The Delegation of the European Union to the United States has launched the 2027 call for applications for the Film Program of Transatlantic Stars, its flagship cultural-diplomacy initiative designed to strengthen creative collaboration and cultural ties between Europe and the USA.

Following the success of the programme’s first cycle, the new call invites award-winning feature-film directors from all 27 EU Member States to apply for a fully funded, two-week professional programme in the United States. Applications opened on 12 October and will close on 30 October at 11:59 pm CET. Only the first 300 applications will be reviewed.

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The selected filmmakers will travel to the USA between late May and mid-June 2027 for a coast-to-coast programme offering opportunities to explore the American film landscape and develop professional connections with industry representatives and institutions.

The itinerary will include participation in the Berkshire International Film Festival, engagement with Emerson College and an industry immersion in Los Angeles, featuring practical teach-ins and curated meetings with US film professionals. The programme will conclude in Washington, DC, where the filmmakers will join participants from the initiative's Visual Arts and Music Programs for a showcase event, before becoming part of the growing Transatlantic Stars alumni community.

As EU Ambassador to the USA Jovita Neliupšienė explains, the initiative uses cinema as a means of fostering dialogue across borders, and building lasting professional relationships between European filmmakers and American audiences.

The Transatlantic Rising Stars Project (TRSP), known as “Transatlantic Stars”, is a three-year initiative funded by the European Union and led by the EU Delegation to the United States. Through its Film, Visual Arts and Music Programs, the project connects European creative talent with US peers, local communities and industry leaders, combining artistic exchange with professional engagement and public-facing activities.

The new call follows the initiative's first-cycle activities, previously covered by Cineuropa (see here). In its first cycle of implementation in 2026, five European filmmakers were selected by the project: Spain’s Guillermo Galoe, Belgium’s Leonardo van Dijl, Poland’s Mara Tamkovich, Estonia’s Moonika Siimets and Greece’s Sofia Exarchou, all of whom have built strong international reputations through festival success and award-winning work.

Applications are open until 30 October 2026 at 11:59 pm CET. Further information and application materials are available through the official submissions portal.

For questions about the Film Program, contact [email protected]. General enquiries can be sent to [email protected].