Launched in 2022, the programme aims to stimulate a pipeline of new, engaging and commercially viable climate stories for film and TV, whilst offering industry exposure and development support to screenwriting talent.

Recognising the power of storytelling in how we see and shape our world, this year’s The Hot House development lab focuses on ‘stories of the climate transition’. This brief has been chosen to encourage the creation of hopeful stories on how humanity can navigate through this crisis collectively, offering a ‘counter-narrative’ to the dominant ‘doomsday’ narrative frequently encountered in the climate discourse.

Who tells our stories matters and we recognise that creators from diverse backgrounds have faced structural barriers to working in the screen industries and that this limits the perspectives and stories we see. We therefore particularly encourage applications from writers who have been historically marginalised by the screen industries.

For the second year BBC Writers is partnering with Climate Spring and Film London on the Hot House opportunity. There will be a webinar in May to offer prospective applicants an opportunity to ask questions about the creative brief and application process.

Who is eligible?
The Hot House 2024 is open to individual writers and writing partnerships. All applying writers must be over 18 and not in full time education, and can be based anywhere in the world.
‍
Writers must have/have done at least one of the following:
An agent
Have written a short film that has been screened at an Academy Award qualifying short film festival OR a BAFTA qualifying short film festival
Have written a stage play which has had at least a two week run in a theatre or festival, including fringe festivals.tival
Have a writing credit for a produced feature film or TV series
We will allow writing partnerships of up to three individuals. For writing partnerships, at least half of the writers in the partnership must fulfil the criteria above.‍
‍
Find out more here. 

Deadline: 30th June 2024 at midnight