The RTS Pitching, taking place during the VdR–Industry Days (April 6–9, 2025) in Nyon, Switzerland, was initiated by Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) to promote innovative documentary filmmaking in French-speaking Switzerland.
This unique forum will showcase eight new documentary projects in the early stages of development, providing participants with the opportunity to present their ideas to industry professionals. The best feature-length project will receive a prize of 10,000 CHF in development funding, supporting the creation of works with a strong creative vision.
This competition fosters a collaborative environment aimed at promoting original Swiss documentary projects intended to reach a wide audience.
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VdR - RTS Award
The Locarno Residency is a program by the Locarno Film Festival supporting emerging filmmakers developing their first feature film. The 2025 call is open until June 3, 2025. The program has two phases: first, an in-person meeting during the festival in August where 10 participants present their projects to a jury, which selects three outstanding projects. The second phase offers one year of personalized mentoring, including online sessions and in-person meetings, with travel and accommodation expenses covered. One selected project will receive the Dopodomani Prize, worth 3,000 CHF. Requirements include being under 40 years old, having short film experience, and presenting a project in English for a first feature to be shot after September 2026. The application fee is 30 CHF. It’s an excellent opportunity for filmmakers seeking professional support and international exposure.
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Locarno Residency
Málaga Short Corner is a platform within MAFIZ focused on promoting and internationally distributing recent or notable Spanish short films. The 2026 edition, its fourth, will take place from March 10 to 12 during the Málaga Festival, aiming to connect filmmakers with programmers, sales agents, and audiovisual industry professionals.
Eligible films are Spanish short films up to 30 minutes long, either completed or in “work-in-progress” stage, as long as they are expected to premiere before the market screenings. Priority is given to projects with sales agents, distribution contracts, or strong export potential. All films must include English subtitles.
The deadline for submissions is January 11, 2026, with selection notifications expected around February 23, 2026. Submission requires completing the official form, and acceptance does not guarantee participation. This platform provides a strategic opportunity to showcase and distribute Spanish short films internationally, offering direct contact with key industry professionals.
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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
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Sundance Institute
Syncro Lab 2025 is the training and development call of the Syncro Film Fest, aimed at people over 18 years old residing in Argentina. It is a short film script competition open to fiction, non-fiction, or hybrid projects, with a maximum length of 20 pages (PDF format, Courier 12, single spacing).
Submissions are open from February 3 to May 7, 2025, with an entry fee of ARS 7,000. Up to 10 scripts will be selected, and their authors will take part in group mentoring and development sessions during the festival, which will be held June 16–19, 2025 in Buenos Aires.
A jury will choose one winning script, which will receive ARS 500,000, plus professional post‑production services (5.1 mix, color grading, DCP and export deliveries), distribution by Hablemos de Langostas, and support for material delivery. Technical prizes must be used within one year.
Syncro Lab is an excellent opportunity to boost your short film project and connect with the independent film industry.
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Syncro Lab
