IDM Film & Music Commission Südtirol is pleased to renew its collaboration with IFFR – International Film Festival Rotterdam, offering one South Tyrolean professional the opportunity to take part in the "Rotterdam Lab 2027".
WHAT IS THE "ROTTERDAM LAB 2027"?
The Rotterdam Lab offers two options:
- The Producers Lab is an intensive training workshop for international film producers, held at the heart of the IFFR Pro industry days. Over six days, the Lab hosts more than 75 producers and creators, each nominated by partner organisations from around the globe. The programme offers emerging professionals the tools, knowledge and international network needed to navigate the complex world of film financing, creative development, co-production, sales, marketing, festivals and global distribution. Each edition engages leading film professionals as advisors, mentors and experts, ensuring participants gain firsthand insights into the realities of international filmmaking.
- The Creators Lab is a dedicated strand for creators (writers and directors), introduced in 2026. It is designed for filmmakers who want to deepen their understanding of the production process, strengthen their creative partnerships, and develop entrepreneurial skills to navigate today's increasingly complex financing and production landscape, where many creators must also self-(co)produce. Participants gain insights into financing, (co)production, sales and distribution, legal frameworks and revenue streams, with knowledge shared by leading experts and practitioners. The aim is to equip creators to collaborate more effectively with producers and build sustainable, long-term creative partnerships.
Creators will attend dedicated plenary sessions and masterclasses, running in parallel and interwoven with the traditional producer-focused Lab. Joint activities (roundtables, workshops and group sessions with industry guests) will bring the two cohorts together, fostering dialogue and simulating real-world collaboration between artistic and production roles.
WHO?
Eligibility profile – Producers Lab
- Producers should have made at least two short films and/or be working on their first or second feature film.
- They should have a clear strategic goal to co-produce internationally.
- They should demonstrate a strong interest in expanding their international network and working beyond their local context.
- Candidates may be independent producers with their own companies, freelancers, or junior producers at established production houses.
- There are no age restrictions.
Eligibility profile – Creators Lab
- Filmmakers, primarily directors and writer-directors, who have shown their artistic potential through short films with international circulation or a completed debut feature.
- The strand supports creators ready to take the next step toward global visibility, stronger partnerships and greater agency in the international film industry.
- There are no age restrictions.
Please note: the Rotterdam Lab is not project-based. However, producers and creators are encouraged to bring a project in active development to make the most of the networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
The selected South Tyrolean professional will receive:
- accommodation for 6 nights for the duration of the Lab (arrival 29 January, departure 4 February);
- participation in the Rotterdam Lab programme: 5 days of intensive masterclasses with lectures, roundtables, consultations and workshops;
- accreditation for IFFR CineMart (access to meetings, daily networking lunches and drinks, 20 tickets for festival screenings, access to All Pro Hub panels and to Festival Talks and Interviews, access to the Art Directions and Immersive VR programmes, invitations to the IFFR Filmmakers Party and Industry Party, and access to the CineMart Awards).
Please note: travel expenses, as well as any meals not covered by the accreditation, are at the selected participant's own expense.
WHEN AND WHERE?
IFFR's "Rotterdam Lab 2027" will take place from 30 January to 3 February 2027 in Rotterdam.
APPLICATION AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
Applicants must submit a CV including a filmography and a short cover letter (maximum one page) describing their motivation to take part in the Rotterdam Lab 2027 and stating which Lab they wish to attend.
The application deadline is 30 October 2026.
All application documents should be sent (preferably in English) to maria.dissegna@idm-suedtirol.com
PLEASE NOTE
IDM support can only be granted to a local professional.
Local professional = a film industry professional to whom the "South Tyrol effect" applies, i.e. professionals who were born and/or are resident in South Tyrol, and/or who are studying or have graduated from ZeLIG School from the 2007–2010 training cycle onwards.