CinEuro Film Lab 2025 - Stories Beyond Borders, within Societies

In collaboration with the Film Commissions of North Baden and Freiburg, the MFG Baden-Württemberg offers a tailor-made writing programme for screenwriters. This programme is part of the new phase of the CinEuro Film Lab’s ‘Beyond Borders’ and ‘Societies’ sequences, entitled Stories Beyond Borders, within Societies.
The programme focuses on discovering regional themes related to borders and society in the broadest sense, with themes from Mannheim and Freiburg as well as the neighbouring regions of the Grand Est and northern Switzerland, with the aim of transforming them into film and television projects and, in the best case scenario, bringing them to fruition. The stated objective is to develop regional themes for European and even global markets.
You will participate in workshops led by renowned screenwriter Jan Galli to reflect on your experience and assess the ‘narrative relevance’ of the themes addressed. Project development will continue in workshops led by Jan Galli, with the support of casting directors Fabian Kiefer and Michael Ackermann.
The programme will conclude with the preparation of presentations of your screenplays and participation in the workshop feedback session at the Forum Alentours in Strasbourg, scheduled for July 2026. The first edition of the CinEuro Film Lab feedback sessions took place in 2023 and focused on the themes of migration and history. Among the topics developed, two projects were selected by production companies and also received writing assistance. Another project was selected for development at the prestigious Torino Film Lab.
CinEuro Film Lab therefore offers an ideal framework, from the initial conception phase to the presentation of the project and beyond.
❗ Application deadline: 26/10/2025
Eligibility requirements:
· You are a professional screenwriter residing in the CinEuro region.
· Participants must have previous experience in writing, directing or producing at least one short film, feature film or documentary that has been purchased and/or broadcast by a television channel, or presented at a festival (including in the non-competitive section), and/or supported by a CinEuro partner fund.
· You must commit to participating in all programme events and be open to collaborative, feedback-driven development.
· Participation is free of charge. Meals and accommodation (if required) during programme events will be provided. Travel expenses will be covered by participants, unless otherwise specified.
· The number of participants is limited to a maximum of 15.
· The working language is German.
N.B: Individuals who have already participated in CinEuro inspiration sessions are also eligible to participate in this programme.
Calendar:
· Launch event at the Black Forest Film Festival on 25 and 26 November 2025, in Freiburg
· Sessions in Mannheim on 8 and 9 December 2025
· Additional workshops and coaching sessions between November 2025 and June 2026 (including two-day workshops in March and April 2026, exact dates to be confirmed)
· Final presentation session at the Alentours Forum in early July 2026
For any question about the application procedure, feel free to contact :
Film Commissions
Michael Ackermann, Film Commission Nordbaden
Fabian Kiefer, Film Commission Freiburg
MFG Baden-Württemberg
Oliver Krause
Marian Metzner Thorn
CinEuro | Grand Est