Application Info
Please read carefully before applying. Applicants will be informed of their acceptance status approximately one month prior to the dates of the Labs. Questions? Email Labs@ifp.org or call 212-465-8200 x218
Eligibility Criteria
-Labs are open to first-time feature directors only.
-All, or a majority of principal photography must be complete & editing begun. Post should not be complete.
-Application must include a rough cut of at least 40 minutes which shows the story arc of your film (a rough cut to fine assembly). Trailers are not acceptable.
-IFP Independent Filmmaker Labs are for U.S. projects only.
-The film must be directed by a U.S. born or U.S. based filmmaker.
-It is not necessary that the film was shot in the U.S. or that a U.S.–born filmmaker primarily reside in the U.S.
-Projects should be intended for feature length, one hour or longer. Short films are not eligible for the Labs.
-We prefer projects have not already been submitted to festivals; the goals of the program are to help improve the project before this kind of industry exposure.
-Projects should be low-budget – under $1Million, and without distribution in place
-Films can be in any language; if not in English, work must be subtitled.
Submission Materials
-Active IFP Membership at any membership level: get started by joining IFP now.
-Completed online application including synopses, filmmaker bios, and goals for the Lab;
-$50 entry fee paid online by credit card;
-Two DVDs of the rough cut or rough assembly of the entire film (or a majority of the assembly; not a trailer).
-Submissions of sample work must be at least 40 minutes;
-DVDs should be NTSC Region 0 or 1, and play in a standard DVD player;
-DVDs should be marked with film title, director’s name, and run time.
-Please avoid using paper sticker labels, they tend to get stuck in machines;
-After completing the application, send two DVDs of your rough cut and two copies of your application (which you’ll receive by email after submitting) to: IFP Independent Filmmaker Labs, 68 Jay St., Ste 425, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
-Please indicate on the envelope if your project is a Narrative or Documentary feature.
-DVDs must be received within five (5) business days of your online application, or you risk disqualification.
-Do not send the script, press kit, previous work or any other supporting materials.
Selection Process
-Project selection based on quality of the work and ability to benefit from the Lab’s curriculum and mentorship.
-All submissions are confidential and only viewed by IFP’s senior programming team and screening committee.
-Final selection is determined by IFP senior programmers.
-At no time are films screened for buyers or sales agents during the submission or acceptance process.
-Submissions will not be returned and will be destroyed after Lab selection process.
-Up to 10 films will be selected for each Lab.
General Information
-Labs are free of charge to those invited to participate, but all Lab attendees must be IFP members.
-Selected projects must participate in all three sections of the program.
-Applications are not accepted for individual sessions of the Labs.
-Filmmakers are responsible for their own travel and accommodations.
-Each project is entitled to have up to three members of its team participate in the Labs. This typically includes the director and producer, plus the editor or some other key creative.
-All Lab workshops take place in New York City.
- All participating projects must participate in all three sessions of the Labs.
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