First Cut Lab

First Cut Lab Karlovy Vary is a programme designed for 2 long feature fiction films in editing phase from the Czech Republic or Slovakia. Selected producer/director teams will screen their full rough cut in a private session and receive expert feedback on their edit from three top international film professionals (creative producers, festival programmers, sales agents, etc) as well as tailor-made advice from a consultant editor. The main goal is to foster the artistic potential of the selected rough cuts and, at the same time, to increase the sales, festival and circulation potential of the completed films. The workshop will take place between 2-5 July 2024 in Karlovy Vary (exact dates will be specified soon).

For an overview of previous participants and advisers, see the First Cut Lab website: www.firstcutlab.eu

GUIDELINES & SUBMISSION

I. GENERAL GUIDELINES

Please note: the deadline for submitting a project to First Cut Lab Karlovy Vary is May 3, 2024.
In order to submit your application and the required material, you need to complete the online submission form. All application materials and subtitles should be in English.
Selected projects will be notified by the end of May.
The selection committee's decisions cannot be appealed.

II. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Submissions should include: A complete online submission form in English and video material with a minimum duration of 30 minutes and with English subtitles.
Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.
The video material submitted can be selected scenes, first assembly or rough cut with a minimum duration of 30 minutes.
The video is mandatory to be available via streaming service password protected (e.g. Vimeo). No transfer services or cloud storage is accepted.

III. SELECTION CRITERIA

The project should be a feature fiction film with theatrical and international market potential (minimum length of 70 minutes)
FCL has no specific fixed criteria in terms of content and each individual project will be considered on its own merits. The main criteria for selection are the demonstrable talent of the directors and/or producers, corroborated with the specific needs identified by the organizers in each project in regards to the specificity of the FCL workshop.
Projects should be new or recent.
Projects should not have been presented at any public screenings.
Projects should not have been previously presented to festivals for selection before March 2024.
The project can be in different stages of post-production, though it is highly recommended to be in early editing phase.
The project should have a director and/or majority producer from any of the following countries:
Czech Republic, Slovakia

IV. Specific Conditions:

There is no entry fee for applications and no participation fee for the workshop.
Costs that will be covered upon selection: Accommodation for 2 nights for director and producer. Airport transfers. Accreditation to KVIFF Industry Days.
Costs that will not be covered: Travel and meals.
Once a project has been selected, both director and producer should be available during the days of First Cut Lab (between July 2-5, 2024, exact dates will be specified soon). The presence of the editor is possible, but not compulsory.
Finished films that participated in FCL should mention First Cut Lab and display its logo in their credits. The following sentence should be mentioned in the credit list: "This project has participated at First Cut Lab Karlovy Vary 2024" together with the FCL-KV logo. Logo can be requested with the FCL project manager.