It was all a dream, inspired by a rich history
It all begins with the word.
The Pan African Screenwriters’ Retreat is proof that THAT DAY has come. The day when we intentionally protect the moving image as an art, taking a perspective beyond national boundaries and more authentic to our innate storytelling. When the definition is not as important as the motivation – a motivation to archive and preserve a rich history, a motivation that is burning, unwavering and alive.
Calling together Screenwriters who have completed an EARLY DRAFT of their story (in any format) and want to develop it into a FINAL DRAFT, was a an ambitious goal in itself. To do so within the optic of the global Pan African writing industry was colossal.
Set against the backdrop of beautiful St. Helena Island, South Carolina, the historical Penn Center provides the perfect retreat venue. Especially since the cabin, originally built for Martin Luther King, has been magnificently restored. It sits nestled between the shoreline and the very grounds where he was known to rally and not only write, but also dream of his famous vision - so eloquently articulated.
In the age of AI, it is so important to have this intentionality in our words, thoughts and actions – precisely because we must continue to dream, freely. The entertainment industry is a space for these dreams and all of the content created stems from writing, beginning with the word matters. We hosted a panel of industry veterans who along with a stellar group of mentors discussed the added challenges to the Pan African Screenwriter. The pilot retreat was a restful space to discuss Word Matters and under that banner the Pan African Screenwriters Retreat will continue to host a series of roundtable talks on the the preservation and promotion of an art which must transcend borders and national boundaries - the way our lives and stories do.
Emilia Thompson a finalist writer was able to take part in the virtual component of the retreat from Abuja, Nigeria. She described the impact of receiving a Final Draft license for participating in the 2024 retreat:
“Being a finalist and participant in the Pan Africa Film Retreat was a truly impactful, educational, and inspiring experience. I gained invaluable insights and more knowledge about scriptwriting from professionals, which was a beautiful experience. Ekwa Msangi’s mentorship broadened my creative horizons and sparked new ideas and questions. It was so fun and interactive that I didn’t want the classes to end! The Final Draft software has been a game-changer, a dream come true, making scriptwriting easier and more enjoyable.
Thank you to the organizers for curating this incredible opportunity.
”
Emilia Thompson, PASR 2024 virtual finalist
The retreat made a huge local impact too! With wellness classes attracting local communities and a visiting filmmaker, researching Gullah stories, from the west coast. In brief, it doesn’t take long to feel the roots once we stick our fingers in the ground and as we write, it does feel good to be grounded.
We enjoyed hosting Destini Ambus from the Savannah Morning News, who described the retreat in her article: here.
“The five-day retreat featured four mentors paired with four finalists from screenplay applications. The locations of the mentors and mentees varied from Connecticut and Baltimore to Nigeria and Ghana. While the one-on-one sessions also focused on the screenplay drafts from the applicants, there were also breath and bodywork workshops, as well as a workshop on how to connect with investors and distributors after it’s all said and done, one of the barriers Pan-African writers face in the filmmaking process.”
It all begins with the word
It all begins with the word
L-R
Kayla Harley, Thato Mwosa, Stacey Bell, Dr. Adams Jr., Anna Marano, Ariam Daniel