Would you like to work thoroughly on your short film script, director's vision and directing actors? Then take part in the Directors Village during Euregion Film Forum 2025! Eight filmmakers from different European countries will work together to strengthen their writing and directing skills.
Directors Village is organised by CineSud in collaboration with Screen Talent Europe.
Directors Village 2025
Would you like to work thoroughly on your short film script, director’s vision and directing actors? Submit your project and become a part of the Directors Village during Euregion Film Forum. Eight filmmakers from different countries will be selected to take part in the residence training program.
Directors Village is a 5-day on-site European residence training program to enhance and develop the skills of the directors-writers and help you prepare for your next (short film) project. During the Directors Village you will learn and work on the script development, director's vision & directing actors with coaches during group sessions, networking events, and you help each other to bring your projects further. The workshops will be held in English.
"It was a true pleasure to be a part of Directors Village and meet this warm group of talented people. A wonderful program organised by the safe and welcoming hands of CineSud, inspiring and encouraging guidance by top coaches and a strong and joyful connection with the filmmakers whom I share this experience with. The program has both enriched the process with my project as well as given me lifelong memories. I strongly recommend this for all who want to grow as a filmmaker and have a great time doing it!"Adam Starsmark | FilmCloud (Sweden)
Program
Read more about the program of Directors Village via the button below. Networking lunches & dinner, film screenings & other events during the Euregion Film Forum are also included in the participation.
Wednesday, March 12
- 13:00-20:30: Arrival & Networking Lunch, City Tour & Kick-off Get-together Session & Screening Directors Village Special & Networking Dinner
Thursday, March 13
- 10:00-18:00: Group Session | Writers Room: Script Development
- 18:30-20:30: Networking Dinner
Friday, March 14
- 10:00-18:00: Group Session | Directing: Find Your Directors Vision & Scene Analysis
- 18:30-20:30: Networking Dinner
Saturday, March 15
- 10:00-18:00: Workshop | Directing: Working with Actors
- 18:30-20:30: Networking Dinner
Sunday, March 16
- 10:00-17:00: Group Session | Directing: Editing & Scene Analysis
- 18:00-20:30: Farewell Networking Dinner
Monday, March 17
- Departure
Want to participate?
The participants of Directors Village are directors-writers who are working on their new short film. In order to be eligible for the submission, the director-writer needs to have already directed one short film. Directors Village is a collaboration between CineSud, Screen Talent Europe and its partners. The participants will be selected by Screen Talent Europe Network partners. There is one spot available via an open call.
How to apply
Participation in the Directors Village is limited to eight talents of Screen Talent Europe partners:
- Filmmakers from Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Ireland are eligible to submit if the film workshop in the region is one of the Screen Talent Europe partners: Ardan, CineSud, FilmCloud, Film Stockholm, GMAC, Mediefabrikken, MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, New Noardic Wave and Odense Film Workshop. Your application will be assessed by your local partner. The participation fee is covered by the partner mentioned above (The program covers workshop, accommodation and catering costs for the selected participants. Travelling may be fully/partially covered by the respective partners up to a limit. For more information about travel costs, please contact your local partner)
Applicants must be developing a new fiction project. To apply you already need to have a first draft of a script (maximum 20 pages). One applicant can submit only one short film project.
Would you like to be selected to the Directors Village? Please fill in the application form via the button below.
Deadline to submit: December 1, 23.59 PM, Amsterdam time.
The participants of the Directors Village are directors-writers who are working on their new short film. In order to be eligible for the submission, the director-writer needs to have already directed one short film and has to be working on a new short film at the moment. A first draft of a script should be present.
You van only apply one project(idea).
To apply, fill in the application form via the buton below and provide us with the following documents (combined in one PDF of max. 25 pages and 5 mb):
- Tagline, logline, synopsis, genre, duration of the project (max. 1 page);
- Motivation (Why would you like to participate?) (max. 1 page);
- Director's vision (max. 1 page);
- (Short) biographies of yourself and other key crew/cast-members (if applicable) (max. 1 page);
- Moodboard and/or other relevant extra information (screeners of former work are recommended) (max. 1 page);
- Script (max. 20 pages).
Apply via the button below and deliver all the requested materials in one single PDF of max. 25 pages and max. 5mb. If the materials are bigger than asked for, the project will not be taken into consideration. If you apply to the following STE partners (Ardan, CineSud, FilmCloud Film Stockholm, GMAC, Mediefabrikken, MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, New Noardic Wave, and Odense Film Workshop), you can submit the application in your native language or in English. In case you submit in your native language, it will need to be translated by the applicant into English after the project is selected.
"I wasn't anticipating the experience to be so revolutionary when it came to my work, and I certainly didn't expect to come away with seven new old friends. I can't wait to see what they do next, and I am so looking forward continuing our friendship!"Catriona MacLeod | GMAC Film (Scotland)
Meet the Coaches
Janneke van Heesch | Director
Janneke van Heesch (Director, the Netherlands) resides in Amsterdam and has expertise in directing short films, television series, and feature films. Currently serving as a Directing Coach at the Netherlands Film Academy, Amsterdam, she also shares her knowledge as a guest professor at the Academy of Architecture, Amsterdam, and the AKI, Academy of Art and Design, Enschede. Janneke specializes in Script Development and Directing Actors. Her notable filmography includes works like Through with Love (2021), Plastercast (2018), Seven Mountains (2016), and more. Diary of a Call Girl (2016), Basile H. (2015), Mowgli & Fidel (2011), Scooter Girls (2005).
Ester Martin Bergsmark | Director
Ester M Bergsmark, based in Stockholm, is a versatile visual artist and filmmaker ( director, writer, cinematographer) whose work spans documentary, fiction, and experimental film. Bergsmark works across genres and formats, often in close collaboration with other artists. Some of the most notable films are Something Must Break (2014) (Tiger Award Rotterdam IFFR) and She Male Snails (2012), both in collaboration with Eli Levén, and Maggie vaknar på balkongen (Guldbagge/ Swedish Film Price for Best Documentary in 2009). Their work is shown in festivals, cinemas and galleries worldwide. Bergsmark completed their PhD project, "voice under," at Stockholm University of the Arts in 2023. Their interdisciplinary approach explores how desire, joy and liberation generate inner, outer and collective transformation.
"Being part of the Directors Village was a truly edifying and worthwhile experience, both professionally and personally! Want to improve your short-film project while expanding your storyteller's toolbox and making some friends along the way? The Directors Village got you covered!"Lucas Brunelli Donnard | Germany
Organisation
Directors Village is a unique training program organised by CineSud. The program is organised in collaboration with our dear partners of Screen Talent Europe: Ardan, FilmCloud, Film Stockholm, GMAC, Mediefabrikken, MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, New Noardic Wave and Odense Film Workshop
Screen Talent Europe is a network of film workshops and media centres in Europe. The purpose of the network is to promote and foster co-operation between partners, help filmmakers exchange knowledge, experiences and methods through talent camps, network meetings and co-productions. The network collaborates to produce international talent development projects such as pitching forums, film production camps, networking and social events. Furthermore, Screen Talent Europe works to strengthen the workshop model for support-based talent development and also assists countries in Europe currently without film workshops in developing similar resources and models.
Contact us.
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