CineMart has always had a focus on producers who are taking the first steps of their careers. Several years ago, the CineMart staff realised that many new producers lack the knowledge on how to operate in an international film festival or market setting. Consequently, in 2001, based on the belief that these skills are vital for any producer, CineMart decided to provide young professionals the means to develop an international network by organizing the first CineMart International Trainee Project, later renamed the Rotterdam Lab.
Rotterdam Lab 2013
The Lab this year started on Saturday 26 January and closedWednesday 30 January. Find here the
participants of 2013 and the
programme of 2013.
Who can participate?
The Rotterdam Lab is organised by CineMart in close collaboration with various partner organisations involved in the training of young producers as well as funding bodies. In order to take part in the Rotterdam Lab, it is necessary that you affiliate yourself with one of these partnering organisations, because, instead of organizing an open selection procedure, potential participants in the Rotterdam Lab are nominated by these partners. Please contact the partner organisation from your area or contact the CineMart staff for more information on the selection procedure. Please note again that CineMart does not nominate participants; only the Rotterdam Lab partners do.
The Rotterdam Lab Programme
Traditionally, during a Rotterdam Lab Programme, panel discussions are organised on different topics, like development, production, sales, financing, distribution, press & promotion and television. These panels take place in an informal setting and are organised to illustrate the process by which a project in need of financing is completed and brought to its audience. In these panels, experts from the industry hand the producers tools on how to present their projects and how to build up a useful international network.
Next to the panel discussions, participants take part in so-called 'speed dating' sessions in which they meet with industry delegates in person and receive advice about their own projects.
In addition to the organized Lab programme, selected producers are encouraged to take advantage of their time in Rotterdam as much as possible by strengthening their network and participate in all other CineMart events, like networking lunches, cocktails and other panels.
Over the past few years, the Rotterdam Lab has expanded steadily, with more producers from more different regions participating each year. The results of the Rotterdam Lab programme have been spectacular: many selected producers have returned to CineMart, and films by former Rotterdam Lab participants have been screened in the Official Festival Programme of the IFFR. Moreover, by bringing together a mix of producers from all around the world, the Rotterdam Lab has also generated many alluring international co-productions.
Rotterdam Lab international partners 2013
Ateliers du Cinéma Européen (ACE), France
Centre for the Moving Image (incorporating the Edinburgh International Film Festival), UK
Cinergia, Costa Rica
Creative Skillset, United Kingdom
Danish Filminstitute
Doha Film Insitute, Qatar
Durban FilmMart/Durban Film Office, South Africa
European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAvE), Luxembourg
Film I Vast, Sweden
Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Germany
Finnish Film Foundation
Flanders Audiovisual Fund, Belgium
Fundación TyPA, Argentina
Guanajuato International Film Festival, Mexico
Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), USA
Irish Film Board
Israel Film Fund
Korean Film Council (KOFIC)
Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Germany
Meetings on the Bridge/Istanbul Film Festival, Turkey
National Film Development Corporation India
Netherlands Film Fund
New Zealand Film Commission
Proimagenes Colombia
Screen Australia
Singapore Film Commission
Sundance Institute, USA
Telefilm Canada
Wallonie Bruxelles Images, Belgium