LIM | Less is More, the European programme known for its innovative approach to screenwriting, has officially opened its 2026 call for projects – and it’s evolving. “The world is changing, and so are we. In 2026, LIM becomes LIM². This is our way of reaffirming the determination to continue pointing towards true artistic freedom and a spirit of cinematic resistance for an entire generation of filmmakers,” states Massimiliano Nardulli, artistic director of LIM².

LIM² builds on its established methodology with a significant upgrade: the integration of cognitive science into the creative process. By collaborating with leading European researchers in creativity and neuroscience, the programme now combines visualisation, collaborative techniques and spatial cognition, enhancing the development of ideas from conception to story. At the heart of this innovation is StoryTANK, Europe’s first think tank bringing together screenwriters, storytellers and cognitive scientists to explore how human creativity can respond to the challenges of contemporary life.

Participants will have access to immersive, experimental spaces designed to push the boundaries of storytelling. The Cave is a three-dimensional analogue narrative space where authors navigate objects, sketches and keywords to explore connections and causality. The Black Room removes sight and emphasises sound to stimulate narrative flow, echoing the earliest forms of storytelling. In the Plateau, authors bring their ideas into a stage-based environment, creating vibrant human tableaux through improvisation and object theatre. Together, these tools encourage filmmakers to experiment with meaning, collaboration and perception in ways that are not usually attempted in traditional script development.

For 2026, around 50 projects will be selected to participate in three online toolbox sessions and master classes, providing early-stage support and access to LIM²’s methodologies. From these, 16 projects will be invited to join the on-site programme, which runs from March to October 2026. Participants will attend three one-week workshops and a series of online meetings, culminating in LIM² MEET, a tailor-made showcase connecting filmmakers with European industry professionals.

LIM² welcomes applications from writers and directors who are developing a fiction feature at an early stage. Applicants can come from the European Union, Eurimages countries, non-EU countries participating in the Creative Europe programme, or the UK. Those with backgrounds in theatre, documentary or visual arts are also encouraged to apply. Participation in the online sessions is free of charge.

For more information and to apply, filmmakers and screenwriters can visit LIM²’s official website. The deadline is set for 15 October.