The FantasoLab 2026 Fantastic Genre Short Film Laboratory opens applications from January 22 to February 20, 2026. This is a training‑focused lab designed for creators of fantastic genre short films — including science fiction, fantasy, and horror — who want to develop their projects through workshops, mentorship, and work sessions. The emphasis is on short films in development, between 7 and 15 minutes, with a first draft script ready at the time of submission.
The main laboratory activities will take place from April 6 to April 11, 2026, with preliminary sessions and individual work from late March to early April. Although based in Colombia, the call accepts international applications, especially from Ibero‑American creators, with priority given to Colombian talent. This initiative is not primarily a competition or market but a creative development environment to support and strengthen fantastic short film projects.
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Lab Cortos - Fantasolab
For the first time, the Fantboi - Sant Boi de Llobregat's International Fantastic Film Festival- is organizing its own feature film and short film project pitch competition.
As such, Fantboi-Future is the pitch-competition event focused on horror, science-fiction or fantastic feature films and short films in development.
The initiative maintains its objective of discovering the best genre projects out there, and connecting them with leading companies in the industry and professionals in the sector. The event will take place on Saturday, June 10.
In total, five projects will be selected. Those responsible for the selected projects will have the opportunity to make a sales pitch and then be able to talk with the professionals and producers in attendance, in a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for growing your ideas.
All the selected projects will have the option to acquire a free guest accreditation for the present edition of the Festival- which would allow them to attend all Fantboi sessions.
BASES FANTBOI-FUTURE 2023
REQUIREMENTS
The candidate projects to present:
- Screenplay
- Dossier with synopsis of the project, filmic references, production advantages,…
- Video pitch of a maximum duration of 3 minutes from the director of the project, or a teaser (which must be uploaded on the film's page in Festhome, as if it were a short film).
- Proposal for the film/short's poster.
awards
The projects that end up selected in Fantboi-Future will compete for the following prizes:
FEATURE FILM/SHORT CATEGORY
Presenting your project in front of industry professionals
Guest accreditation for the Fantboi
Festival Merchandise Pack
Advice on the pre-production process by professionals in the sector
PARTICIPATION COMMITMENT
The winning projects, and in the event that the corresponding long or short film is carried out, commit to adding the Fantboi-Future logo to it.
DATES
Monday, October 31: start of the call.
Monday, April 10: end of call.
Sunday April 30: announcement of the selected project/s.
Call through Festhome.
Contact: fantboi.future@fantboi.com
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
The Industry Academy Latin America 2026, organized by Locarno Pro, will hold two new editions in Chile and Mexico, bringing together emerging film industry professionals from across the Ibero-American region. The program is designed to strengthen the skills of participants working in fields such as distribution, international sales, exhibition, festival programming, marketing, and the circulation of independent cinema through an intensive training and networking experience.
The call is open to international applicants from the Ibero-American region and does not accept film projects or completed works, as it is focused on the professional development of industry participants. The application deadline is August 2, 2026. The Chile edition will take place from November 2–5, 2026, while the Mexico edition will be held from November 5–8, 2026.
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Locarno Industry Academy América Latina: Chile/México
The European Film Market (EFM) 2026 will take place from February 12 to 16, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. This market is one of the main international gatherings of the film industry, where producers, distributors, sales agents, and buyers come together to present projects, negotiate rights, and explore co-production opportunities.
The call is open to film and television professionals who have a project in development or a completed work seeking international distribution. Accreditation is required to participate in EFM activities, including screenings, networking meetings, and industry trend panels.
Participation provides strategic networking opportunities, access to exhibition spaces, and attendance at conferences with international experts. Accreditation applications will open through the official registration ahead of the event. The EFM offers a comprehensive platform to promote projects, find co-production partners, and expand presence in international markets.
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berlinale - European Film Market
