Cinekid Directors LAB is a vital coaching programme for directors with a dynamic children's film project in advanced development.
During Cinekid Directors LAB, an international group of acclaimed directors will focus on the final steps necessary prior to pre-production, coupled with the special and specific skills required for working with children. Above all the program offers hands-on tailor-made coaching. This LAB is a logical next step for projects developed within Cinekid Script LAB or former participants of the Junior Co-production Market.
Points of focus are:
- Preparing directors for the shooting script.
- Defining and underlining the individual director’s voice and style.
- Discovering the maximum potential of a scene.
- Directing actors - how to shift the focus to directing the character (not the actor) while guiding the actor through the very specific world of the film.
- Casting and directing child actors - how to establish a relationship of trust with the kid(s), and how to immerse yourself into the world of children, encouraging and guiding each child to develop their character through total engagement with their imagination.
Who Can Apply?
Cinekid Directors LAB is open to all directors attached to a feature-length film or television project aimed at children and written from their perspective. The project should be heading toward production, and a producer should be attached. Priority is with projects developed within Cinekid Script LAB or former participants of the Junior Co-production Market.
How to Apply
- A complete or steady draft of the feature-length screenplay.
- A logline and synopsis.
- A motivational letter addressing your interest in the programme and what you hope to gain by participating in Cinekid Directors LAB.
- An artistic statement describing your vision for the film.
- Project status and history.
- A link to previously directed work.
The fourth edition of Cinekid Directors LAB will take place in April 2024. For questions, kindly contact professionals@cinekid.nl. Rules and regulations can be found here.
Previously selected projects for Cinekid Directors LAB can be found below.
Participants Cinekid Directors LAB 2023
Adventureland, The Arrow (Ævintýraskógurinn, Örin - Iceland)
Director: Thorunn Larusdottir
Producer: Guðný Guðjónsdóttir
Production company: Ursus Parvus
Co-production company/ies. Projects Ehf / A Whole Lotta Love
Nominated by: Icelandic Film Centre
Boom! (Bum! - Latvia)
Directors: Marta Selecka And Andra Doršs
Producers: Elīna Jozauska And Uģis Riekstiņš
Production company: Picture House
King Of The Wanderers (Koning van de Zwervers, The Netherlands)
Director: Janne Schmidt
Producer: Luc Schinkel, Robert Schinkel, Barend Van Balen
Production company: The Media Brothers
Co-production company: Barramedia
Nominated by: Netherlands Film Fund
One Brother Too Many (En Bror For Mye, Norway)
Director: Tove Undheim
Producers: Bendik Heggen Strønstad & Hedda Hansson Rudi
Production company: Miso Film
Uncle Egg - Searching For A Dad (Onkel Egg - Jakten På En Pappa, Norway)
Director: Torfinn Iversen
Producer: Julia Andersen
Production Company: Fjordic Film
Co-production company/ies: Lieblingsfilm Gmbh
Nominated by: Norwegian Film Institute
Participants Cinekid Directors LAB 2023
Adventureland, The Arrow (Ævintýraskógurinn, Örin - Iceland)
Director: Thorunn Larusdottir
Producer: Guðný Guðjónsdóttir
Production company: Ursus Parvus
Co-production company/ies. Projects Ehf / A Whole Lotta Love
Nominated by: Icelandic Film Centre
Boom! (Bum! - Latvia)
Directors: Marta Selecka And Andra Doršs
Producers: Elīna Jozauska And Uģis Riekstiņš
Production company: Picture House
King Of The Wanderers (Koning van de Zwervers, The Netherlands)
Director: Janne Schmidt
Producer: Luc Schinkel, Robert Schinkel, Barend Van Balen
Production company: The Media Brothers
Co-production company: Barramedia
Nominated by: Netherlands Film Fund
One Brother Too Many (En Bror For Mye, Norway)
Director: Tove Undheim
Producers: Bendik Heggen Strønstad & Hedda Hansson Rudi
Production company: Miso Film
Uncle Egg - Searching For A Dad (Onkel Egg - Jakten På En Pappa, Norway)
Director: Torfinn Iversen
Producer: Julia Andersen
Production Company: Fjordic Film
Co-production company/ies: Lieblingsfilm Gmbh
Nominated by: Norwegian Film Institute
Participants Cinekid Directors LAB 2022
Be careful what you wish for (Vuxna Barn)
Director: Gustaf Åkerblom
Producers: Isabel Nylund
Production company: SF Studios (SE)
I accidentally wrote a book (Véletlenül írtam egy könyvet)
Director: Nora Lakos
Producer: Claudia Sümeghy, Nora Lakos
Production companies: JUNO11 Pictures (HU), Squirrel Film Production (HU)
Co-production company: BIND (NL)
The Man Who Hated Children (Maðurinn sem hataði börn)
Director: Gunnar Björn Guðmundsson
Producer: Julius Kemp, Ingvar Thordarson
Production company: The Icelandic Film Company (IC)
Nominated by: Icelandic Film Centre
Ravengirl (Ravnejenta)
Director: Christian Lo
Producer: Nicholas Sando
Production company: Filmbin AS (NO)
Nominated by: Norwegian Film Institute
Tamar (Tamar)
Director: Dorothée van den Berghe
Producer: Bo De Group, Hans Everaert
Production company: Menuetto (BE)
Your Mother (working title) (Je Moeder)
Director: Zara Dwinger
Producer: Layla Meijman, Maarten van der Ven
Production company: Studio Ruba (NL)
Co-production company: SHIPsBOY (PL)
Nominated by: Netherlands Film Fund
Participants Cinekid Directors LAB 2021
Bille and Zottel
Director: Eileen Byrne
Countries of production: Germany, Luxembourg
Production company: Paul Thiltges Distribution
Free
Director: Guro Ekornholmen
Countries of production: Norway
Nominated by: Norwegian Film Institute
Rood
Director: Camiel Schouwenaar
Countries of production: Netherlands
Production company: Rinkel Film
Nominated by: Netherlands Film Fund
Sea Sparkle
Director: Domien Huyghe
Countries of production: Belgium
Production company: A Private View
Vera and the Third Stone
Director: Bragi Thor Hinriksson
Countries of production: Iceland
Nominated by: Icelandic Film Centre
