The VdR–Development Lab is a nine-month long incubator for the development of creative documentaries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The VdR–Development Lab is supported by policy implemented by the SDC, the Swiss Agency of Development and Cooperation.
The VdR–Development Lab is designed to stimulate the creative documentary sector in regions where independent filmmaking is particularly challenged and help new projects reach the international market.
The programme offers selected directors and producers the opportunity to be tutored through the development-phase in order to more easily reach and access the international market. The lab takes place online from March 2025 until November 2025, with a four-day intensive workshop and mentoring during the VdR–Industry days in April 2025.
The VdR–Development Lab is designed to stimulate the creative documentary sector in regions where independent filmmaking is particularly challenged and help new projects reach the international market.
The programme offers selected directors and producers the opportunity to be tutored through the development-phase in order to more easily reach and access the international market. The lab takes place online from March 2025 until November 2025, with a four-day intensive workshop and mentoring during the VdR–Industry days in April 2025.
The lab selects four projects annually, providing to each project:
- A grant of 2’000 CHF to support the development phase for research, development of the treatment or script or production of promotional material (such as the production of a teaser).
- Paid travel and accommodation for both the director (and producer where necessary) to attend Visions du Réel in April 2025.
- A four-day lab tailored lab that takes place during the festival.
- Mentorship and personal guidance throughout the duration of the program with industry professionals.
- Additional follow-up sessions and masterclasses to take place throughout 2025.
To know if you are eligible, please see the list of eligible countries that can apply for this programme here.
Please note, applications for this activity have now closed for the 2025 edition.
- Induction Meeting March 2025
- VdR–Development Lab 6-9 April 2025
- Additional dates to be determined with selected teams
- All directors attached to the project must have the nationality of a country listed here (as per the guidelines set out by the SDC).
- The Festival welcomes projects with or without a main producer attached, preferably also based in a country included in the same eligible country list.
- Projects should be planned as a feature length film (duration over 60’. Please note, short films, series and interactive projects are not eligible).
- Applications must be accompanied by visual material of the project. It can be a teaser, select scenes or selected research material. A link to at least one previous work is also requested.
- Projects must be in the development stage with a fully fleshed-out story, ideally with a draft of the treatment already written and some scenes already shot.
- Projects that have entered production or completed shooting are not eligible.
- Projects do not need to have financing attached at the time of submission.
- Directors must have completed a minimum of one short film.
- If selected, the director is expected to participate in the lab in English, with costs covered by Visions du Réel. Producers are encouraged to attend and in some cases their costs will be covered.
Please note, applications for this activity have now closed for the 2025 edition.
The selection process will take place from September to December of 2024 and will include an online interview with shortlisted candidates. The Head of Industry, together with an international selection committee, selects the projects for the VdR–Industry activities.
Selection criteria
The main criteria for selection include:
- The artistic quality of the project including strong directorial vision.
- International potential in terms of production and distribution.
- The strength of the submitted materials to demonstrate that the project is in development stage and that the director will benefit from participating.
- The previous work(s) of the directors and/or producers.
To avoid any conflict of interest in the project selection process, members of the selection committee who are decision-makers in the development of a project may not take part in discussions concerning it.
The final selected and unsuccessful projects will be notified via email no later than mid-December 2024.
Selected projects will be asked to confirm their participation via email acceptance. Please note there is no fee to participate.
Travel costs, hotel costs and meals for the director and in some cases the producer while attending the onsite component of the Lab in Nyon, Switzerland.
The participation of the director is compulsory for all sessions throughout the full program (including sessions online and onsite).
To learn more about the rules and regulations for submitting to the VdR-Development Lab, click here.
To download a materials checklist for submitting to the VdR-Development Lab, click here.
