The 1st Feature-Length Documentary & Hybrid Projects Residency by Linterna Lab invites Spanish-speaking filmmakers worldwide working on documentary or hybrid (non-fiction) projects in pre-production, production, or post-production.
The eight-day program in Malinalco, Mexico (October 19–26, 2025) includes lodging, meals, round-trip transport from Mexico City, and all activities. Seven projects will be selected for creative support, feedback, and post-residency follow-up.
Applications are free. Submit a single PDF to linternalab@gmail.com with synopsis, director’s note, motivation letter, project status, visual materials, and bio. One project per person only. Participation fee varies by payment date, paid in two installments.
Deadline: August 31, 2025 (CDMX time). Results: third week of September.
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Lantern Lab
The scripts in development category aims to encourage and support fiction feature film projects in development and give new projects the opportunity to emerge. Promote the development and production of feature films that are made within the independent framework.
Fiction projects from Latin America and other regions, such as Europe, in development that have a treatment or the first version of the script may participate. The projects must be accompanied by a dossier that contains all the project information.
Requirements: Send the script of your feature film or the treatment of your project. Along with the dossier that must include: Logline, Technical sheet, Synopsis, Director photo, Director biofilmography, Director motivation, Producer photo, Producer biofilmography, Producer motivation, Stills of the project, Personal data.
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Festival de Cine MDM - Guion en desarrollo
Catapult Film Fund is an international grant based in San Francisco that supports early-stage documentary projects, focusing on research and development phases. For 2025, the application period is open from August 6 to September 8, 2025. Applicants must submit a letter of intent with a clear project description and sample audiovisual materials.
Winners receive funding to advance their projects and personalized virtual mentorship over several months. Although open to filmmakers worldwide, those outside the U.S. require a U.S.-based fiscal sponsor. Results are announced in late October or early 2026.
There is no in-person event for selected filmmakers, but remote support is provided. Catapult Film Fund is a valuable opportunity for nonfiction filmmakers seeking creative and financial backing in the early stages of their documentaries.
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Catapult Film Fund
The main objective is to promote direct contact between Latin American series projects and those from the rest of the world in the development stage with professionals from the audiovisual industry, producers and platforms and other people responsible for the creation of episodic content from all over the world.
A maximum of 10 projects will be selected. Projects must have the bible of their project developed and the pilot chapter of their series. Projects that have the teaser of their project can also participate. The maximum duration of the pilot chapters must be 50 minutes.
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MDM Film Festival - Pilot Chapter
The BIFF LAB call is aimed at Ibero-American fiction feature film projects in an advanced development stage. It supports creative teams composed of a director and a producer linked to production companies with at least three years of experience and a solid portfolio.
The event will take place in Bogotá, Colombia, from October 9 to 11, 2025, during the Bogota International Film Festival. Selected projects will participate in workshops, personalized mentoring, and meetings with industry experts to boost their development, co-production, and international visibility.
Applications are free and must be submitted exclusively through the official platform, including project details, participant profiles, timeline, and financing plan. Participants must speak Spanish and attend all event activities.
BIFF LAB provides selected participants with airfare, accommodation, and accreditation, but does not cover per diems or meals. The call opens August 11 and closes August 23, 2025, with results announced on August 29.
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BIFF LAB
