— Submissions are not yet open —
The Film Lab is a new ISF project that turns the science lab into the film studio, bringing scientists and filmmakers together to make imaginative short films.
Imagine a filmmaker interested in genetics immersing himself in the life of a biotechnology lab, to observe the research process and talk with research scientists. Together the filmmaker and a geneticist conceive and produce a short film. It might be an animated dream of dancing chromosomes, the story of an escaped fruitfly’s night on the town, or anything else that emerges from this cross-pollination of science and art.
Guidelines:
In our first year, we will only accept applications from filmmakers living in New York City, who have already found and received necessary permissions from a New York science lab. (In future years, we hope to serve as a matchmaker between filmmakers and science labs the world over.) Filmmakers must commit to a one-month observation / development period in which they spend at least 20 hours a week at the lab, and one-month production period.
We are looking for filmmakers who:
- have a demonstrable interest in science, and a promising idea for a short film that can be shot in
- collaboration with a research lab;
- have the enthusiastic support of a scientist, and the consent of the lab where the film will be shot;
- can convince us that they will actually complete an imaginative short film (under 10 min.) by the
- end of the second month;
- can demonstrate an ability to do great things on a minimal budget.
Interested filmmakers should submit:
- a one-page treatment for the short film they would like to make;
- short bios for the filmmaker and the collaborating scientist;
- a brief letter of intent signed by the filmmaker, collaborating scientist and head of lab.
