22/02/2025 - After a successful debut, the Franco-German programme is back, providing mentorship to ten film projects during development and post-production, with the deadline set for 31 March

Last year's Full Circle Lab Nouvelle-Aquitaine Hessen participants and organisational team

Following a successful first edition, Full Circle Lab Nouvelle-Aquitaine Hessen is back with a second edition, aiming to deepen Franco-German cinematic collaboration. The programme offers mentorship to film projects linked to Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Hessen, boosting their global prospects. Applications are open until 31 March, inviting creative talents to join this cross-border initiative.

Full Circle Lab, designed by Tatino Films, nurtures film talent at various stages of development and post-production. Its goal is to amplify filmmakers’ international potential, preparing them for the global market. Matthieu Darras, CEO of Tatino Films, highlighted the importance of Franco-German collaboration: “Renewing this partnership is a testament to the success and impact of our first edition. ALCA Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Hessen Film & Medien share a deep commitment to cinema as an art form, supporting emerging talents and championing diverse voices.”

Noémie Benayoun, programme officer of Creation and Regional Initiative at ALCA, highlighted the lab’s importance in strengthening regional cinema: “At ALCA, we are deeply committed to nurturing innovative storytelling and fostering artistic collaboration beyond borders. The partnership with Hessen was a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved when regional forces unite in support of creative talent.”

Anna Schoeppe, CEO of Hessen Film & Medien, added: “We are very much looking forward to entering a new round of the Full Circle Lab Nouvelle-Aquitaine Hessen, a valuable opportunity for filmmakers from Hessen. Together with our partners in France, we are fostering international co-productions, building lasting networks and sparking creative exchange. We look forward to continuing this journey, discovering new projects and further strengthening the cultural dialogue between our regions.”

Under producer Myriam Sassine’s leadership, the lab's expert team, including scriptwriter Philippe Barrière, script consultant and scriptwriting tutor Britta Krause, film editor and script consultant Matthieu Taponier, producer Edyta Janczak-Hiriart, and producer Alexis Hoffman, will mentor the teams behind ten selected feature-film projects – six in development and four in post-production – from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Hessen regions. The lab supports both emerging and established filmmakers, fostering international collaborations with regional festivals, residencies and industry leaders like clos-FIFIB, Biarritz Bal Lab and the Poitiers Film Festival.

Full Circle Lab has made a significant impact on the industry, nurturing notable projects such as Summer Scars [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Simon Rieth
film profile] by Simon Rieth, which premiered in the Cannes Critics’ Week in 2022. Another standout, Power Alley [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lillah Halla
film profile] by Lillah Halla, also debuted in the Cannes Critics’ Week the year after that. Alumni like Aurélien Vernhes-Lermusiaux, Guillaume Massart and Borbala Nagy are now finalising their films, set for release in 2025 and 2026.

The second edition of Full Circle Lab Nouvelle-Aquitaine Hessen will select six feature-film projects at the scriptwriting stage and four projects in the editing phase. The six development projects will attend two residential workshops, the first in June at La Maison Forte in Monbalen, and the second in September at Schloss Biebrich in Wiesbaden. The lab will conclude with an Industry Day during the Poitiers Film Festival and its “Jump In” initiative on 5 December, where participants will pitch their projects to sales agents and distributors. The four editing projects will participate in a workshop following the First Cut Lab format. The selected projects and participants will be announced at the Cannes Film Festival. For more information, please click here.

The Full Circle Lab Nouvelle-Aquitaine Hessen is supported by ALCA Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Hessen Film & Medien and the Lot-et-Garonne department in association with the Poitiers Film Festival.