Less is more is one of Europe’s leading writer and project development programmes. For the third year, FOCAL and the Zurich University of the Arts are offering the chance for up to 9 Swiss writers to take part in an intensive five-day screenwriting workshop in Switzerland.

LIM Boosting Ideas Workshop aims at helping writers turn creative limitations into opportunities for innovation in script development. LIM helps writers to dig deeper into emotion, structure and the power of the script’s story at an early stage, before entering the often long development stage and even before starting the writing process. LIM embraces limitations as a catalyst for exciting film experiences and in doing so, brings out a filmmaker’s unique imprint, enabling their work to stand out. The idea is that the more that can be explored and determined prior to the writing process begins, the more powerful a first draft will be.

The participants are also given tools and methods to release their creative energy, interact playfully with their intellectual material, and generate various story ideas. The participants are supported while testing their story plot to determine if they are worth being developed in a feature-length film.

Two international tutors from LIM/Le Groupe Ouest will create a safe space in a inspiring environment. They invite the participants to tackle their ideas and strengthen them through theoretical and practical exercises.

"This workshop helped me to deal with my film idea playfully - in the truest sense of the word. I got to know a very free and lightfooted approach to generating ideas. The workshop is intense but worth it."

Jela Hasler, Filmmaker (Participant 2021)

Application documents (in English!)

- a one page-description of a project at an early stage or at an idea phase

- a 3-5-minutes video explaining why you want to attend and your expectations

- a short CV and links to previous works (1 page)

Please note: LIM’s program and methodology has been developed mainly for fiction projects. Authors from documentaries are welcome if they want to work on fiction projects.

More information about LIM Less is More under lim-lessismore.eu

More information and application until July, 4th 2023 under focal.ch/en/23-887