02. Categories
DOC.LAB Coimbra 2026 will be divided into two categories:
Project Presentation (Doc Pitch LAB): For projects in a slightly more advanced development stage, which already have a teaser (necessary for project submission) and which will focus on a pitch session on the last day of the lab for industry players present at the festival.
Project Writing or Documentary Script Writing (Doc Script LAB): For projects in a less advanced development stage, with little visual material collected, and who want to work on the project's arguments and other texts, without participating in the pitch session, but with the possibility of scheduling meetings with the industry players present at the festival.
03.Language
Both groups will be taught in English, but the texts worked on in the Project Writing Lab may be worked on in another language (Portuguese or Spanish) according to the needs of each project. Projects participating in the Pitch Lab must be presented and written in English.
04.Tutors and Coordination
Each category will be taught by two experienced tutors. The Pitch group will be led by Érica Faleiro Rodrigues (filmmaker and professor) and Ralf Tambke (filmmaker and producer). The Script group will be led by Leonor Areal (filmmaker and professor) and Catarina Alves Costa (filmmaker and professor). DOC.LAB Coimbra 2026 will be coordinated by curator and artist Inês Moura.
05.Lab Structure
DOC PITCH LAB
Project Development and Presentation for Pitch
The lab will last for 5 days with two daily sessions (morning and afternoon).
Session times: 9:30-12:30 and 14:00-17:00 (6 hours daily)
Day 1 - Project Presentation and Feedback - 4 projects per shift - 20 minutes (maximum time) per project plus 10 minutes of feedback.
Presentation and discussion of examples "the best of DocCoimbra Lab 2025".
Day 2 - Pitch development (working on texts and teasers).
Day 3 - Project Presentation and Feedback - 04 projects per shift - 10 minutes (maximum time) per project plus 10 minutes of feedback. Afternoon: Pitch development (working on texts and teasers).
Day 4 - Morning: Pitch development (working on texts and teasers). Afternoon: Presentation / Pitch Rehearsal of 8 min (maximum time). Final Feedback.
Day 5 - Pitch session and feedback from a panel of professionals. The best pitch will receive the "Golden Carnation" award from the Doc Pitch Lab of the DocCoimbra Festival.
DOC SCRIPT LAB
Project Writing
The lab will last for 5 days with two daily sessions (morning and afternoon).
Session times: 9:30-12:30 and 14:00-17:00 (6 hours daily)
Day 1 - Project Presentation and brainstorming (4 projects present per shift - 30 minutes for each project).
Day 2 - Examples of arguments, synopses, justifications, and project approaches from the tutors. Detailed description of what should be included in each item, using examples of projects from the group.
Day 3 - Text Production - individualized analysis (each tutor with one project for 1h30, two in the morning and two in the afternoon) on the texts of each project and time for participants to work on these texts.
Day 4 - Text Production - participants work on their texts with the tutors available for individual consultations.
Day 5 - Participation in a meeting with audiovisual market agents.
06.Eligibility
Long-feature documentary projects in the development stage may apply to DOC.LAB Coimbra.
Projects from all countries are welcome.
Projects must be in Portuguese or English.
Content with an expected duration of 50 minutes or more is considered a feature film.
The lab will be held in person and the full participation of the filmmaker is mandatory if the project is selected.
A second person may participate with the main filmmaker, provided they act as a producer, screenwriter, or co-director.
07.Project Submission
Project submission for DOC.LAB 2026 can be done through the website www.doccoimbra.com/lab or through the platform filmfreeway.com/doclabcoimbra.
Projects must be presented in PDF, with or without design, provided they contain the following information in a single file:
Project name, filmmaker, and country and city of origin.
Short synopsis (up to 500 characters).
Argument/Treatment (up to 5000 characters).
Creative process (up to 3000 characters, note on how the project will be filmed and edited, citing the use of narration, interviews, archive images if applicable).
Filmmaker's personal note (up to 3000 characters).
Filmmaker's Bio (up to 500 characters).
Link to teaser (for projects in the Pitch group).
Filmmaker's Photo.
Link to previous works by the Filmmaker.
Reference photos for the project (horizontal).
The deadline for submission is January 23, 2026, 11:59 pm (UTC-1).
There is no limit to the number of projects submitted by each proposer.
The submission fee is €20 per project.
08.Selection Process
The submitted projects will undergo a selection process, which will result in 8 participating projects in each category.
The project selection committee does not commit to justifying in writing the reasons why projects were or were not selected.
09.Confirmation of Participation
Candidates will be notified of the results by email and will have ten calendar days to confirm or reject participation.
Once the project is selected, the full participation of the filmmaker in the laboratory activities is mandatory. If this is not possible, the vacancy will be available to the first alternate project.
10.Participation Fee
Each selected project must pay a participation fee of €100 to join DOC.LAB Coimbra 2026. In return, they will have 5 days with experienced tutors working on their projects and the possibility of presenting their projects to audiovisual market agents who will be present at the festival.
11.Benefits and Provisions on Selected Projects
Selected participants will have free access to all sessions of the DOC.Coimbra Festival, which will take place between March 17 and 22, 2026, as well as tickets to the festival party and other social events of the festival.
DOC.LAB Coimbra does not cover participants' accommodation and food costs, however, selected participants will receive discounts on accommodation and food at partner hotels and restaurants.
DOC.LAB Coimbra does not cover the transportation costs (train, plane, or bus tickets) of the selected projects, but will provide all possible assistance for participants to find the best way to travel to Coimbra.
The selected projects commit to including a card with the mention "PROJETO DOC.LAB COIMBRA 2026" among the film credits.
