The 11th edition of the Verzió DocLab is now accepting applications, offering emerging European documentary filmmakers a “high-impact, all-in-one development platform” combining an intensive workshop on editing and story development, the presentation of a trailer or an excerpt to decisionmakers, and one-on-one meetings with international industry professionals.
Taking place in Budapest between 14–18 November 2026, the five-day intensive program targets directors working on their first or second feature-length documentary, alongside their producers and editors.
“Designed as a hands-on creative lab, DocLab focuses on story development and editing, guiding selected teams to refine their narrative, rework key scenes, and sharpen their cinematic vision with the support of leading international experts,” organises write.
“Participants benefit from a unique structure: collaborative group work, tailored one-on one consultations, and intensive editing sessions culminate in a public presentation in front of festival programmers, sales agents, fund representatives and producers—creating immediate visibility and concrete next steps for each project.”
The 2026 DocLab projects will be mentored by sector professionals including documentary consultant Brigid O’Shea, filmmaker Inka Achte, editor Flóra Erdélyi, and director and editor Anna Kis.
As part of the Verzió International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival and the DOC AROUND EUROPE network, DocLab is described as “a key gateway into the European documentary ecosystem, prioritizing projects with strong social relevance and international potential. At the end of the workshop awards are presented by our industry partners, offering financial support and further recognition and visibility for outstanding projects.”
The application deadline is 31 May 2026 (CET Midnight).
“DocLab is more than a workshop—it is a launchpad for emerging voices, where projects evolve creatively while building direct industry connections in a focused, high-level environment,” organisers underline.
For more details and application, click here.
