The JIIFF Lab 2026 call is aimed at director-producer duos from Ibero-America developing a fiction feature project. The lab will take place from January 27 to 31, 2026 in José Ignacio, Uruguay, as part of the Working JIIFF industry program.
Participants will receive personalized mentoring from international experts in areas such as directing, screenwriting, editing, and audience design, along with networking opportunities and a final project pitch before a jury.
Projects must be in development, with a maximum budget of US$ 1,500,000 and at least 25% secured financing. Directors and producers must meet minimum experience requirements in short or feature films and festival participation, as well as residency in Ibero-America.
Awards include the Fondo Pfeffer del Sur, offering US$ 50,000 for project development, and the Musitelli Award, providing US$ 50,000 in filming equipment in Uruguay. Submission deadlines are October 31 and December 12, 2025.
Review official bases.
JIIFF LAB
The Residència de Guions is a development lab for feature film scripts (including animation) and documentaries in Catalan or Spanish, with a strong cultural connection to Catalonia. It is open to screenwriters of any nationality. The 2025 call was open from January 30 to March 3. Selected projects receive a €12,600 grant to focus on script development between September 2025 and May 2026. Participants work with expert mentors, receive training, foster collaboration among authors, and connect with the Catalan and international film industry. Application is free. The aim is to enhance the quality and international reach of Catalan cinema by supporting emerging talent.
Review official bases.
THE RESIDENCE
The SGAE Foundation and the Sitges Festival are launching the first Josefina Molina Award for the best fantastic feature-length script written by women members of SGAE, to promote female visibility in the fantasy genre. The winner will receive €10,000. Eligible entries are original feature-length scripts in Spanish by female SGAE members of any nationality. The submission deadline is July 14, 2025, with materials to be emailed to iarmanda@fundacionsgae.org, including the script, registration form, synopsis, motivation, and proof of membership. The award will be announced during the 58th Sitges Festival, October 9–19, 2025, under the WomanInFan program. The prize honors Josefina Molina, a pioneer of Spanish fantastic cinema.
Review official bases.
Josefina Molina Award
Created by the Locarno Festival in 2014, Industry Academy is an intensive training program whose objective is to foster innovation in young professionals in the film industry, working specifically in the area of independent film circulation: online and traditional distribution , sales, film marketing, exhibition, festival programming, among others. The workshop acts as a shortcut for a new generation of professionals entering the independent film industry, encouraging their development and helping them better understand the challenges of the industry, as well as expand their networks. The objective of Locarno Industry Academy is also to build bridges of collaboration across different markets in Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, South Africa and South Asia.
Review official bases.
Australab - Industry Academy
The UNIFEST Film 2025 call for entries includes a “Best Short Film Script” category for writers from Mexico and the United States. Any genre or theme is accepted, as long as the script is original, unpublished, and intended for a short film. Submissions are open from January 31 to July 31, 2025 via FilmFreeway. The prize consists of two days of professional filming equipment rental (4K camera, lenses, lights, sound) and one free day in a studio, to support the winning project’s production. Results will be announced between August 28 and 31, 2025. You must attach the required documents (ID, synopsis, rights registration) and follow the festival’s social media. Scripts must be in Spanish with English subtitles if applicable. For more information, contact contacto@unifestfilm.com or visit the official website.
Review official bases.
UNIFEST Film – Best Short Film Screenplay
