Emerge Story Company has announced the return of its highly anticipated annual storytelling conference targeted at African female storytellers in celebration of Women’s History Month. Now in its third edition, this year’s conference will run from March 4th to 8th, 2024. The week-long event promises an immersive experience in the art of storytelling and script development showcasing the diverse and powerful narratives of female African voices.
Emerge Story Conference 2024 will feature an extensive lineup of workshops, masterclasses, short film screenings, and panel discussions led by industry mentors and an esteemed selection of speakers across Africa, including Joke Silva, Lala Akindoju, Melissa Adeyemo, Sandra Madu, Busisiwe Ntintili, Ikeade Oriade, Khalid EL-Jelailati, Ethel Codjoe Amissah, and many more!
For this year’s conference, Emerge has partnered with Final Draft, the industry’s-leading screenwriting software to provide a free one-year license to 25 participants as a testament to their commitment to fostering creativity and supporting storytellers on the continent.
In line with the UN Women theme for 2024 International Women’s Day – ‘Invest in women: Accelerate Progress’, – this year’s conference will include an intensive story development program called SheWrites Intensive Lab (SWIL). The SheWrites Intensive Lab is a transformative three-week program dedicated to nurturing first-draft scripts for short films into polished, captivating narratives. Three talented participants will collaborate closely with three story consultants, receiving personalized guidance and invaluable insights to elevate their storytelling prowess. This empowers emerging storytellers to help them bring their stories to life. At the end of the program, one lucky participant will take home the grand prize of $1,000 production grant.
A major highlight of the conference is the Impact Awards to honor veteran female writers, who have silently shaped the industry with their brilliant stories for decades and made significant contributions to the growth of the screenwriting profession in Nigeria.
Commenting on the upcoming conference, Ololade Okedare, Convener of Emerge Story Conference said: “I am incredibly excited about the impact this third edition will have on the storytelling industry. This year, we are taking a bold step forward with the introduction of the SheWrites Intensive Lab, providing a unique opportunity for emerging storytellers to refine their craft under the guidance of seasoned mentors. The collaboration with Final Draft, Impact Awards and Short Film Award are testament to our commitment to empowering storytellers and creating a lasting impact on the landscape of storytelling in Africa. I cannot wait to meet this year’s cohort of the SheWrites Intensive Lab, and I invite female writers, whether you are a seasoned professional or a budding storyteller to join us for a week of inspiration, learning, and celebration at Emerge Story Conference 2024.”
Registration is now open, don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of female African storytelling.
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What Kept Me Up is a media partner of She Writes Lab 2024.
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