First Cut Lab Paris is a consultancy program designed to support audiovisual professionals from across the world, with a focus on feature-length films in the editing stage.
Each selected project team – composed of the director, producer, and editor – is offered a creative framework that is both challenging and safe, aimed at helping the team to refine the artistic vision of the film, enhance its audience reach, and strengthen its prospects on the international festival circuit.
Every film will receive in-depth feedback from three industry advisors and an editing consultant. All consultants are carefully chosen based on the specific needs of each film, ensuring the most relevant and impactful guidance. A selection of regular First Cut Lab consultants can be found here: http://firstcutlab.eu/people/
A Lab spans three days, beginning with a private industry screening of the film for the advisors. This is followed by a structured daily schedule consisting of three key sessions:
1. Preparatory Session
An initial discussion with the First Cut Lab team to reflect on the film and define the main focus areas for the core session.
2. Core Session with Industry Advisors
An in-depth conversation with three carefully selected industry professionals, offering critical analysis and feedback tailored to the film’s needs.
3. Follow-Up Session with Editing Consultant
A practical session aimed at identifying concrete solutions for the film’s development, discussing editorial strategies, and outlining the next steps.
Following the workshop, each team will receive a comprehensive session report, serving as a valuable roadmap for the continued development of the film.
Submission Deadline:
5 December 2025
DATES
Deadline for submissions: 5 December 2025.
The program will take place onsite in Paris, with each selected film being workshopped during the period of 21–31 January 2026.
Participants may indicate their preferred Lab period when applying, choosing from the below three options. Please note that, while we will do our best to accommodate preferences, First Cut Lab cannot guarantee that the selected project will be assigned its preferred dates.
- 21–23 January
- 26–28 January
- 29–31 January
If you have no specific preference, please indicate this clearly in the application form.
PARTICIPATION FEES
Selected projects will have to pay a participation fee of 2500 Euros before the program starts.
Projects may be eligible for a scholarship – with a participation fee of 1000 Euros – if their main production country is listed as an ODA-recipient.
Please note that travel and accommodation costs are not included in the participation fee. Participants are responsible for arranging and covering their own transportation and lodging during their stay in Paris.
SUBMISSIONS
All applications must include:
- complete application form and video material (first assembly, rough cut, selected scenes). In order to submit your application and the required material, you need to fill out the form.
Please find below the complete guidelines and detailed information about the submission process.
Applications must be sent to: marija.fridinovaite@firstcutlab.eu
1. GENERAL GUIDELINES
The deadline for submitting a project to First Cut Lab Paris is 5 December 2025.
In order to submit your application and the required material, you need to complete the submission form. All application materials and subtitles should be in English.
2. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Submissions should include:
- complete application form in English and video material with English subtitles (first assembly, rough cut, selected scenes). In order to submit your application and the required material, you need to fill out the form.
- the video material is mandatory to be available via streaming service password protected (e.g. Vimeo). No transfer services or cloud storage is accepted.
3. SELECTION & ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The project should be a feature-length film with international market potential – minimum length of 70 minutes.
Projects from all over the world are eligible to apply. Both fiction and documentary films are accepted.
First Cut Lab has no specific fixed criteria in terms of content and each project will be considered on its own merits. The main criteria for selection are the artistic & audience potential of the film, corroborated with specific needs in regards to the specificity of the First Cut Lab workshop.
Projects should be new or recent. Projects should not have been presented at any public screenings (special industry screenings such as works-in-progress etc. are ok).
The project can be in different stages of post-production, although an early editing phase is preferred.
4. SPECIFIC CONDITIONS
Once a project has been selected, the creative team – director, producer and editor – should be available during the days of the Lab.
Finished films that participated in First Cut Lab should mention First Cut Lab and display its logo in their credits. The following sentence should be mentioned in the credit list: “This project participated in First Cut Lab Paris 2026” together with the First Cut Lab logo.
Initiative of: