The 9th Bilbao Professional Documentary Film Forum – ZINEBI Networking 2026 will take place in Bilbao, Spain, from November 23 to 26, 2026. The call for applications will be open from June 25 to September 9, 2026.
The call is aimed at filmmakers from the Basque Country and the rest of Spain, meaning it accepts national applications. It focuses on documentary feature film projects, both at an early stage of project development and at the completion stage, provided that projects in the latter category already have a preliminary cut.
ZINEBI Networking operates as a professional forum for documentary projects, covering project development and Work in Progress/completion. The accepted format is a documentary feature film project.
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ZINEBI Networking
MAJORDOCSPITCH 2025 is an open call for non-fiction filmmakers with feature-length documentaries in development, work in progress, or rough cut stages. Up to five projects will be selected to take part in a preparation and presentation program held in Palma de Mallorca.
The program includes a rehearsal session for pitching in English with an international mentor, followed by the official presentation before a panel of festival programmers, distributors, and industry professionals. Each project will have 15 minutes to present and receive feedback, as well as one-to-one meetings with invited experts.
Applications are open until September 30, 2025, and require an English-subtitled teaser, a completed form, and a registration fee of €15. The festival provides accreditation, inclusion in its catalogue, and one night of accommodation.
Awards include participation in the Industry Days of the Beldocs 2026 festival, with accreditation and expenses covered, as well as distribution consultancy from DOCMA and a one-year free membership in this association. All selected projects must acknowledge their participation in MAJORDOCSPITCH 2025 in the film’s credits.
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MAJORDOCS PITCH
The seventh edition of ESTELAB invites feature film projects, both fiction and documentary, from Latin America and Europe with potential for international co-production. The lab combines in-person sessions in Colombia with synchronous online activities, providing mentorship and workshops to strengthen projects in development.
Applications are open until October 12, 2025, with a registration fee of 20 USD. Selected projects must cover a participation fee of 480 USD, though partial or full scholarships may be granted.
Applicants must submit a PDF in Spanish including: project cover, synopsis, treatment, director and producer biographies, budget and financing plan, production schedule, motivation to participate, and other relevant information. The registration form must be completed in a single session.
ESTELAB aims to support projects with an international vision and provide tools for their development and potential co-production, fostering exchange between creators and experts from the region and Europe.
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ESTELAB Co-Production Laboratory
The CANTERA - Alcalá Short Film Lab call is aimed at emerging filmmakers who want to develop their first professional short film. Up to six projects will be selected to participate in an intensive training lab, including 16 hours of workshops led by industry professionals in scriptwriting, directing, pitching, and production.
The winning project will receive an in-kind prize valued at over €20,000, providing resources to complete the short film. Additionally, the final work will have the opportunity to premiere at a future edition of the Alcalá de Henares Film Festival, offering national exposure.
Participants must be over 18 years old and have limited professional short film experience (no more than one). Project duration should be between five and thirty minutes. Applications are open until October 24, 2025. This initiative is an excellent opportunity to gain training, support, and visibility in the film industry, fostering emerging talent and enabling the creation of high-quality short films.
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ECAM Films to Come
The Cine y Mujer 2025 Screenwriting Residency offers a creative and training space for Spanish-speaking women screenwriters, including trans women and individuals identifying as women. Its goal is to provide an environment to strengthen feature film scripts while promoting decentralization in the audiovisual field.
The residency will take place from November 26 to 30, 2025, in Coatepec, Veracruz, Mexico. Participants will receive specialized mentorship, accommodation, full meals, and local transportation, while travel to Xalapa and personal expenses are the responsibility of the participants.
Applicants must be over 18, have prior screenwriting experience, and submit a feature-length script of 60–100 pages. Required materials include a synopsis, script, motivation letter, and proof of registration payment. The deadline for submissions is October 19, 2025, with results announced on October 30, 2025.
This residency provides a unique opportunity for creative development, professional guidance, and visibility for film projects led by women.
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Screenwriting Residency: Cinema and Women
