even if you submit the Material, 1497 is not obligated to provide feedback to you or any other person or entity regarding the Material, or to recommend you to anyone. 

    3a. 1497 shall have the right, in perpetuity, exercisable by third parties, to use your name and any nickname of yours, and your voice, likeness, and biographical information for promotional or advertising purposes in connection with the 1497 Features Lab, the Material, and the exercise of any and all rights, including but not limited to promotion or advertising of the 1497 Features Lab, and any other of 1497's programs or initiatives and/or general corporate publicity, without additional compensation. 

  14. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THESE CONDITIONS. You agree to release and hold harmless 1497, its subsidiary, parent and affiliated companies, Prize contributors, judges, screenplay readers, Sponsors, Mentors, and any other organizations responsible for administering, advertising or promoting the Contest, and every one of their respective members, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) past and present from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s Entry, participation in the Contest and/or acceptance or use or misuse of Prize; provided however, that such release will not apply to any commercial exploitation of the script by a Released Party in violation of your rights under applicable copyright law; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the 1497.org and its Sponsor, agents and employees from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorney’s fees) relating to an entrant’s participation in the Contest and/or entrant’s use or misuse of Prize. Employees of 1497 and their immediate families are ineligible to participate in this contest. Any such submission will be immediately disqualified. ENTRY TO THIS CONTEST IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED or restricted by any Federal, State or Local law. Voided entries will be refunded. Recipients’ eligibility will be verified before the grant is awarded and the winner may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility.


Please visit our website for further details about 1497 and the 2023 Features Lab - we look forward to reading your application!