Build Your Story: From Logline to Outline Screenwriting Workshop with Jessica Landry

Saturdays, January 31, 2026 & February 14, 2026
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
WFG Media Lab, 3rd Floor, 100 Arthur Street

Have a great idea for a feature or a short film but don’t know where to start?

This two-day, hands-on writing workshop with Canadian Screen Award-nominated screenwriter Jessica Landry will help you take that spark of an idea and shape it into something real and workable so you can write the script you’ve dreamed of.

You’ll learn how to craft a strong logline, build a clear and engaging synopsis, and develop an outline that gives your story structure and direction. Through guided writing exercises, supportive feedback, and plenty of discussion, you’ll leave with the essential storytelling tools needed to jump into your script without staring at a blank page.

Topics to be covered:

Day One (January 31, 2026)

• Identifying and shaping your core story idea
• Elements of a strong logline
• Writing and refining your logline
• Individual logline feedback
• What makes a compelling synopsis
• Structuring and polishing your synopsis
• Individual synopsis feedback
• Turning your synopsis into an outline

Day Two (February 14, 2026)

• Individual outline feedback
• How to assess if your outline is production-ready
• Tips for moving from an outline into a script

Recommended Tools

• Due to the limited number of Macs available, participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop, tablet, or device to work from.
• Please come prepared with a rough logline, or a feature or short film idea you’d like to develop during the workshop. This will allow you to fully participate in the guided exercises and receive personalized feedback.
  

This workshop is part of the Winnipeg Film Group’s new 2026 reduced-rate workshop program, made possible through generous support from The Winnipeg Foundation. Thanks to their contribution, we’re able to offer more affordable, hands-on filmmaking opportunities for our community throughout the year.

About the Instructor:

Jessica Landry is a Canadian Screen Award-nominated screenwriter, director, producer, and Bram Stoker Award-winning author. Her projects have been developed through TIFF’s Series Accelerator, Women in the Director’s Chair, NSI’s Series Incubator, the CFC/Netflix Project Development Accelerator, and Whistler Film Festival’s Screenwriters and Producers Labs, among others. Through her company Familiar Films, Jessica has several projects in various stages, including GHOST LANDS, an Indigenous-led paranormal documentary pilot that she produced for Blue Ant Media; THE NIGHT BELONGS TO US, a feature adaptation of her Shirley Jackson Award-nominated novella; and ANATOMY OF A SÉANCE, an original horror series which received IPF funding. She’s written several TV movies, including the Critics’ Choice Award-nominated film, LIST OF A LIFETIME; as well as co-wrote and co-executive produced the Rockie-nominated feature documentary, TRUE STORY; wrote and directed several episodes of APTN's factual series, 7TH GEN; and wrote, directed, and produced four of her own award-winning short films. She also released her debut collection of short stories, THE NIGHT BELONGS TO US, in 2023; co-edited the Bram Stoker Award-, British Fantasy Award-, and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated anthology THERE IS NO DEATH, THERE ARE NO DEAD; and had an original story in the anthology ALIENS VS PREDATORS: ULTIMATE PREY.

REFUND POLICY

The Winnipeg Film Group reserves the right to cancel any course where the minimum registration has not been met. Anyone registered for a course that has been cancelled is eligible for a full refund, cancelled course fees may also be used towards any other Winnipeg Film Group training programs.

Assistance and accommodations are available to participants with different disabilities. Please call or email us for more information: training@winnipegfilmgroup.com