The seventh edition of ESTELAB invites feature film projects, both fiction and documentary, from Latin America and Europe with potential for international co-production. The lab combines in-person sessions in Colombia with synchronous online activities, providing mentorship and workshops to strengthen projects in development.
Applications are open until October 12, 2025, with a registration fee of 20 USD. Selected projects must cover a participation fee of 480 USD, though partial or full scholarships may be granted.
Applicants must submit a PDF in Spanish including: project cover, synopsis, treatment, director and producer biographies, budget and financing plan, production schedule, motivation to participate, and other relevant information. The registration form must be completed in a single session.
ESTELAB aims to support projects with an international vision and provide tools for their development and potential co-production, fostering exchange between creators and experts from the region and Europe.
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ESTELAB Co-Production Laboratory
The call “Older Women Filmmakers… for Gender Justice” is aimed at women over 50 residing in Cuba who wish to create a short film with a gender and intersectional perspective. The initiative is led by the UNFPA in Cuba, the Havana International New Latin American Film Festival, and Proyecto Palomas.
A grant of 10,000 USD is offered for film production, along with technical guidance and creative support. The selected short film will be screened at the Havana International New Latin American Film Festival.
Projects can be fiction or documentary, up to 15 minutes in length, and should address themes such as gender justice, bodily autonomy, human rights, aging, and diversity. Applicants must submit a form, synopsis, full script, motivation letter, budget, production timeline, and CV.
The application deadline is November 18, 2025, with the final film due by October 30, 2026. The program aims to amplify the voices of older women in Cuban cinema, fostering diversity and fair representation in audiovisual media.
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Older Women Filmmakers in Cinema… for Gender Justice
The CANTERA - Alcalá Short Film Lab call is aimed at emerging filmmakers who want to develop their first professional short film. Up to six projects will be selected to participate in an intensive training lab, including 16 hours of workshops led by industry professionals in scriptwriting, directing, pitching, and production.
The winning project will receive an in-kind prize valued at over €20,000, providing resources to complete the short film. Additionally, the final work will have the opportunity to premiere at a future edition of the Alcalá de Henares Film Festival, offering national exposure.
Participants must be over 18 years old and have limited professional short film experience (no more than one). Project duration should be between five and thirty minutes. Applications are open until October 24, 2025. This initiative is an excellent opportunity to gain training, support, and visibility in the film industry, fostering emerging talent and enabling the creation of high-quality short films.
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ECAM Films to Come
The Cine y Mujer 2025 Screenwriting Residency offers a creative and training space for Spanish-speaking women screenwriters, including trans women and individuals identifying as women. Its goal is to provide an environment to strengthen feature film scripts while promoting decentralization in the audiovisual field.
The residency will take place from November 26 to 30, 2025, in Coatepec, Veracruz, Mexico. Participants will receive specialized mentorship, accommodation, full meals, and local transportation, while travel to Xalapa and personal expenses are the responsibility of the participants.
Applicants must be over 18, have prior screenwriting experience, and submit a feature-length script of 60–100 pages. Required materials include a synopsis, script, motivation letter, and proof of registration payment. The deadline for submissions is October 19, 2025, with results announced on October 30, 2025.
This residency provides a unique opportunity for creative development, professional guidance, and visibility for film projects led by women.
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Screenwriting Residency: Cinema and Women
The Rotterdam Lab 2026 is a program for emerging international film producers seeking to expand their professional network and develop feature-length projects with international co-production potential. It is open to independent producers, freelancers, or junior producers in production companies, with no age limit, who have completed at least two short films and are working on their first or second feature.
The program prioritizes diversity and inclusion, especially welcoming applicants from minority, indigenous, LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse, disabled communities, or underrepresented regions in the international film industry.
Selected participants receive full access to IFFR Pro and CineMart 2026, including accreditation for meetings, screenings, networking events, and five nights of accommodation. Travel expenses are not covered.
The lab takes place during the International Film Festival Rotterdam, from late January to early February 2026. Applicants must submit an application form, CV, and motivation letter, with an optional portfolio or dossier. The main focus is on the international potential of the project and the producer’s ability to contribute to and benefit from the lab.
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Lab - IFFR
