The workshop is dedicated to directors and scriptwriters with a project in an early stage of development – initial idea, synopsis, short treatment – for a short film of any kind (animation, documentary, experimental and fiction) from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Lebanon, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey.
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ShorTS Development Pitching Training
Mecal Lab is a professional short film development program held annually in Barcelona, Spain, as part of the renowned Mecal Pro Festival. The lab selects five short fiction projects (under 30 minutes) and provides filmmakers with intensive training and mentoring through seven specialized workshops. These cover topics such as crowdfunding, script doctoring, marketing and distribution, sustainable filmmaking, public funding, AI in cinema, and pitching strategies. Each selected project receives personalized coaching and a €3,000 grant to support the film’s production.
The 2025 edition will take place from June 26 to July 6. Applicants must submit a biography of the director and producer, a motivation letter, a full project dossier, and the short film’s script. The application fee is €15, and the deadline is May 15, 2025.
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MECAL LAB
Sheffield DocFest is the UK’s leading documentary festival and one of the world’s most influential markets for documentary projects. We champion and present the breadth of documentary form – film, television, immersive and art – in the vibrant city of Sheffield each June. We offer makers and audiences a place for inspiration, debate, development, learning and challenge. Our programming represents our core values – creativity, empathy, freedom, inclusivity and internationalism.
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Mercado de Sheffield DocFest
The FEST - Pitching Forum is part of the FEST New Directors | New Films Festival, taking place from June 21-29, 2025, in Espinho, Portugal. It invites film, short film, and series projects at any stage of development, from concept to post-production. Selected projects receive training and feedback, with pitching opportunities for international funding and co-productions. The forum includes two phases: workshops from June 24-26 to prepare participants for pitching and final pitch sessions on June 27-28. Projects compete for various prizes and have access to industry professionals. The deadline for submission is April 7, 2025.
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FEST — Pitching Forum
IDFAcademy is an intensive four-day program held within the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), aimed at directors and producers working on their first or second feature-length documentary. It targets filmmakers who have demonstrated national talent and seek to expand internationally. The program includes talks with renowned filmmakers, panel discussions, case studies, and networking events focused on global documentary market trends and challenges.
Applicants must submit a form including their biography, filmography, motivation, and learning goals. Optional materials include ongoing projects and audiovisual samples. IDFAcademy is not a traditional project development lab but a professional training and networking platform.
The application deadline is August 1, 2025, and the program runs from November 13 to 16, 2025, in Amsterdam. About 100 participants from around the world will be selected.
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IDFAcademy
