Open Call: 11th Verzió DocLab International Documentary Workshop (Budapest, 14–18 Nov 2026)
Apply now: Verzió DocLab 2026
Verzió International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival invites emerging documentary filmmakers to apply for the 11th Verzió DocLab International Documentary Workshop on Story Development and Editing.
Taking place 14–18 November 2026 in Budapest, the DocLab offers an intensive development space for teams working on their first or second feature documentary project. Through tailored mentoring, participants will focus on strengthening narrative structure, editing strategies and the overall storytelling approach of their films.
Who can apply?
Filmmakers from across Europe and neighbouring regions are eligible, including countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Ukraine and many more. Each project can be represented by 2–3 team members (directors, producers and/or editors).
What is offered?
Selected participants benefit from:
- hands-on mentoring by international experts
- a collaborative workshop environment
- accommodation and lunches during the programme
- travel support (up to €200 per participant)
The standard participation fee is €300 per person, with reduced conditions for Hungarian participants and a full fee waiver for Ukrainian projects, including additional support.
What to submit
Applicants are asked to provide materials including:
- up to 20 minutes of selected scenes (with English subtitles)
- logline, synopsis and treatment
- visual materials and team bios
- financing plan and project details
Key details
- Workshop dates: 14–18 November 2026
- Location: Budapest, Hungary
- Application deadline: 31 May 2026 (midnight CET)
- No application fee
The Verzió DocLab is a strong opportunity for emerging filmmakers to develop their projects in a focused, international setting and to connect with peers and mentors from across the documentary field.
For questions, contact: doclab@verzio.org
