11/03/2026 - The initiative, organised in partnership with the Slovenian Film Centre, will select two feature-length projects and combine development labs with an international residency

It Was a Beautiful Day by Perica Rai, just one example of a successful Slovenian genre film and a previous First Cut Lab participant

Tatino, the Paris-based film and talent development company, is launching the Slovenia Next Wave Genre Lab, a new initiative dedicated to supporting the development of Slovenian genre cinema. Organised in partnership with the Slovenian Film Centre, the programme targets writers, directors and producers working on feature-length projects across a wide range of genre categories, including comedy, thriller, horror, fantasy, action, crime and mystery.

The initiative aims to strengthen the diversity and international reach of Slovenian cinema by fostering the development of genre-driven storytelling. The open call for submissions will run from 10-31 March, after which two projects will be selected through a competitive process and announced during a public event at the Cannes Film Festival in cooperation with ALCA (the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Film Agency in France).

Nataša Bučar, managing director of the Slovenian Film Centre, commented: “Our vision is to expand the diversity of Slovenian cinema by strengthening genre filmmaking and fostering film excellence. We believe that high-quality genre films can bring Slovenian cinema closer to audiences in theatres. In cooperation with Tatino Films, two Slovenian genre projects will further develop with international expertise through the Next Wave Genre Lab, which represents a great opportunity for us."

Following their selection, the chosen projects – represented by their writer and producer – will take part in a two-stage programme combining intensive development support and an international residency. The first stage will take place in July during a four-day development lab organised within the framework of Full Circle Lab in Bordeaux. During this session, the teams will benefit from individual and group consultations focused on story development and production strategy, while also engaging in networking activities with international filmmakers whose projects are connected to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France and the Hessen region in Germany.

The second stage will consist of a three-week residency scheduled for autumn 2026 as part of the Pop Up Film Residency network across Europe. During this period, the participants will have the opportunity to refine their projects in a focused environment while receiving tailored mentorship from international industry professionals.

The programme arrives at a time when Slovenian genre filmmaking has been gaining increased visibility internationally, from Tomaž Gorkič’s slasher Idyll [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], which premiered at Cannes in 2015, to Sonja Prosenc’s satirical comedy Family Therapy [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sonja Prosenc
film profile], which screened at Tribeca in 2024 and was selected as Slovenia’s submission for the Academy Awards. It Was a Beautiful Day [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Perica Rai is another recent example of a successful Slovenian genre film, which also previously took part in First Cut Lab.

Tatino runs several international development initiatives, including First Cut Lab, Full Circle Lab and the Pop Up Film Residency, supporting more than 300 filmmakers annually from over 50 countries. The Slovenia Next Wave Genre Lab follows the model of Tatino’s UK Next Wave Genre Lab, organised in partnership with the BFI in 2024.

The organisers hope the new programme will help Slovenian genre filmmakers refine their projects, strengthen their production strategies and enhance their potential for international circulation.

Submissions can be sent via this link.