Name: DIRECTOR'S VILLAGE
Start: 2026-03-17T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-03-23T22:00:00+01:00
Location: Filmbyen 11A, stuen, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark

Directors Village is an intensive 5-day on-site program designed to empower emerging filmmakers, specifically directors who have also written their own short film projects, with the essential skills and knowledge to bring their vision to life. This immersive program provides participants with a unique opportunity to refine their craft, collaborate with peers, and gain valuable insights from industry experts.
𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦
● In-depth script development: Participants will explore script development, learning techniques to strengthen their storytelling, character development, and overall narrative structure.
● Director’s vision and directing actors: Through hands-on coaching and group workshops, participants will cultivate their unique director’s vision and learn effective strategies for collaborating with actors to achieve their creative goals.
● Networking and collaboration: The program fosters a supportive community of like-minded individuals, encouraging participants to connect, share ideas, and build lasting relationships with their peers.
𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬
● Directors who have written their own short film project currently in development.
● Must have directed at least one short film.
● Selected by Screen Talent Europe Network partners.
● Open to applicants from any STE partner country.
𝗖𝗢𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗙𝗙
● Sofia Norlin - Stockholm University of the Arts (SKH)
● Janneke van Heesch - Dutch fiction- and series director
● Martin Strange-Hansen - Multiple Oscar-winner from Denmark
The program will feature two group sessions each day, led by experienced coaches. Participants will have the opportunity to work with both coaches and interact with different peers throughout the week.
𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
The five-day residency will be held at CineSud Office in Heerlen and Social Hub Maastricht, Netherlands, from March 18-22, 2026. Hotel accommodations and provisions will be provided for all participants. The program will be capped at 8 participants, who will be divided into two groups for interactive sessions.
𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦
July 31, 2025 - Start submissions
December 1, 2025 - Finish submissions
December 2-16, 2025 - Selection process by partners
December 17, 2025 - Notification and confirmation of participation
𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗠𝗘
Tuesday, March 17 - Heerlen: Arrival
Wednesday, March 18 - Heerlen
10:30-11:00: Arrival & Kick-off
11:00-15:30 Get-together Session | The Director’s Playground
15:30-19:30 Screening Directors Village Special & Networking Dinner
Thursday, March 19 - Maastricht
09:30-17:30: Group Session | Writers Room: Script Development
18:30-20:30: Networking Dinner
Friday, March 20 - Maastricht
09:30-17:30: Group Session | Directing: Find Your Directors
Vision
18:30-20:30: Networking Dinner
Saturday, March 21 - Maastricht
09:30-17:30: Workshop | Directing: Working with Actors
18:30-20:30: Networking Dinner
Sunday, March 22 - Maastricht
09:30-17:30: Group Session | Directing: Scene Analysis
18:00-20:30: Farewell Networking Dinner
Monday, March 23
Departure
𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥?
The participants of Directors Village are directors-writers who are working on their new short fiction film. In order to be eligible for the submission, the director-writer needs to hav already directed at least one short film. The submissions are limited to one short project per applicant.
𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗬
Directors Village is a collaboration between CineSud, Screen Talent Europe and its partners. To submit your project, please read the details below and fill in the form.
Participation in the Director’s Village is limited to twelve selected filmmakers.
𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡
Several spot are sponsored by the Screen Talent Europe partners listed below. You may be eligible for sponsorship if you live in the region of a listed partner and/or have an active connection to that partner (e.g. previous participation or collaboration).
- Filmmakers from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland, Norway, Sweden and Ireland are eligible to submit if the filmi workshop in their region is one of the Screen Talent Europe partners; Aarhus Film Workshop, Ardán, CineNord, FilmCloud, Film Stockholm, GMAC, Mediefabrikken, MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holtsein, Odense Film Workshop and Tvibit Film. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, we recommend contracting your preferred partner before submitting your application.
- Your application will be assessed by your local partner.
Want to apply via CineSud? In case your are not a Club CineSud-member, please contract us first via [email protected] to confirm you are eligible to apply.
- The participation fee is covered by the partner mentioned above (The program covers workshop, accommodation and catering costs for the selected participants. Traveling may be fully/partially covered by the respective partners up to a limit. For more information about travel costs, please contract your local partner).
𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡
In case you are not connected with one of the Screen Talent Europe partners listed above, you can also apply via an open call.
- One spot is available for filmmalers from all over the world, who are not eligible to apply via a partner mentioned above.
- The participation fee (after selection) is €1000 excl. VAT (21%).
Application deadline: Monday 1 December 2025, 11.59 CEST.
Selection announcement: Monday 12 January 2026.
𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦
To apply, fill in the application form via the button below and provide us with the following documents (combined in one PDF of max. 25 pages and 5 mb-If the materials are bigger than asked for, the project will not be taken into consideration.):
- Tagline, logline, synopsis, genre, duration of the project (max. 1 page);
- Motivation (Why would you like to participate?) (max. 1 page);
- Director’s vision (max. 1 page);
- (Short) biographies of yourself and other key crew/cast-members (if applicable) (max. 1 page);
- Moodboard and/or other relevant extra information (screeners of former work are recommended) (max. 1 page);
- Script (max. 20 pages).
If you apply to the following Screen Talent Europe partners (Aarhus Film Workshop, Ardán, CineNord, CineSud, FilmCloud, Film Stockholm, GMAC, Mediefabrikken, MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holtsein, Odense Film Workshop and Tvibit Film), you can submit the application in your native language or in English.
In case you submit in your native language, it will need to be translated by the applicant into English after the project is selected.
𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗠𝗜𝗧:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexZLKX-2Unt_m8_wZE0lNFSE1-mq_iPozxVYYeLZQi3qS-Hw/viewform
𝗤𝗨𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗦
”Overall, the experience was amazing - truly the best thing I’ve ever done. The crew’s involvement and the organic atmosphere made it unforgettable. As my first residency, it was life-changing to have my work read, studied, and discussed. It taught me to trust myself as a director and the stories I want to tell. It you’re serious about directing, you’ll get so much out of this”
Lauriane Almeda - CineNord/CineSud (the Netherlands), Director’s Village 2025
“It was a true pleasure to join Directors’s Village and meet this warm, talented group. CineSud’s safe, welcoming organisation, inspiring coaches, and the joyful bond with fellow filmmakers have enriched my project and given me lifelong memories. I highly recommend it to all who with to grow as filmmakers while having a great time!”
Adam Starsmark - FilmCloud (Sweden), Director’s Village 2022
𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
Directors Village is a unique training program organized by CineSud. The program is organized in collaboration with our dear partners of Screen Talent Europe.
𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘
Screen Talent Europe is a network of film workshops and media centres in Europe. The purpose of the network is to promote and foster co-operation between partners, help filmmakers exchange knowledge, experiences and methods through talent camps, network meetings and co-productions. The network collaborates to produce international talent development projects such as pitching forums, film production camps, networking and social events. Furthermore, Screen Talent Europe works to strengthen the workshop model for support-based talent development and also assists countries in Europe currently without film workshops in developing similar resources and models.
Read more about Director’s Village 2026 here:
https://cinesud.nl/agenda/directors-village-2026