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
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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.
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Locarno Industry Academy América Latina: Chile/México
The European Film Market (EFM) 2026 will take place from February 12 to 16, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. This market is one of the main international gatherings of the film industry, where producers, distributors, sales agents, and buyers come together to present projects, negotiate rights, and explore co-production opportunities.
The call is open to film and television professionals who have a project in development or a completed work seeking international distribution. Accreditation is required to participate in EFM activities, including screenings, networking meetings, and industry trend panels.
Participation provides strategic networking opportunities, access to exhibition spaces, and attendance at conferences with international experts. Accreditation applications will open through the official registration ahead of the event. The EFM offers a comprehensive platform to promote projects, find co-production partners, and expand presence in international markets.
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berlinale - European Film Market
The Galician Freaky Film Festival (GFFF), based in Spain, hosts an international call aimed at the development of short films within the fantastic genre. The initiative supports original projects in horror, science fiction, and other “freak”-related subgenres, specifically targeting works that are still in development and not yet produced.
The call is open to participants of any nationality, including individuals, production companies, film schools, and similar entities. Selected projects will take part in a pitching session, where they must present and defend their proposals before a professional jury during the festival.
The submission deadline is May 11, 2026, and the festival — including the pitching event — will take place from September 18 to 26, 2026.
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GFFF - Freak Pitch
Encuentros BioBioCine 8 will take place in Concepción, Chile, from January 27 to 30, 2026. The opening date for submissions corresponding to 2026 is not specified in the guidelines. The call includes national and international participation.
The event includes Script Consulting, BioBioLab, Documentary Internship, Corte Final Lab, and Business Meetings, with laboratory, consulting, pitch, and market activities. It accepts fiction, documentary, and animation projects, as well as 360 projects in the Business Meetings. Accepted formats include scripts, film projects, feature films, and series. The call covers projects at different stages of development and production, depending on the category.
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ENCUENTROS - BiobioCine
