Look Aside Films is incredibly excited to open a Feature Film Development Lab.

This is an accelerator program designed to support the creative development of feature film projects, as well as develop effective finance, packaging and pitching strategies for the films. The Lab aims to both improve the creative quality of the scripts, but also teach the filmmakers about things like development, financing, sales, festivals, and applications, so that projects under the cohort can get off the ground and into packaging, or even production. The Lab will conclude with a pitch panel, where each filmmaker under the cohort will have the chance to present their project in front of various film companies.

WHERE?
The Lab will be held in-person in London, UK.

WHEN?
The Lab dates are the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th of July, 2026.

WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We will select eight projects for the Lab. We are looking for feature film projects from writer-directors only (the writer and director must be the same individual) that are well-positioned for active development, packaging, and financing. Submissions must be original, non-IP-based works that demonstrate a distinctive voice, perspective, and storytelling approach. We are particularly interested in elevated, high-quality films that maintain clear audience appeal and market awareness. We are genre-agnostic and welcome submissions across all genres.

PARTNERS, SPEAKERS, AND MENTORS:
We are so excited to announce a brilliant line-up of speakers, mentors, and partners we have for the Lab.

Our speakers include:
- Lindsay MacKay, writer/director
- Lisa Leach, Bankside Films
- Carlotta Roveri, Head Gear Films
- Triin Tramberg, Artistic Director of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
- George Handscomb, Film & TV Charity
- Christine Hartland, Co-Founder of MySmashMedia
- Joseph Bushell, Co-Founder of Marauder Pictures
- Maxine Gordon, Co-Founder of Marauder Pictures

Our partners include:
- MySmashMedia
- Film & TV Charity
- Marauder Pictures
- Celtx: ScreenWriting Software

The current pitch panel includes:
Mickey Angelov, Look Aside Films
Cain Fowler, Look Aside Films
Joseph Bushell, Marauder Pictures
Maxine Gordon, Marauder Pictures
Lisa Leach, Bankside Films / Dovecote Pictures
Harvey John, Developing Room Films
Alice Duke, Cut & Roll Films
Rebecca Baker, Cut & Roll Films
Charlie Weedon, agent at Sayle Screen

SCHEDULE:
3rd of July:
09:30 - 10:00: Welcome Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00: Personal Intros & Project Intros
11:00 - 12:00: Film Financing & Development Talk (with Look Aside)
12:00 - 13:30: Debt Financing & 1:1s (with Carlotta Roveri, Head Gear)
13:30 - 14:30: Lunch
14:30 - 17:00: Writing Workshop (with Look Aside)

4th of July:
09:30 - 10:00: Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00: Pitching Session (with MySmashMedia)
11:00 - 13:00: Curation, Festivals, Sales Talk (with Triin Tranberg)
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 14:30: Quick word from Film & TV Charity
14:30 - 17:00: Writing Workshop & 1:1s (with Look Aside)

5th of July:
09:30 - 10:00: Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00: Applications Prep Talk (with LFF-Winning Marauder Pictures)
11:00 - 13:00: Sales & Acquisitions 1:1s (with Lisa Leach, Bankside)
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 17:00: Directing Workshop (with Lindsay MacKay)

6th of July:
Individual pitching sessions in front of a panel.

COST:
Besides the submission fee, no payment will be expected from filmmakers for attending the lab; we provide everything for free to the cohort - including all workshops, spaces, breakfast, lunch, etc. - however filmmakers will be expected to cover their own travel (if necessary) to and from the Lab, as well as their accommodation (if not already based in London).

Awards & Prizes

All selected writer/directors will receive:
- Full participation in the Lab as part of the selected cohort, free of charge.
- Script development support from Look Aside.
- Access to all workshops, speaker sessions, and mentorship from participating industry experts, as outlined above.
- Catering provided throughout the Lab.
- An opportunity to present their project to an industry panel, as outlined above.
- A free year’s worth of Celtx Writer Pro subscription.
- Mental health and wellbeing guidance provided by the Film & TV Charity.

Rules & Terms

1. Eligibility:
- The Lab is open to filmmakers in the UK only. Productions must qualify as British.
- Selected participants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.
- Production / development companies are allowed to enter.

2. Timeline
- Round 1 (April 2nd - May 4th)
- Materials required: pitch deck & script.
- Participants progressing to Round 2 chosen by May 31st.
- Round 2 (June 1st - June 14th)
- Selected participants may be invited to an interview.
- Cohort selected by June 19th.
- Lab will run between the dates July 3rd - 6th.

3. Submission Guidelines:
- Materials necessary for submission are pitch decks and scripts.
- Projects must not have entered production. We will not watch any films previously shot or completed, as this is a lab for projects in development and not a festival or a completion fund.
- Submissions must be original, unpublished works. Submissions cannot be IP-based in any form and must not be an adaptation of any existing work or product.
- Pitch decks must be in English and not exceed 20 pages. Pitch decks must include: logline, a detailed synopsis, creative vision, information of the writer/director, along with any additional information you believe necessary.
- The scripts can be in any language, but the script you submit for us to read must be in English (translated if English is not the original language). Scripts cannot exceed 130 pages.
- No documentary or animation submissions accepted.
- Submissions must be made by a writer/director; the writer/director has to be the same person, not a team of two.
- Your scripts do not need to be entirely polished, but we’re looking for scripts that are relatively ready for active development, packaging, or financing.
- There is no limit of submissions per writer/director.
- Only electronic submissions (PDF) will be accepted.

4. Intellectual Property:
- By submitting materials, participants confirm that they are the sole author and copyright holder of the work.
- The participants understand and agree that any possible project similarities in plot, characters, tone, genre, or script structure with any current or future Look Aside projects will be purely and entirely coincidental.
- The participant retains all intellectual property rights to their script.
- Look Aside understands that any documents sent from the participants are confidential information and agrees not to disclose it to any third party except to its employees and professional advisers.

5. Stipulations:
- The participants reserve the right to withdraw their submission at any point, but refunds will not be provided.
- Please understand that we're a small team looking in-depth through a lot of submissions, so unfortunately we cannot provide individual feedback if your project is not selected.
- Look Aside Films reserves the right to select additional projects for the Lab that have not been submitted through this portal.
- If any film under our Lab gets produced, Look Aside Films will receive a credit line and logo placement in the film’s end titles, “This film was supported by the Look Aside Films Feature Lab Program.”

6. Disqualification:
- Look Aside reserves the right to disqualify any participants who violate these Terms and Conditions.

7. Amendments:
- Look Aside reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any changes will be communicated to participants.

8. Indemnification:
- Participants agree to hold Look Aside harmless from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from the submission or production of their short film.

By submitting a project, participants agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions. By submitting a project, the participants agree to be added to Look Aside’s email list for news and updates. For any inquiries related to the Lab, please contact submissions@lookasidefilms.com.