2026 filmmakers lab
call for ENTRIES
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM JUNE 19 to AUGUST 9, 2026.
WINNERS NOTIFIED BY OCTOBER 11, 2026.
‘OHINA FILMMAKERS LAB: NOVEMBER 7 & 14, 2026.
HOW IT WORKS
Fellows accepted into the lab will participate in a workshop intensive. At the end of the lab, we will reward one (1) ‘Ohina Greenlight Award. ‘Ohina Films will fund and produce the ‘Ohina Greenlight Award winning script, which must be shot here in Hawai‘i.
‘OHINA LABS Guest Mentors and Judges are all leading entertainment industry professionals, starting with our first LABS launched in 2017 mentored by Joe Robert Cole (co-screenwriter of Black Panther). Films and filmmakers emerging from the LABS mentorship program have gone on to secure distribution deals and make waves at prestigious festival circuits around the world.
The Filmmakers Lab is looking for hard working screenwriters, directors, and filmmakers with open minds and a passion for learning in a supportive, constructive, critical, and cooperative environment. Applicants must either be a resident or former resident of Hawai‘i.
Complementing and coinciding with the annual short script intensive, ‘OHINA also hosts a Producers Lab. The inaugural Producers Lab launched in 2025, welcoming an invite-only cohort to support the greenlit script from the Filmmakers Lab as it entered production. ‘OHINA’s Producers Lab continues to evolve, and additional opportunities for some of Hawai‘i’s most exciting producing voices will be announced.
LABS — our O‘ahu-based filmmakers’ workshop — starts at the story level, pairing short scripts from promising voices and visionaries with a who’s who from the industry as guest mentors, and providing opportunities for program fellows to pitch why their project is ready for a greenlight.
HOW IT'S JUDGED
Scripts will be reviewed by the ‘Ohina Executive team and notable film industry luminaries, who are judging on the strengths of story, characters, voice, craft, and producibility on a limited budget.
The top 15 scripts will be narrowed down to UP TO 10 TOTAL WINNING FELLOWS.
HOW TO APPLY
ONE short film screenplay or web series pilot. 15 PAGES MAXIMUM.
Resume or CV
1-page letter explaining why you’d like to be considered as an ‘Ohina Fellow.
‘OHINA SHOWCASE is an annual celebration of Hawai‘i’s storytelling talent. The event brings LABS and FILMS projects to the big screen alongside short films from across the islands, spotlighting local filmmakers and sharing their stories with audiences statewide. Screenings are held on O‘ahu and travel to Maui, Lāna‘i, Kaua‘i, and Hawai‘i Island, connecting Hawai‘i’s creative community through cinema.
Check back for updates and tickets to the November 2026 Showcase!
For more information, email info@ohina.org.
Follow us @OhinaShowcase
‘OHINA LABS is an O‘ahu-based filmmakers’ workshop, where short scripts from emerging voices are developed with mentorship from leading industry professionals. The program focuses on story craft and creative readiness, giving fellows the opportunity to pitch their projects for potential production.
Each year, one LABS Fellow is selected for the ‘OHINA GREENLIGHT AWARD, receiving funding and production support to bring their short film to life.
The call for short script submissions to our 2026 LABS cohort is now open – apply by August 9!
For more information, email info@ohina.org.
Follow us @ohinalabs
‘OHINA FILMS is responsible for bringing the ‘OHINA GREENLIGHT AWARD to reality. It is the production collective made up of local producers, directors, and crew members, who support LABS projects from development through completion, helping them navigate the festival circuit and beyond.
For more information, email info@ohina.org.
Follow us @ohinafilms
