Talent 
Labs

The Talents Labs are where we get down to the nitty-gritty of filmmaking. If you are applying with a project, you can develop and present it at the Script Station, Doc Station, Short Form Station or Talent Project Market. 

The Sundance Institute Feature Film Program (FFP) has championed leading independent filmmakers of the past 40 years whose distinctive films have engaged audiences worldwide. Embracing each artist’s unique vision, the program encourages a rigorous, in-depth creative process while focusing on original and deeply resonant storytelling. 

A wave of adventurous filmmakers has led to a fresh cultural vibrancy in British cinema. As filmmakers and audiences continue to make fewer distinctions between film, television and other digital media (such as games, online video, virtual reality), we need to ensure our funds remain relevant, responsive and adaptable. 

The Sean Connery Talent Lab, delivered by the NFTS, aims to support filmmakers with diverse and varied perspectives to take their work to the next level. Through a year-long programme, participants will ‘graduate’ with a short film that will be showcased to the industry. From the participants in the talent lab we will form six filmmaking teams who will benefit from a first class NFTS training programme comprising seminars, workshops and individual tutoring aimed to elevate the participants’ craft specialism.  Each team will receive a £25,000 production budget, with access to equipment and facilities provided for free by the NFTS. On successful completion of the programme, participants will be awarded an NFTS Diploma in Filmmaking.

TIFF Filmmaker Lab is a talent development programme that takes place during the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Each year, 20 Canadian and international directors receive an exceptional professional development experience, and an introduction to the global community of filmmaking. 

Film London Labs is a year-round programme of events that offers guidance, insight and support for creators when they need it most - at the earliest stages of their projects. We aim to cultivate creative learning across different storytelling mediums and provide emerging talent with the tools to turn their creative spark into a sustainable career.
 

This year, the creative team of DISFF’s PITCHING LAB has received 122 entries from all over the world. Once again, we are very pleased about this valuable interaction, as it is essential for an international festival. Through this educational process, we get to listen and learn at an early stage, the anxieties, ideas, and thoughts of young people from all over the world who aspire to become audiovisual artists.

A programme for professional scriptwriters coming from all over the world and planning a career in or a co-production with Europe, wanting to boost their experience in drama series writing and training the skills required in a writers’ room. This programme powered by TorinoFilmLab aims at scouting and training the best emerging talents in drama writing and to give them the chance to gain experience in a professional writers’ room, guided by a high-profile mentor; and to build connections with other international writers and professionals of the European TV industry.

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The threefold motto of the Reykjavík International Film Festival (Innovation – Networking – Dialogue) is perfectly manifested in the activities of the Talent Lab. The lab highlights and promotes the innovative works of young filmmakers and fosters as well as facilitates the networking necessary to promote their work to buyers and distributors. 

The Producing Lab helps further the careers of its Fellows by introducing them to film professionals who can advise them on both the craft and business of independent producing. In addition to attending lab sessions with legal, financial and production experts, each Producing Lab Fellow will be paired with an experienced Creative Advisor with whom they’ll work to develop their project over the course of the program. 

Screen Australia Talent Labs are development programs aimed at nurturing emerging Australian screen talent. They offer workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities to filmmakers, writers, and other creatives in the industry. The labs focus on enhancing participants' skills, providing insights into the screen industry, and supporting the creation of high-quality, original content. These initiatives are part of Screen Australia's commitment to fostering the next generation of Australian storytellers.

Take your chance to join the Linz ISFF Talent Academy and realise your next short film with the support of leading professionals in the industry. With residencies at the Cannes Film Festival 2024 and Linz ISFF 2024, online mentoring sessions and more.