The Euro CineLab 2025 initiative, organised by Cineuropa in collaboration with the Delegations of the European Union to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, has opened its call for emerging and self-taught filmmakers interested in short-film production. The deadline for applications is 3 March.

The programme, which is part of the European film festivals taking place in these five countries, aims to foster cinematic creativity through an intensive training and production lab. Twenty-five participants (five per country) will be selected to receive online training from renowned industry professionals and develop an individual short film based on the theme of "self-portrait".

The programme's mentors will be Xavier Solano, a Belgian-Ecuadorian filmmaker with experience in documentary workshops, and Daniel Granados, a Belgian-Honduran filmmaker specialising in fiction. Additionally, the lab will feature master classes by Alejandro Rivas Cottle, a Bolivian composer and sound engineer, and Hélène Grèzes, a French video editor.

The training will take place online over ten days in March, totalling 40 hours of theoretical and practical classes. Participants must produce a short film between three and ten minutes long, which will be evaluated by a selection committee. The five best productions, one per country, will receive a prize of €500 and will be screened at the European film festivals organised in each nation. Additionally, festival audiences will have the opportunity to vote for the Euro CineLab 2025 Audience Award.

Applicants must be citizens and residents of one of the five participating countries and complete the online application form, including their profile and a synopsis of their proposed short film. Registration is free, and the selection process will be conducted by the programme's mentors.

Euro CineLab 2025 represents a unique opportunity for emerging filmmakers in the region, promoting cultural exchange and strengthening the film industry in Central America.

Access the online application form here and the guidelines here (in Spanish).