EUROPEAN FIRST FILMS PITCHES 2026 – CALL FOR PROJECTS NOW OPEN

Deadline: Friday, October 31, 2025
Pitching date: January 27, 2026 – Biarritz, France

The call for projects for the 2026 edition of FIPADOC European First Films Pitches is now open.

Organised as part of the FIPADOC Industry Days, this initiative supports emerging European filmmakers in developing their debut feature-length documentaries. Directors and producers are invited to submit their projects by Friday, October 31, 2025.

The selected projects will be presented on site in Biarritz on January 27, 2026, during the next edition of FIPADOC (January 23–31, 2026), to an audience of key industry professionals including commissioning editors, producers and festival representatives.

Each selected team will receive personalised coaching and an online preparation session with an experienced moderator ahead of the event. Participation is free of charge.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION

Before applying, please download and read the official regulations carefully.

Projects submitted to the FIPADOC International Pitches that meet the eligibility criteria for the European First Films Pitches will automatically be considered for this section, even without a separate submission.

Eligible directors must come from or reside in territories participating in the Doc Around Europe network:
Biografilm (Italy), DocsBarcelona (Spain), DOK.fest München (Germany), MakeDox (North Macedonia), Verzió (Hungary) and FIPADOC (France).

Participating countries include:
Italy
France, French-speaking Belgium, Luxembourg
Germany, Austria, German-speaking South Tyrol
Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia
Spain

Download the regulations

PROJECT APPLICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

A complete project application must be submitted online by Friday, October 31, 2025.
All materials must be provided in English. Incomplete applications will not be validated.

Download application guidelines
Submit your project

Selection announcement: December 8, 2025

ACCREDITATION & SUPPORT

Directors of selected projects will receive:

A free FIPADOC professional pass
Partial coverage of accommodation and/or travel costs

For further information, please contact:
Louise Jeangirard – l.jeangirard@fipadoc.com

About the European First Films Pitches
The initiative is part of Doc Around Europe, a network of leading documentary festivals supporting the circulation of European documentaries and fostering collaboration between emerging filmmakers across the continent.