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Masterschool

How to apply

Submissions open for the Masterschool 2026 on 15 July 2025! Apply by 1 December 2025!

The Masterschool is focused on European media professionals (directors, producers, authors) who are:

  • experienced in their domestic markets (generally at least two years' experience in the industry)
  • ambitious to work on an international level
  • with a strong, reasonably advanced documentary/factual project for an international audience (can be single or series, long form, short-form series, multiplatform, format etc.)
  • open to learn and adapt their project to the needs of their target market
  • open to new business strategies/models
  • with sufficient English language skills to be able to follow the lectures/workshops well

We are looking for...

  • All types of factual-based content incl. TV series & one-offs, creative docs, multiplatform, Digital First, shorts series, animation, VR/XR productions
  • All genres incl. history, science, arts/culture, human interest, environmental, wildlife/natural history
  • Great documentary story ideas, especially ones suitable for multiplatform exploitation and striving to make an impact
  • Stories and characters that will appeal to global audiences
  • Projects experimenting with newer formats (eg digital first short-form series)
  • Projects seeking a European co-production partner
  • Experiments in alternative methods of exploitation and financing (e.g. crowdfunding)

Documentary Campus encourages applications from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.

To apply, please prepare:

  • Treatment: Maximum 2-page story outline proposal, a logline, and a short (approximately ten lines) synopsis;
  • Access: Evidence of access to key characters or institutions. This can be presented as a written statement in your treatment and/or as part of the visual material in your teaser (NOTE: releases of main protagonists MUST be signed by the second Masterschool session);
  • Budget: First draft of a budget and financing plan;
  • Trailer: Teaser or character reel (maximum 3 minutes) of key protagonists (NOTE: If you have no recorded material, please send us a Mood Board to visually depict the direction of style or overall feel which you are pursuing);
  • Profile: Information on production team: director/producer profile picture, CVs, and if applicable, company profile;
  • Self-Presentation Video: Short video (maximum 4 minutes) explaining your motivation to take part in the Masterschool;
  • Showreel: A brief showreel of your previous work (maximum 3 minutes);
  • Recommendation: A letter of recommendation from a commissioner, funder, experienced production house or experienced distributor.

NOTE: All documents submitted must be in PDF format. All materials must be submitted in English. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Please apply via FilmFreeway. Apply by 1 December 2025!

 

NOTE: Projects that have already been pitched at an international pitch event are NOT eligible. The pitch at the DC PITCHING must be a PREMIERE/the 1st public pitch.