Documentary labs
Updated 8 November 2026. Match the programme to your footage and editing stage. See Upcoming for the 8 November 2026–8 February 2027 application window.
Mentoring and artistic exchange for first- or second-time documentary directors, with development/production and rough-cut routes. Original footage is required. IDFA announces reopening at the end of 2026; exact next dates, fees and programme schedule are pending.
Worldwide; documentaries over 60 minutes, with a rough cut by April 2027 and no previous rough-cut lab before this programme. Director and editor attend; director must have completed at least one short. Deadline 15 December 2026. Current submission fee CHF40; selected-project fee CHF200. Travel, hotel and extra meals are additional. Fee waivers depend on country eligibility.
For documentary director–editor–producer teams worldwide at rough-cut stage. Editing mentorship connects with distribution and audience planning. Published deadline: 11 January 2027; early-bird date: 30 December 2026. The overview says open but the detail page also carries an “application closed” label: confirm the portal status. 2027 tuition is not yet announced; scholarships may be available. English and team attendance are required.
Development, mentorship and pitching for first or second feature documentaries by South Asian directors. Opens January 2027; detailed dates and fees pending. This is a South Asian programme: Malaysian nationality alone is not eligible.
The 2027 Edit and Story Lab is invitation-only for existing Documentary Film Program-supported artists. The 2027–28 Documentary Producers Lab opens 17 November 2026 and closes 10 February 2027; non-US-based applicants must work and reside in Europe or Latin America, so Malaysia-based applicants do not qualify. The applicant must be the lead producer, not the director. These are distinct from the worldwide Documentary Fund.
Published 2027 application dates: 5 October–14 December 2026; member extension to 4 January 2027. However, the official applications page also says closed. Treat the call as unconfirmed until the organiser clarifies; check eligibility, fees and attendance costs.
Film Labs
Develop your film. Meet your peers. Strengthen your practice.
A lab offers time, feedback and a filmmaking community. Choose one that fits your experience and project stage. These are programme profiles, not open-call announcements. Official sources checked 8 November 2026; next deadlines/time zones and costs remain unverified unless stated below.
Develop a screenplay
Organiser: TorinoFilmLab · Fiction feature · Early development · Worldwide
For emerging and experienced filmmakers with an original or adapted feature at treatment stage. Nine months of peer work and script consultation combine residential and online modules, ending with an industry presentation. Story Editing is a separate training route. Check the edition’s participation fee, scholarships, travel costs and deadline before applying.
Develop the whole project
Organiser: TorinoFilmLab · First or second feature · Advanced development
For director–producer teams, with a writer where relevant, working in fiction, creative documentary, animation or experimental cinema. Workshops address artistic choices, production, finance and audience strategy. Training leads to the TFL Meeting Event; awards are competitive, not guaranteed funding. The 2027 deadline was 5 November 2026: that round is closed. Next-call dates and current cost details should be checked with TFL.
Build experience and community
Organiser: Busan International Film Festival · Practical filmmaking · Asian nationals
The 2026 programme required participants aged 18 or above, English communication and full attendance, including online sessions and a short-film production period. Selected participants received travel within Asia, accommodation, meals and production equipment, with no separate participation cost. The 2026 programme has ended. A 2027 deadline and its terms are not confirmed here; use the official application guide when the new call appears.
Organiser: Berlin International Film Festival · Working film professionals · International
For applicants with an established body of work, rather than first steps in filmmaking. The Summit offers workshops and peer exchange; the project Lab is for Talents alumni. The 2027 deadline was 2 September 2026 at noon CEST and is closed. Listed application service fees were €10 early/€15 standard. Participation is free, but participants cover travel, accommodation and daily costs. Consult the official criteria for your discipline.
Before choosing a lab
Ask what you need now: a stronger script, practical experience, a producer or a financing plan. Read attendance and language requirements, distinguish application fees from participation costs, and check what travel support actually covers. Have previous work, a concise project description and a realistic schedule ready.
Browse dated calls at Da Huang Pictures →