Amnon Buchbinder was a gifted writer, teacher, script doctor and Story scientist.

He was also my long-time Story mentor,  MFA supervisor, and, later, my colleague. 

Although I am only one among hundreds impacted by Amnon’s contributions to Story, his influence on my life was momentous. Amnon nurtured my early interest in working as a story analyst. He generously spent countless hours reading my story reports and teaching me to make them as rigorous, meaningful, and useful to the writer as possible - and this generous mentorship continued well into my own career as a story editor.

As a writer, there is no script I’ve written without the well-worn copy of Amnon’s book, The Way of the Screenwriter, on my desk. Its pages illuminate solutions to even the most difficult story problems, often in the most unexpected of ways.  

As a story editor, Amnon had an otherworldly access to the mysterious realms from which stories emerge; a way of untangling, revealing and deepening the writers’ understanding of their own work. To put your ailing, mixed up story in Amnon’s hands was to know that when you walked out of his office, your script would have a path out of the muck. And so, to honour the enormous contributions that Amnon made to the field of Story as science, and in deep gratitude to him for handing me, as he used to call them, “the keys to the castle,” in my own practise, I am pleased to announce this ongoing initiative.  

Each year, The Amnon Buchbinder Story Prize will be awarded to two talented young writers who would not otherwise be able to work intensively with a story editor - either due to financial hardship or lack of access.  They will receive free participation in House of Stories workshops, where they’ll develop a project over six weeks, and receive ongoing mentorship as they polish and shop their screenplays.

Amnon had a magical way of breathing clarifying life and spirit into the thousands of stories that crossed his path. It is my hope that through The Amnon Buchbinder Story Prize, he will continue to do so.

-Nikki Saltz

Founder & Lead Script Consultant, House of Stories

To explore Amnon’s work, visit Biology of Story.

To apply for the 2021 AB Story Prize:

Please send an email to info@houseofstories.net by Sept 6th, 2021. Write AB Prize in the subject line, and, in the body of the email, write 1-3 short paragraphs about the project you’d like to develop in The Blueprint. Focus on the story and why you want to tell it. Details about previous achievements or work experience in the industry are not necessary. No explanation of your personal or financial circumstance is required; all applicants will be considered in good faith. Please indicate your preferred workshop time slot. Finally, attach a 1-3 page sample of your writing as a .pdf. Scripts are preferable, but other forms of creative writing are acceptable too. Recipients will be selected on the strength of their writing and the awardee will be notified by 5PM EST on Sept 10th, 2021. International applications are accepted, but please be mindful that the Blueprint schedule is on EST.

Mandeq Hassan

Mandeq Hassan in an actress, writer and filmmaker hailing from Regent Park. She has been creating her own short documentaries since high school and has also participated in creating upcoming web series in both writing and acting capacities. The Regent Park Project in which she took part in writing and acting, has been screened at the Regent Park Film Festival and her documentary shorts have been screened at the Daniels Spectrum. Her focus is to bring to light the diversity of stories that she has found in her life through film. She hopes to continue to discuss social themes in her future work as well as within her community. Mandeq is currently represented by Maria Ralley at Edna Talent Management.

Saba Forouzan

Born in St. John New Brunswick to Iranian parents, filmmaker Fatemeh Saba Forouzan currently works and studies in Toronto at Ryerson University. Her most recent project "Flag Bearer" was a short documentary about hijab. She is currently developing the thriller, 'Do You Want to Dance?'.