Although the successes of fellow filmmakers might have been somehow tainted by the events around the world in the upcoming months, it’s all the more reason to champion brilliant stories of tomorrow. 

From today, we are calling for projects for 3 workshops this autumn: during Bogazici Film Festival in Istanbul, in Montreal, supported by the Festival du nouveau cinema de Montreal and a new workshop in Budapest, with the support of the National Film Institute Hungary – Fast Forward Program. Each of these workshops will welcome up to 3 projects in the early postproduction stage.

The selected teams (director/producer/editor) will be offered a creative framework, both protective & challenging, where to open up and to explore new artistic perspectives for their films. They screen their rough cut in a private session, and receive expert feedbacks from three international film industry advisors, as well as tailor-made advice from a consultant editor. 

We are now accepting applications for the following workshops:

First Cut Lab Istanbul 

First Cut Lab Istanbul is a consultancy program designed for three feature films in editing phase from Turkey. The program is made in collaboration with the Bogazici Film Festival, as part of the Bosphorus Film Lab.

Returning for a third year, Fist Cut Lab Istanbul has already witnessed success of the projects from the past editions in form of world premieres at such prestigious festivals as the Berlin International Film Festival, or Sundance Film Festival. 

This year’s edition strives to find the next gems of the local film scene, with the guidance of Wim Vanacker as editor advisor and Agnieszka Glinska as consulant editor. 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 8th of September 2022. Workshop dates 24. to 28. October 2022.

First Cut Lab FNC Montreal

First Cut Lab FNC Montreal 2022 is a programme designed for 3 feature films in editing phase from Canada, supported by the Festival du nouveau cinema de Montreal and presented by Netflix.

Selected producer/director teams will screen their full rough cut in a private session and receive expert feedback on their edit from three top international film professionals (creative producers, festival programmers, sales agents, etc) as well as tailor-made advice from consultant editor Benjamin Mirguet.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 8th of September 2022. Workshop dates 5. to 16. October 2022, taking place online.

First Cut Lab Hungary

First Cut Lab Hungary is a consultancy program designed for three feature films in editing phase from Hungary. The program is made in collaboration with the National Film Institute Hungary – Fast Forward Program.

Having worked with Hungarian filmmakers during other FCL workshops, we know Hungary is booming with talented filmmakers who will thrive in the festival circuit.

Film teams will be working with editor consultant Catalin Cristutiu, with discussions moderated by editor advisor Wim Vanacker. Film industry advisors will be defined according to the profiles of the films selected.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 8th of September 2022. Workshop dates 12th to 15th October 2022 in Budapest.

With 14 First Cut Lab projects living their best premiere and festival lives this year alone, we are hoping to see many more of them to wrap up this year, and will be excited to guide more of them into the next year. Cheers to telling stories that help shape our perception of the world and the events in it!