UK television writers and producers are being offered the chance to benefit from a new £75,000 (US$101,300)-backed development programme focusing on the thriller genre launched by impact charity OKRE.
Jenna Al-Ansari
The Thriller Lab aims to shine a light on urgent issues, including mental health, infectious diseases and inequality and injustice through the thriller genre.
It is open to applications from writers and producers working across film, TV, video games and social-first platforms. OKRE is an entertainment impact organisation that encourages cross-sector collaboration between researchers, lived experience experts and entertainment professionals.
A total of 10 writer-producer duo teams will be selected for the three-month scheme which launches in January 2026. They will each receive a £7,500 award, alongside other benefits such as workshops and coaching. Participants will also receive expert advice from the world of academia and those who have first-hand experience of issues such as mental health and infectious diseases.
Successful applicants will have to demonstrate that their project goes beyond the stereotypical thriller and tell stories that “shake up what audiences think they know” and “open fresh perspectives on the world,” according to OKRE.
Editorial themes for the 2025 programme cover three main areas:
- Inequality and injustice, including issues such as poverty, corruption and systemic bias that can lead people to make dangerous choices.
- Mental health such as depression, anxiety, psychosis and the human stories of characters being pushed to their limits.
- Infectious diseases, covering events such as outbreaks, viruses, antibiotic resistance and the race to contain threats that cross borders and spiral out of control.
Commenting on the programme, Jenna Al-Ansari, OKRE’s programmes and engagement manager, said: “As a fan of this expansive genre, it is a joy to announce this new programme from the OKRE Fund. By bringing creative talent together with knowledge experts, we can spark thrillers that feel sharper, richer and more relevant than ever.”
The deadline for applications is November 7. More information on the criteria for entry and what the programme offers can be found on the OKRE website.
