The Ópera Prima LAB 2026 call from the Cartagena International Film Festival is open to filmmakers from Ibero-America, South America, and the Caribbean, accepting international submissions. The lab is designed to support first feature film or first series projects in the development stage, providing mentorship, workshops, and a final pitch to industry professionals.
Projects of any genre are accepted, including fiction, documentary, animation, or hybrid formats. Applicants must submit a complete script or written pilot, along with development materials such as synopsis and creative dossier. The program focuses on script and creative development, not on completed projects.
Submissions are open from November 26, 2025, to January 18, 2026. The lab will take place virtually from March to April 2026, with in-person sessions from April 14 to 19, 2026, during the festival in Cartagena, Colombia.
Review official bases.
First Feature film LAB - FICCI/a>
The 21st International Producers’ Meeting – Fiction, part of Encuentros Cartagena 2026, will take place within the framework of the 65th Cartagena International Film Festival. It is aimed at Latin American feature-length fiction projects in development, offering professional support through mentorship, masterclasses, networking, and a final project pitch. The call is exclusively for fiction projects and does not include documentaries.
Applications are open from December 1, 2025, to January 18, 2026. The event will be held in two formats: virtual, from April 6 to 10, 2026, and in-person, from April 13 to 17, 2026, in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. This call welcomes participation from Latin American teams, aiming to strengthen the professional development and visibility of new feature-length fiction projects in the region. The focus of the meeting is on the film industry, emphasizing project development and networking opportunities for emerging producers.
Review official bases.
Meetings (Fiction) – FICCI
The Encuentros Cartagena 2026 call provides a development platform for Colombian animation projects, focusing on feature-length and short films in development. It is aimed at national producers seeking to strengthen their projects through pitches, mentorship, and specialized guidance, facilitating industry connections.
Applications are open from December 1, 2025, to January 18, 2026, allowing participants to prepare and submit their projects within this period. The program will take place virtually from April 6 to 10, 2026, and in person from April 13 to 17, 2026, during the Cartagena International Film Festival.
This initiative focuses exclusively on Colombian animation projects, aiming to strengthen the national industry through professional guidance, presentation opportunities, and networking with key industry players. International projects and animation series are not accepted; the primary goal is to support the development of works that can progress toward production and distribution.
Review official bases.
Meetings (Animation) – FICCI
The Writers’ Vision Pitch at Seriencamp is aimed at creators of fiction series looking to present their projects in development. Applications for the 2026 edition are open until January 18, 2026, with the live pitch taking place on June 9–10, 2026 in Cologne, Germany, including mandatory pitch training on the first day.
The program welcomes projects from any nationality, provided they are in English, and accepts all fiction genres, from drama and thriller to comedy and sci‑fi. The main goal is to provide visibility for series in development, allowing writers to present their first season to industry professionals and access networking and mentoring opportunities.
Only fiction series with a minimum of four episodes are accepted, including miniseries and short-form serial formats. Documentaries, animated series, or children’s series are not eligible. Participants must be the original creators or hold the rights to the project, which should not be previously tied to production companies or distributors. The pitch offers a platform to enhance the project and increase its international exposure.
Review official bases.
Writers's Vision Pitch - Seriencamp
The IbizaCineFest 2026 Screenplay Competition is open to original short film scripts, written in Spanish or English, with a maximum length of 15 pages, excluding cover and synopsis. Scripts of any genre are accepted, provided they follow professional cinematic formatting; graphic or technical scripts are not allowed.
Submissions are open until January 20, 2026, with early, standard, late, and extended deadlines. The competition is international, welcoming authors of all nationalities. Scripts must be submitted in PDF format, including title, author contact information, and a synopsis of up to 15 lines.
The festival will take place from February 20 to March 1, 2026, in Ibiza, Spain. From all submissions, five finalists will be selected to present a pitch of up to five minutes. The jury will choose the winner and may grant up to two special mentions.
The main prize consists of €1,000 in production support for the short film and participation in the next edition of the festival. All finalists will receive a fee waiver when submitting their completed short film.
Review official bases.
Script Competition - IBIZACINEFEST
