LIM | Less is More, the European programme dedicated to innovative approaches to screenwriting for cinema, has officially opened its 2025 call for projects. This announcement follows a major milestone for LIM alumna Dương Diệu Linh, whose Vietnamese horror-comedy Don't Cry, Butterfly has just premiered in the Venice International Film Critics' Week (read the review).

Each year, LIM provides filmmakers and screenwriters with a space for creative exploration – a “room for play” where ideas are developed into meaningful stories. By combining high-level craft in script development with research into human and cognitive sciences, LIM has established itself as a unique programme in Europe. LIM’s methodological approach continues to evolve, drawing on applied research from its StoryTANK initiative and the collective experiences of its partner countries and regions, particularly through the Boosting Ideas Workshops.

Central to LIM’s philosophy is the belief that filmmakers, especially those in the independent cinema sector, can strengthen their creative power and storytelling impact through collaboration. The programme is supported by a vast international network of filmmakers, screenwriters, producers and film professionals. It encourages the creation of films that reflect the complexities of modern life – stories that go beyond entertainment to help audiences confront and understand contemporary issues.

LIM also emphasises the importance of creative limitation. In an era of ecological awareness, the programme promotes the use of constraints as a tool to focus on the core vision of each movie. To support this, LIM's workshops are often held in natural settings that inspire reflection and creativity.

For 2025, LIM will select 16 filmmakers to develop their first, second or third feature-film projects. The programme is open to applicants from the European Union, Eurimages countries, non-EU countries participating in the Creative Europe programme, and the UK. Candidates from various artistic backgrounds, including theatre, documentary and visual arts, are encouraged to apply, as long as their project is in the early stages of development.

Participants will attend three one-week workshops between March and October 2025 and will have the chance to present their work to industry professionals at LIM MEET, an event designed to provide feedback and networking opportunities.

Supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe – MEDIA programme, LIM is led by Le Groupe Ouest in collaboration with European partners, including Control N, the Flanders Audiovisual Fund and the Krakow Festival Office, alongside the Norwegian Film Institute, the Brittany region, Focal, the MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Ffilm Cymru Wales, the Lithuanian Film Centre, the Estonian Film Institute and the National Film Centre of Latvia.

For more information and to apply, filmmakers and screenwriters can visit LIM's official website.