FULL CIRCLE LAB

PHILIPPINES 2024

Full Circle Lab Philippines is a capacity-building program aimed at supporting Filipino and Southeast Asian filmmakers. The 6th edition of the Lab takes place in the Philippines, from March 18 to 24, 2024, with the online follow up in September.
Full Circle Lab Philippines is co-organised by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Tatino Films.

AIMS

–> Identifying, nurturing and training creative talents in the Philippines and in South-East Asia;
–> Supporting Filipino & South-East Asian film projects along their development & post-production processes – in order to enhance their artistic and audience potentials with a focus on storytelling;
–> Fostering the internationalisation of the Filipino film industry, and positioning the Philippines as a creative hub in the South-East Asian region.

–> – Creating synergy between industry experts and professionals across the globe through sessions and talks.

Fan Girl by Antoinette Jadaone, Full Circle Lab Philippines, 2019
The Gospel of the Beast (Philippines) director Sheron Dayoc & producer Sonny Calvento , Full Circle LAb 2021 participant

MODULES

The Lab is composed of four modules:

  • Fiction Lab
  • First Cut Lab
  • Creative Producers Lab
  • Story Editing Lab
FICTION LAB
The lab welcomes eight projects at various stages of development with formats ranging from feature films, series, or animation. This is made possible with a reinforced mentorship: one script consultant & one production consultant per group of 4 projects.
The Story Editing Lab’s goal is to train film professionals capable of accompanying authors and directors during the whole creative process, primarily at the script development stage. Together with the Creative Producers Lab initiated in 2021, this addition reinforces the priority of Full Circle Lab Philippines to focus on skills training and building a sustainable audio-visual ecosystem.
The Creative Producers Lab is an essential tool to develop the whole ecosystem of the Filipino and South East Asia film industry. The Creative Producer Lab trains up to 8 junior producers in the key areas of this profession: project development, legal & financial issues, and company development, to enhance the production value of the films.
First Cut Lab
The First Cut Lab is open to 3 feature films at the editing stage and helps creative teams to reach the film they envision, fostering their artistic and circulation potentials. Participants receive expert advice from editor consultants and industry advisors chosen according to the specific needs of each film.

CALENDAR

October 8, 2023: Launch of the call for submissions @ Busan

November 24, 2023: Deadline for submissions Fiction, Creative Producers, Story Editing Labs

December 8, 2023: Deadline of Call for Applications (Documentary requirements) First Cut Lab

February 1, 2024: Deadline for Submissions of film cuts First Cut Lab

February 15, 2024: Announcement of line-up of projects & participants @ Berlinale

18-24 March 2024: Onsite workshop in the Philippines

April-September 2024: Online curriculum

CALL FOR PROJECTS – GUIDELINES

How to apply

Full Circle Lab Philippines is open to filmmakers from Philippines and South-East Asia countries: Brunei, Cambodia, East-Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Applications for Fiction Lab, Creative Producers Lab, and Story Editing Lab must be submitted by November 24, 2023. Meanwhile, applications for First Cut Lab must be submitted on December 8, 2023, while the film cut may be submitted until February 15, 2024.

Applications and requirements must be sent to projectlab@fdcp.ph with the subject:

Full Circle Lab Philippines 2023 [(Lab Category) Application]
ex. Full Circle Lab Philippines 2023 [Fiction lab Application]

Selection

The submission materials of all eligible applicants will be reviewed by the FDCP Selection Committee and will be shortlisted.

The FDCP Selection Committee and Full Circle Lab mentors shall confer to select the final selection, ensuring the diversity of the lineup.

Selected participants will be announced by February 14, 2024 on FCL PH’s social media pages.

Fiction Labs

Open for projects in the early stage of development to pre-production stage in any of the following formats: feature films, series, or animation.

Applicants must submit the following:

  • Duly accomplished application form
  • Dossier of the project including:
    • Logline
    • Short Synopsis
    • Sequence Treatment
    • Director’s and producer’s intention notes
    • Production budget and financial plan
  • Director’s and producer’s letter of intent
  • Director’s, producer’s and screenwriter’s filmographies
  • Production company profile and filmography
  • Rights to Adaptation (if applicable)
  • High-definition profile photos (.jpg format)

All requirements must be submitted in separate PDF documents.

Note:

  • Projects shall have a director, writer, and producer attached.
  • Projects shall have financing or at least a projected financing in place
  • The director and producer shall attend all the sessions of the lab.
  • The lab is open for projects that have not yet entered the pre-production stage.

For submissions and inquiries, drop a message to projectlab@fdcp.ph

Creative Producers Lab

Open to producers who will have the chance to be mentored on topics covering the different key areas of this profession—project development, legal & financial issues, and company development.

Applicants must submit the following:

  • Duly accomplished application form
  • Letter of intent
  • Filmography
  • Production company profile and filmography
  • Project dossier (if available)
  • High definition profile photo (.jpg format)

All requirements must be submitted in separate PDF documents.

Note:

Producers with or without current affiliation with production companies are equally welcome to apply.

For submissions and inquiries, drop a message to projectlab@fdcp.ph

First Cut Lab

Available for projects in the editing stage. Participants will receive expert advice from editor-consultants and industry advisors chosen according to the specific needs of each film.

Applicants must submit the following:

  • Duly accomplished application form
  • A minimum of 30 minutes of scenes from the film with
  • English subtitles. Scenes can be separate and can be in the
  • rough cut.
  • Dossier of the project including:
  • Logline
  • Short synopsis
  • Director’s and producer’s intention notes
  • Director’s and producer’s letter of intent
  • Director’s, producer’s, and editor’s filmographies
  • Producer’s filmography and production company profile
  • High definition profile photo (.jpg format)

All requirements must be submitted in separate PDF documents.

Note:

The film’s producer, director, and editor must attend the whole duration of the Editing Lab.

For submissions and inquiries, drop a message to projectlab@fdcp.ph

Story Editing Lab

Open to aspiring script consultants, scriptwriters, heads of development in production companies, or commissioning editors of broadcasters, who will work hand-in-hand with the Fiction Lab groups. Each participant will work primarily with the script and production mentors of his group, but he/she will also receive expert advice and lectures from mentors from the other groups.

Applicants must submit the following:

  • Duly accomplished application form
  • Letter of intent
  • Filmography
  • Production company profile and filmography
  • High definition profile photo (.jpg format)

All requirements must be submitted in separate PDF documents.

For submissions and inquiries, drop a message to projectlab@fdcp.ph

Qualifications

  • Must be from a Southeast Asian Country: Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, East-Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam
  • Must submit the application form and all supplementary requirements.
  • Must be fully vaccinated and willing to travel to the Philippines.
  • Must be willing to comply with necessary COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Solid by the Seashore, Dir. Patiparn Boontarig, prods. Mai Meksawan, Chatchai Chaiyon

MENTORS

Full Circle Lab Philippines is led by Matthieu Darras and Izabela Igel on behalf of Tatino Films.
1st row from left:
Ally Pilar (FDCP), Britta Krause (Germany), Izabela Igel (Poland), Matthieu Darras (France), Mmabatho Kau (South Africa), Patric Mao Huang (Taiwan), Armi Rae Cacanindin (Philippines)
2nd row from left:
Naomi Levari (Israel/Germany), Tan Si En (Singapore), Juraj Krasnohorsky

MENTORS

Mmabatho Kau - Full Circoe Lab Philippines 2021

MMABATHO KAU

Script Consultant

In her 20-year strong creative journey, Mmabatho has worked as a producer, broadcaster (SABC, Kwese TV, TopTV), development executive as well as a script consultant. 

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Roles that have harnessed her love for story and helping writers find their voice as storytellers. Her catalogue of work, as a script consultant, ranges from novel adaptations to politically potent films brought to life through titles such Kalushi: The Solomon Mahlangu Story and the sequel to Happiness is a Four Letter Word – Happiness Ever After. Mmabatho’s creative flair has also been injected outside South Africa as a consultant on the award-winning Lesotho based film This is not a Burial, it’s a Resurrection (Venice Biennale College Cinema 2019, Visionary Award winner Sundance 2019).

In 2017 Mmabatho was invited to co-mentor in REALNESS, a Pan-African writing residency. Beyond Realness; she has mentored on the Canal+  Poland Series Lab (2021), The Philippines (Full Circle Lab 2019 and 2020), Maisha Producers Lab (Uganda 2019), Jumpstart PRODUIRE AU SUD (South Africa 2019 and 2020), For Film’s Sake- Attagirl Lab (Australia 2020), The Pro Series Lab (Kenya 2020), BoostNL (Netherlands Film Festival/IFFR 2020), Dramatic Producer’s Lab (Ethiopia 2019). In addition to being a mentor, she has had the honour of being invited to participate in The Torino Script Lab (2018), EAVE (European Audio Visual Entrepreneurs 2020) and The Rotterdam Producer’s Lab (2020).

Mmabatho Kau - Full Circoe Lab Philippines 2021

HELEN
BELTRAME-LINNÉ

Script Consultant

Helen Beltrame-Linné is a Brazilian screenwriter and script consultant with a wide artistic and corporate background. Helen graduated from Brazil’s most prestigious Law School and worked as a corporate lawyer…

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Lately factual credits include the feature-length debut Sole by Carlo Sironi an italian- polish coproduction handled by Luxbox. He is a member of Eave, Eurodoc, Producers’s Network and Berlinale Talents. He shares his expertise teaching production at IED in Rome and tutoring project in development workshop such Full Circle Lab.

NAOMI LEVARI

Producer Consultant

Naomi Levari is a producer and script editor, co-founder of Tel Aviv based Black Sheep Film Productions Ltd.

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Her tailor-made film and TV productions include Chained (Berlinale), Stripped (Venice IFF), Fig Tree (TIFF), One Week and a Day (Cannes), Mama’s Angel (Series Mania), winners of numerous awards, distributed in multiple territories earning the love of the audience and critics alike.

In 2018, Naomi co-founded the Berlin-based production company Electric Sheep GmbH focusing on socially related content.

Naomi is known for her customized approach and engagement in every aspect of film making, establishing herself as a sought-after lecturer and mentor.

PARTNER

Full Circle Lab Philippines in an initiative of Film Development Council of the Philippines and Tatino Films.

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