23/06/2025 - Eight new genre projects are set to embark on the training initiative, which includes three specialised labs hosted at leading festivals across Europe

Director Višna Mamić, who is taking part with The Stranger (© Berlinale Talents)

The 2025 edition of the European Genre Forum has announced the eight projects selected for its 11th cycle, continuing its mission to support up-and-coming European filmmakers working within genre cinema. The new cycle kicks off this week with the Screenwriting and Directing Lab in Zagreb, running from 27-30 June in collaboration with the Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival.

As with previous editions, the training initiative spans six months and comprises three intensive talent labs focused on different stages of project development. This year’s selection once again highlights the diversity and creativity of emerging voices in European genre filmmaking, with projects exploring dystopian sci-fi, folk horror, thriller, fantasy, mystery and sci-fi romance.

The selected teams represent a wide geographic range, with nine production countries featured among the eight projects. Over the course of the programme, they will receive tailored guidance to develop their projects both creatively and strategically. Designed for debut or sophomore filmmakers, the labs aim to elevate the overall quality of the projects and foster the growth of new talent in the genre field.

Following the Zagreb session, the Producing Lab will take place in Amsterdam from 4-7 November during the Imagine Fantastic Film Festival, focusing on the business, financial and legal dimensions of filmmaking. The programme concludes with the Marketing and Packaging Lab, set for 17-21 November in Tallinn, within the framework of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, part of the Black Nights Film Festival. This final lab will focus on pitching, packaging, marketing and sales strategies.

Throughout all three labs, participants will engage in hands-on training with script consultants and industry professionals, including mentors with expertise in crowdfunding, legal affairs, co-production and international sales. The programme also includes case studies on recent success stories in European genre cinema.

Here are the projects selected for the 11th European Genre Forum:

Like Air – Elvira Dulskaia (Czech Republic)
Producer: Rozálie Brožková

The Sleepers – Didac Gimeno (Spain)
Producer: Rafael Álvarez

Blood – Viivi Huuska (Finland)
Screenwriter: Howard Brodsky
Producer: Mika Pajunen

Little Bird – Faye Jackson (UK)
Producer: Carley Armstrong

AR Lives – A European/Asian Ghost Story – Michael Kleinfield (Germany/Taiwan)
Screenwriter: Jinglin Huang
Producer: Oliver Weisskopf

The Stranger – Višna Mamić (Croatia)
Producer: Ivor Radmilović Pavlek

Blue Lada – Urmet Piiling (Estonia)
Producer: Tõnu Hiielaid

Burial Patrol – Massimo Russo (Italy)
Producer: Mattia Puleo