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.
Review official bases.
Lab Cortos - Fantasolab
Málaga Short Corner, organized by the Málaga Film Festival and MAFIZ, is a platform dedicated to the international promotion, dissemination, and distribution of Spanish short films. Applications for its fifth edition opened on September 15, 2026, with November 23, 2026, listed as the deadline on the submission platform, although the regulations indicate December 21, 2026. The event will take place from March 1 to 4, 2027, in Málaga, Spain.
The call is exclusively open to Spanish short films or co-productions with Spain, with a maximum running time of 30 minutes. It accepts fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, and other genres, including Work in Progress films at the final-cut stage. Priority is given to films with international distribution potential, international premieres, and works that have not previously participated in other international markets. Short films must include English subtitles.Málaga Short Corner, organized by the Málaga Film Festival and MAFIZ, is a platform dedicated to the international promotion, dissemination, and distribution of Spanish short films. Applications for its fifth edition opened on September 15, 2026, with November 23, 2026, listed as the deadline on the submission platform, although the regulations indicate December 21, 2026. The event will take place from March 1 to 4, 2027, in Málaga, Spain.
The call is exclusively open to Spanish short films or co-productions with Spain, with a maximum running time of 30 minutes. It accepts fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, and other genres, including Work in Progress films at the final-cut stage. Priority is given to films with international distribution potential, international premieres, and works that have not previously participated in other international markets. Short films must include English subtitles.
Review official bases.
Málaga Short Corner
The Sundance Institute currently has several open or upcoming application deadlines for 2025‑2026 supporting independent artists and projects. Key deadlines include the 2026 Episodic Lab closing on November 9, 2025, the Merata Mita Fellowship on November 3, 2025, the Graton Fellowship on December 8, 2025, and the Native Lab on December 22, 2025. The Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship deadline is February 12, 2026, and the Feature Film Producers Track closes around February 11‑12, 2026. The Ignite Challenge accepts applications through July 1, 2026. These opportunities span labs, fellowships, mentorships, and development tracks for filmmakers and storytellers. Most programs are open to international applicants, though some (like Native Lab and Graton Fellowship) have specific community or regional eligibility requirements. Additionally, submission windows for film and episodic content for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival occurred during mid‑2025, with the festival itself scheduled from January 22 to February 1, 2026. These dates represent the latest publicly available deadlines across multiple Sundance initiatives.
DIFFERENT DATES FOR ACTIVITIES
Review official bases.
Sundance Institute
The Industry Academy Latin America 2026, organized by Locarno Pro, will hold two new editions in Chile and Mexico, bringing together emerging film industry professionals from across the Ibero-American region. The program is designed to strengthen the skills of participants working in fields such as distribution, international sales, exhibition, festival programming, marketing, and the circulation of independent cinema through an intensive training and networking experience.
The call is open to international applicants from the Ibero-American region and does not accept film projects or completed works, as it is focused on the professional development of industry participants. The application deadline is August 2, 2026. The Chile edition will take place from November 2–5, 2026, while the Mexico edition will be held from November 5–8, 2026.
Review official bases.
Locarno Industry Academy América Latina: Chile/México
BrLab Audience Design 2026 is a workshop focused on strategic audience development for fiction and documentary feature films. The call is open to projects from Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula, accepting international submissions.
Applications are open until December 12, 2025, and the main in-person workshop will take place in São Paulo, Brazil, from April 7 to 14, 2026, with preparatory online activities in February and March. The lab focuses on audience strategy for projects in development, rather than pitches or traditional markets.
Only feature films are accepted, including live action, animation, or hybrid projects. The program provides tools and expert guidance to strengthen the connection between the project and its potential audience, fostering effective dissemination and promotion strategies.
BrLab Audience Design offers a unique opportunity for filmmakers to optimize the reception of their works, expand their audience, and enhance their projects’ international presence.
Review official bases.
BrLab Audience Design
