NH vod
Lab 2026
Young Horizons Lab, script development workshop
The Young Horizons Lab programme (Polish name: Młode Horyzonty Lab) – since 2014 – aims to help filmmakers develop ideas for films for young audiences.
The programme focuses on script development of live-action and animation films at different stages of development. Participants together with our tutor Philip LaZebnik work on their projects during 3 on-site sessions (group work) and individual consultations with Philip (between each session).
Are you ready to develop your story?
Call for projects is closed. Check the the rules and more information for creators interested in participating in the workshop.
Sessions dates:
1st session: 18-20 March 2026
2nd session: 10-12 June 2026
3rd session: 5-7 October 2026
Location:
ADN Centre, Warsaw
The Young Horizons Lab is organised by Young Horizons, a part of the New Horizons Association. The programme was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
Meet our tutors
Philip LaZebnik is a screenwriter, playwright and a screenwriting consultant. Originally associated with Disney Studios and DreamWorks. His screenwriting credits include “Mulan” and “Pocahontas” for Disney, and “The Prince of Egypt” and “The Road to El Dorado” for DreamWorks, among many others.
He has written the book for the theatrical musical “The Prince of Egypt” with songs by Stephen Schwartz, which opened at the Dominion Theatre in London’s West End in February, 2020.
Philip has considerable experience in film teaching: Polish Film School (Lodz, Poland), Bridging the Dragon (Mentor, China), North by Northwest (Tutor, Bornholm), Animationhus (Workshop, Viborg) and worked as a Film/Story Consultant for: “Antz” and “Shrek” (Story consultant, DreamWorks Feature Animation and PDI), “Lion King 1 ½” and “Mulan II” (Disney Television Animation), and numerous other films.
Philip’s goal is to foster a positive, supportive environment in the room, where we can discuss the screenwriting tools which are useful not only for developing the project in the workshop but also future scripts. These tools include analyzing story structure, understanding character motivations, and knowing what questions to ask when writing a script.
Dominika Pieszczyk is a graduate of Cognitive Science at the University of Warsaw and Screenwriting at the Łódź Film School. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Screenwriting. She has co-written short films, authored short fiction, and is an educator at Neuroplastyczni and Autonomiczna Przestrzeń Edukacyjna.
