IDFA Project Space – Development & Production is an international development lab for creative feature-length documentaries, aimed at filmmakers working on their first or second feature film. The program takes place between June and September 2026 and combines online modules with a one-week in-person workshop in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The call is open to international applicants and focuses on projects in development or early production stages. Through mentoring, group feedback sessions, and intensive workshops, the lab supports filmmakers in strengthening their creative vision, narrative structure, and production strategies.
The program is dedicated exclusively to feature-length documentaries and does not accept short films or series. The application deadline is February 1, 2026, which is the final date to submit projects to this line of IDFA Project Space.
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Project Space – Development & Production - IDFA
The Residència de Guions (5th edition) is a script development program organized by the Catalan Film Academy, based in Catalonia, Spain. It is designed for film projects at the writing stage and offers long-term creative support for screenwriters.
The application period runs from January 19 to February 23, 2026, until 3:00 pm. The residency itself will take place from September 2026 to May 2027, lasting approximately nine months.
The call is open to feature-length projects in fiction, documentary, and animation. It operates as a scriptwriting residency and development lab, rather than a market or pitching forum, focusing on in-depth work on the screenplay.
The program accepts international applications. While it promotes projects connected to the Catalan language and cultural context, participation is not limited to national applicants, reflecting an open and internationally oriented approach.
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ACC Screenwriting Residency
The Locarno Residency is a program by the Locarno Film Festival supporting emerging filmmakers developing their first feature film. The 2025 call is open until June 3, 2025. The program has two phases: first, an in-person meeting during the festival in August where 10 participants present their projects to a jury, which selects three outstanding projects. The second phase offers one year of personalized mentoring, including online sessions and in-person meetings, with travel and accommodation expenses covered. One selected project will receive the Dopodomani Prize, worth 3,000 CHF. Requirements include being under 40 years old, having short film experience, and presenting a project in English for a first feature to be shot after September 2026. The application fee is 30 CHF. It’s an excellent opportunity for filmmakers seeking professional support and international exposure.
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Locarno Residency
The FantasoLab 2026 Fantastic Genre Short Film Laboratory opens applications from January 22 to February 20, 2026. This is a training‑focused lab designed for creators of fantastic genre short films — including science fiction, fantasy, and horror — who want to develop their projects through workshops, mentorship, and work sessions. The emphasis is on short films in development, between 7 and 15 minutes, with a first draft script ready at the time of submission.
The main laboratory activities will take place from April 6 to April 11, 2026, with preliminary sessions and individual work from late March to early April. Although based in Colombia, the call accepts international applications, especially from Ibero‑American creators, with priority given to Colombian talent. This initiative is not primarily a competition or market but a creative development environment to support and strengthen fantastic short film projects.
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Lab Cortos - Fantasolab
