Seven young and emerging screenwriters (three from Romania and four from outside the country) who are developing their feature films will be selected by the Romanian writer/director Andreea Borțun and the Australian writer/director Bryn Chainey.

The first European Screenwriters Residency to take place in Romania is organized by TETA Association. Emerging screenwriters from across Europe can apply to the residency online at www.pustnik.com until 9 May 2016.

The second edition of PUSTNIK will create a debate around the reinvention of storytelling structure in direct connection with ever-changing technology. The residency will consist of writing sessions, Romanian film screenings, storytelling workshops and non-conventional pitching sessions with Romanian producers.

"I remember when we were documenting the local context for our financing application, I was really saddened to discover there was no other screenwriting residency in Romania. Even the script development programmes, were getting fewer and fewer.
One fact remains valid throughout the region: most writers or writer/directors who are at the beginning of their careers don’t make a living out of filmmaking. They usually struggle to find the time to work on their own projects, while having a job that pays the bills. At the same time, most residencies require fees, participants need to pay for all their living expenses while there, and most of this programmes are not necessarily affordable. PUSTNIK is meant to nurture interaction between writers from all over Europe, to encourage the sharing of knowledge, to create a community and to offer time free of charge”, Andreea Bortun, Pustnik co-founder, told FNE.