About Rawi Screenwriters Lab
In Arabic, the word راوي (Rawi) carries more than one meaning. It refers to the storyteller, the person who carries and shares tales, and to the water bearer, the person who sustains life.
These meanings are at the heart of Rawi Screenwriters Lab: a place where stories are nurtured, voices are supported, and screenwriters are given the space to deepen their creative vision.
Founded in 2005 by the Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC), Rawi Screenwriters Lab is one of the region’s long-standing script development programs for Arab screenwriters. For two decades, the Lab has supported writers developing feature-length narrative screenplays, offering a focused environment for mentorship, reflection, and creative growth.
Rawi is not a general training workshop or a basic screenwriting course. It is an advanced creative and project-development Lab for writers who already have a complete screenplay and are ready to engage seriously with feedback, rewriting, and artistic development.
Rawi’s Mission
As a flagship program of the RFC, Rawi Screenwriters Lab contributes to the RFC’s mission of supporting Arab cinema, strengthening regional talent, and creating professional development opportunities for filmmakers across the Arab world.
Rawi focuses on empowering emerging Arab screenwriters to develop compelling, original feature-length narrative screenplays through mentorship, creative exchange, and artistic rigor.
The Lab aims to support writers in refining their cinematic voice, strengthening their relationship to the material, and developing screenplays with artistic depth, clarity, and international potential.
Rawi’s History
Rawi Screenwriters Lab was launched in 2005 by the RFC, in collaboration with the Sundance Institute, which provided support and guidance during the Lab’s formative years.
Over time, Rawi developed its own regional model while remaining rooted in mentorship, creative dialogue, and the craft of storytelling.
Since its launch, the Lab has supported more than 160 Arab screenwriters from across the region. Many Rawi alumni and projects have gone on to receive funding, participate in international development platforms, premiere at major festivals, and contribute to the contemporary Arab film landscape.
See Previous Rounds for more details.
What Rawi Offers
The Lab takes place once a year in a retreat-style setting in Jordan. Up to eight screenwriting projects are selected for each edition.
Throughout the Lab, Fellows take part in intensive one-on-one sessions with Creative Advisors, informal conversations, and group gatherings that encourage creative exchange, reflection, and community.
One-on-One Mentorship
Each Fellow receives personalized feedback from experienced Arab and international Creative Advisors, including screenwriters, story editors, filmmakers, and development professionals.
Creative Immersion
The retreat-style setting gives Fellows time and space to step away from daily pressure and focus deeply on their screenplays.
Community and Connection
Rawi creates lasting relationships among Fellows, Advisors, and the broader Arab and international film community, encouraging dialogue and collaboration beyond the Lab.
See the How to Apply page for information about the current or upcoming edition.
Rawi’s Reach and Impact
Regional Diversity
Rawi has supported screenwriters from across the Arab world, including Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.
See Previous Rounds for a detailed list.
International Recognition
Many projects developed at Rawi have gone on to receive regional and international recognition, including development support, production financing, festival selection, and industry attention.
See Success Stories for more details.
Sustainable Legacy
As part of the RFC’s broader work to strengthen the Arab film ecosystem, Rawi continues to serve as an incubator for original voices, cinematic vision, and storytelling excellence.
For two decades, the Lab has created a space where stories are nourished, visions take shape, and Arab screenwriters are supported as they develop the films they want to bring into the world.
