Producer training initiative EURODOC is inviting applications for its 27th flagship edition, running March to October 2027. The deadline for applications is November 23 2025.
“Our comprehensive flagship workshop is an itinerant residential program of three weeks throughout the year. This program is for producers coming from all over the world who have an ambitious creative documentary project at the development stage,” organisers write.
“The main objective of the program is to help producers in the artistic and financial development of their project, to improve their knowhow in terms of international co-production and company management – thus implementing good practices in the sector – reinforce the skills independent production requires, and significantly expand their professional network. We believe that project development and career building go hand in hand.”
“Once graduated, EURODOC alumni have access to social events and accreditations at partner festivals and markets, memberships to affiliate organizations, consulting on-demand, and promotion of their projects over the years.”
Comments Nora Philippe, director of the program: “Since 1999, we have been training and empowering independent documentary producers from across the globe. Within our many comprehensive training initiatives, our Flagship program is the most intensive and international. Our alumni often say there is a before-EURODOC, and an after-EURODOC in their careers. We say our societies need documentaries more than ever, and independent and visionary producers are the key players of the sector. We hope you can apply and join our 28th cohort!”
The EURODOC schedule (locations to be announced) is as follows:
- Session 1. Development. 6 days. March 2027. The first session focuses on assessing each of the participants’ projects in terms of script and development and to strengthen their overall consistency. In-depth individual meetings with an expert are organised for each participant. Masterclasses and case studies cover issues such as story-telling and narrative structure, the relationship between the director and the producer or co-authors, the producer and the editor.
- Session 2. Co-production, Financing & Packaging. 6 days. June 2027. During Session 2, participants finalize their financial plan and their co-production strategy, and start the packaging of their projects (pitch, pitch-deck, trailer). Group work, masterclasses and case studies focus on budgeting, financing (private funds and fiscal sponsorship, contracts with televisions, European / global / minority-driven funds, production incentives in terms of parity and diversity, green production new rules, working with platforms, international coproduction, rights clearance, trailer and pitch strategy). Individual meetings with two experts are organized additionally. A specific of Session 2 is the “Production Landscape presentations” series whwn participants research, write (prior to the session) and deliver a tailor-made presentation on documentary production means in their country. These presentations are moderated by the participants themselves.
- Session 3. Meet the Experts. October 2027. The final session is mainly dedicated to one-to-one meetings with Industry Guests. “At EURODOC, we value time and human encounter, not express pitching or match-making,” organisers write. Over three days, individual meetings of 45 minutes each are organized for the participants with the experts whose profiles are most relevant to the project. These meetings are intensively prepared during the first 2 days of the session, under the supervision of the tutors. Some of the guest decision-makers will also present their editorial lines, programs and funding/buying possibilities in short talks held every day. During Session 3, masterclasses focus on new production models, current trends in the documentary film market, and upcoming distribution channels.
Click here for a comprehensive list of films developed within the framework of EURODOC.
Each year, up to 20 films, previously developed within the framework of EURODOC are completed, co-produced, selected and awarded at the most prestigious film festivals in the world. Click here to see a comprehensive list of films developed within the framework of EURODOC.
EURODOC lists further objectives of the 8-month initiative:
- to improve the 360° development of documentary projects with international potential, their financing and their distribution
- to accelerate careers (worldwide, with a focus on Europe)
- to master the challenges of rapid digital mutations in the documentary ecosystem
- to reinforce international opportunities for small and medium-sized companies
- to navigate transnational cooperation within Europe and beyond
- to provide a clear overview on the international film market situation
- to foster a sustainable network by bringing together professionals and decision makers of the sector
- to work towards a more inclusive documentary ecosystem, that addresses the specific needs of professionals based in European countries with low audiovisual production capacity (LCC), in the Global South, and from underrepresented communities
Throughout the 3 sessions, all of the fundamentals of production are covered, organisers underline. Topics addressed include:
- The assessment of the artistic project, script and intentions
- The negotiation and clearing of rights (copyright, music, archive…)
- Ethical challenges
- The financing of the development, production methods, and budgeting
- The identification of potential international partners
- Various co-production methods and schemes
- The preparation of trailers, pitch-decks and pitches for producers
- Digital and AI tools
- Ethical challenges with protagonists, stories, and ethics of coproduction
- Crew and company management challenges
- Marketing, distribution and sales strategies
- Current evolution of the EU and global documentary film markets
For more information and details on how to apply, click here.
