For up-and-coming filmmakers: Directors Village 2026

Eligibility
Talented directors who are working on a new fictional short film as a Script Writer and have already realised a short film project are eligible to apply. Only one project can be submitted per applicant.

Participation in the programme, including accommodation, meals and networking events, is free of charge for the selected participants. Travel expenses will be covered by MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein up to a maximum of €150.

Programme

The Directors Village will take place from 17 to 23 March 2026 in Heerlen and Maastricht, the Netherlands, as part of the Euregion Film Forum. Twelve filmmakers from different European countries will be selected for this training programme.

You can find more information here.

Contents of the five-day programme:

• Writers Room: script development

• Directing: vision, scene analysis & working with actors

• Editing & scene analysis

• Networking lunches & dinners, screenings and other events as part of the festival

The 2026 coaches are:

• Sofia Norlin (Sweden)

• Martin Strange-Hansen (Denmark)

• Janneke van Heesch (Netherlands)

Application

Applications can only be submitted online. A PDF (max. 25 pages, 5 MB) containing the following documents is required:

1.      Project information (tagline, logline, synopsis, genre, duration, max. 1 page)

2.      Motivation (max. 1 page)

3rd       Director's Vision (max. 1 page)

4. short biographies of the applicant and, if applicable, other key crew/cast (max. 1 page)

5.      Moodboard or other relevant materials (max. 1 page)
Script version (max. 20 pages)

The application can be submitted in German; if the project is selected, an English translation must be provided.

A screenplay version with a maximum of 20 pages must be submitted for the application. Only one fictional short film project can be submitted per applicant.

Deadline for applications: Monday, 1 December 2025, 23:59 (CET)

Announcement of the selection: Monday, 12 January 2026