The OECS CBU is helping screen writers in the region develop their work for regional and international exposure.

A two-day script writers retreat was hosted last week as part of a multi-phased program executed by the OECS Competitive Business Unit (OECS/CBU) in collaboration with the Independent Association of Cinema of Guadeloupe (APCAG).

The program aimed to enhance the skills of regional screen writers for the development of the cinema and television industry in the OECS and the French West Indies.

The activity, part of the CBU’s Creative Industries Sector Development Program, is funded under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Integration and Trade for the OECS and the Regional Council of Guadeloupe.

Head of the Dominica-based OECS Competitive Business Unit, Vincent Philberthas expressed delight at the staging of the retreat and called for greater effort and collaboration among audio-visual professionals to create a truly OECS film industry.

“This retreat represents a major step towards building the capacity needed to tell our own stories in the OECS and the French West Indies and to create an indigenous film industry. Our collaboration with the FCORs in this exercise is a strong indication of the cooperation that is being forged between the OECS and our French speaking neighbours especially in the Creative Industries Sector. We hope that our film industry professionals will seize on the moment and use this as a platform for continuous action in building our film industry.”

Eight writers from the OECS and five from Martinique and Guadeloupe attended the retreat which focused on the progress made by the script writers since the initial workshop in Guadeloupe, in January. The retreat allowed for a review of the work done so far and for those writers who completed the process, to present their final script to a panel of judges for selection.

The OECS Commission and the APCAG will provide technical and financial support to the top screen plays in an effort to have their works developed for regional and international exposure. It is hoped that the Regional Script Development Retreat will serve as a further impetus for developing a cadre of screen writers and in building the film and television industry in the OECS and the French West Indies.

The retreat was held in Antigua and Barbuda at the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa, Aug. 21 - 22.