Brazil's Laboratório Novas Histórias expands to international screenwriters

The Laboratório Novas Histórias, Brazil's longest‑running script development lab founded in 1996 by Carla Esmeralda with the Sundance Institute, is entering its 30th edition in December 2026. The program will shift its focus to stories about or for children and adolescents and will open applications to writers from around the world, partnering with the child‑rights group Alana, Senac São Paulo and the philanthropic Projeto Paradiso.

Organizers say diverse youth narratives help shape identity, self‑esteem and social belonging. Over three decades the lab has supported about 280 projects and 420 national and international writers, contributing to films such as "Cidade de Deus", "Que Horas Ela Volta?" and the Berlin Crystal Bear winner "Feito Pipa". The 2026 edition will run from 15‑18 December at the Grande Hotel Campos do Jordão and Senac Hotel‑Escola, aiming to broaden representation of young people in audiovisual content worldwide.