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.