Today, Climate Spring, in partnership with BBC Writers and Film London, announces the winners of its The Hot House 2024 writers’ development lab, this year focusing on ‘stories of the climate transition’. Six new original screenplays will now be created, as the winning writers enter a three-month development phase to turn their projects into long-form TV and feature films. In 2024, each winner receives £1,000 from Climate Spring alongside tailored editorial and high-level industry support from Climate Spring, Film London and BBC Writers.

Launched in 2022, The Hot House is Climate Spring’s flagship development programme for nurturing fresh voices and climate stories in film and television. The programme aims to stimulate a pipeline of new, engaging and commercially viable climate stories for film and TV, whilst offering industry exposure and development support to screenwriting talent.

Selected from a competitive pool of submissions, the six winning projects each explore different facets of the climate crisis and span a variety of genres and formats. From a mystical thriller set in the Sundarbans to a quirky comedy in a renewable energy company, the stories reflect the diverse ways in which humanity is navigating through the climate crisis:

• SECRETS OF THE DELTA by JIJO: A chilling, character-driven mystery set in the Indian Sundarbans forest where folklore and corruption intertwine and the delicate balance between nature and humanity must be restored.
• THE LAST TWO MILES by Sebastian Schlecht and Alison Cummins: A heartwarming tale of a community coming together through building a sustainable transport network.
• RENEWABLERS by Jessica Riches: A quirky workplace comedy in a clean energy company, with old vendettas and unexpected relationships.
• TERRITORY by Bríd Arnstein: A family drama set against the backdrop of flooding and a climate-driven relocation to the south coast of England.
• WORMS by Billie Collins: A rookie funeral director must confront a storm of controversy when she decides to compost her dad.
• FALAISG by Ross Mackay and Col Gordon: A tale of resistance, culture and community set in a rapidly changing Scottish village.

Josh Cockcroft, Director of Climate Spring said: “We’re thrilled by the breadth, variety and creativity of this year’s The Hot House submissions, which show just how diverse and interesting climate stories can be - hopeful, funny, romantic and nuanced - rooted in the genres we love, while highlighting solutions, resilience and human connections. At this critical moment in the climate crisis, we urgently need fresh, engaging climate narratives in film and TV that move beyond ‘doom and gloom’ and inspire a sense of agency in all of us. With The Hot House, Climate Spring is proud to be at the forefront of supporting an ever-growing movement of creatives, who lead a new wave of impactful climate storytelling on screen.”

Laurence Johnson, Sustainability Manager, Film London said: ‘’The submissions for this year’s Hot House competition were outstanding. It was so encouraging to see creatives understanding the nuance and opportunity in climate stories, breaking with traditional norms to offer a new framework for how we talk about climate. From comedies to thrillers, dramas to a hint of romance, I am so excited by the final selection and can’t wait to support them going forward.’’

The Hot House lab will culminate in an industry showcase, where projects will be considered for production deals and further development funding, in collaboration with Climate Spring’s production company partners.