FESTIVAL TIME/SCRIPTWRITERS GATHER AT CHELTENHAM STUDIOS

Screenwriters! You are not alone. Even though you may often feel that way. Especially when scrunched over your blank pages.

Everyone who is anyone in scriptwriting has felt - still often feels - that way.

But in reality the brotherhood of scriptwriters is with you every step of the way, suffering equally your very tremors and failures. You just don't know it even though the one thing its members all agree on is that it helps to talk to other writers.

Now everyone has a chance to seek that invigorating solace in spades for four days during the second edition of the unique ScreenWriters' Festival in Cheltenham from July 3rd to 6th.

That’s right,! For once, instead of having their precious scripts thrown back at them or being locked off the set of their own film, writers are invited to be front and centre. Even if this was a Festival without a programme, it would be fun to be there to socialise with other scribes.

But Cheltenham has gone the full monty and put together an astonishing schedule of events. Indeed, if its programme was a film, you wouldn’t believe it.

For example, Harry Potter screenwriter Michael Goldenberg will be on hand to talk about the new little film – twice!

But he will not be alone in popularity. Among the dozens of others giving talks and hanging around the bar are David Thompson, (Head of BBC films); Peter Carlton (Film4); David Hare (mega successful writer); William Nicolson (writer of Gladiator) Christopher Smith (writer/director of Severance); Ed Blum (producer/director of Scenes of a Sexual Nature); Julian Friedmann (THE script agent in London); and various development execs, including Natalie Wreyford (UK Film Council).

In short, the whole package. There are even competitions and pitching sessions!!!

Alone? You! Hardly. Indeed, at the SWF you may be so swamped with choice that you find yourself keeping quiet about your scripts - even fighting people off them - for the first time in your life.

So pack up your laptop and be there. As for practical matters, the four day event is divided into two equal parts, the first devoted to Rising Talent, the second focussing on Professionals. Everyone is welcome for either section or both.

Further details are on the Festival website www.screenwritersfestival.com

ScreenWriters’ Festival Tuesday July 3rd to Friday July 6th, 2007

Filed June 21, 2007.