Take your short-film idea and make it a reality.
MIDPOINT Shorts 2023-2024

Benefits
Get closer to realisation of your creative idea
The only complex program dedicated to script and project development of the short films in Europe connected vitally to the film industry. The combination of in-depth script analysis and professional project development directs projects on their path in the cinema. Thanks to a multi-stage project selection process, the program allows to support more emerging talents.
For teams of writers, directors and producers
- it will bring your project to the next level and prepare for entering the industry world (from one-pager to treatment, from treatment to script, from the first draft to final one, from scratch to pitch)
- chance to get a deeper understanding of the creative aspects involved in the work, as well as insights into financing, sales, festival, and distribution strategies
- showcase at When East Meets West
- networking & meeting new industry partners
- front gate to The Focus WiP section of Cannes Court Métrage
Program Structure
Comprehensive project-development program for short-film projects
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Online Feedback SessionAugust 16 - 18, 2023 | Online
From all applications, the reading committee will select approximately 20 projects, whose creative teams will receive a detailed online assessment from two experienced professionals (script consultant and producer) during the online feedback session.
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Online Ideas IncubatorAugust 30 - September 1, 2023 | Online
Based on assessments from the online feedback session, approximately 10 projects will be selected into the Ideas Incubator, a 3-day consultation online workshop focused on further script and project development of your project.
After this incubator, the final 4-5 projects will be selected for the MIDPOINT Shorts program (two residential workshops). -
Workshop 1: Script Development & Project PackagingOctober 16 – 22, 2023 | Brno, Czech Republic / in collaboration with International Short Film Festival BRNO16
This workshop focuses primarily on creative development and dramaturgy. Participants also begin to work on promotional materials and production strategies with the Producer Tutor. They also meet Guest Tutors from the short-film industry through special lectures and inspiring masterclasses. The workshop is organized within the framework of ISFF BRNO16, offering short film screenings and networking opportunities.
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Online ConsultationsDecember 2023 | Online
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Workshop 2: Industry Insights & Project ShowcaseJanuary 2024 | Trieste, Italy / in collaboration with When East Meets West and Trieste Film Festival
This workshop serves as a platform to develop scripts further, while also incorporating distribution strategies and addressing presentation skills and promotional materials. The entire program concludes with a project showcase within the When East Meets West Co-Production Forum, plus one-on-one meetings with important decision-makers within the industry.
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Follow-up Online ConsultationsSpring 2024 | Online
Tutors
Inspirational professional with a passion for sharing experience
Build on the solid foundations of traditional script analysis, MIDPOINT Shorts brings experts from the short-film industry to the service of your stories.
Head of Studies & Group Leader
Pavel Marek is a globetrotter – born in India, early childhood in the USA, now a writer and director of Czech features, shorts and docs, and professor of directing at FAMU Prague.
As Head of Studies, Pavel oversees the methodology of the program, ensures participants' needs are met, and guarantees the practical value and industry impact of the training you receive.
As Group Leader, Pavel also oversees the development of all projects from the beginning of the program through graduation.
Pavel Marek
Producer Tutor
The Producer Tutor makes sure each project develops effective promotional materials and realistic budgets and schedules.

Dora Nedeczky
References
A motivational experience that elevates your project
Fee & how to apply
Online Feedback Session
20 EUR
Online Ideas Incubator
150 EUR
Workshop 1 + 2
800 EUR
Application deadline
JULY 6, 2023
Who can apply
- teams of writers, directors and producers (2–3 members in one team)
- open to projects of professional or graduation short films
- eligible countries:
open to projects from the whole world with a focus on CEE region
Application requirements
To apply for the workshop, please create an account on the MIDPOINT Visitor Page and follow the instructions within the submission form.
Application process:
The multi-stage application process runs online. Applicants are asked to fill out the application form and submit all attachments in PDF format (if not stated otherwise).
The application materials consist of:
- basic information about the applicants and the project
- synopsis (0,5–1 page)
- author´s statement (0,5–1 page)
- producer´s statement (0,5–1 page)
- previous work of director - link(s) to previous reference film(s) of the director (including English subtitles, ideally unlisted YouTube or Vimeo link)
- short professional biographies of all team members in full sentences (max. 1000 characters incl. spaces per each biography)
- photos of all team members
- optional materials: treatment (2-3 pages), moodboard
Please note that the most important is the creative potential of your project - NOT the development phase or amount of optional materials you submit (if any).
FAQs
You may ask...
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Can I apply with a documentary short film project?
Sadly, this program does not work with documentary projects, its focus are live-action fiction.
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Can I apply without a writer OR director OR producer in the team?
You can't. All these creative roles have to be present in your team. One person could represent more than one role (writer/director OR director/producer, etc.), or there could be two people representing one role (2x writer OR 2x producer, etc.). In any case, the team must consist of 2-3 people.
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Are there any time requirements regarding the minimum or maximum length of the short film?
The recommended length is approximately 7-25 minutes.
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Do we have to have some financing in place while applying for the workshop?
Nope!
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My English no good. Me can apply?
Sadly, no. As the entire training runs in English, and during the working days you'll be asked to write directly in English, we require an intermediate level of these language skills. This simply means: your grammar doesn't have to be perfect, but you need to talk/write fluently and have the vocabulary to do so.