Full Circle Lab Philippines is a capacity-building program aimed at supporting Filipino and Southeast Asian filmmakers.

Through organizing the various labs ranging from the stages of pre-production to post-production, the program enhances selected projects and participants from around the globe, elevating their films and talents to their highest potential and allowing them to reach international standards.

Launched in 2019, the Full Circle Lab Philippines was developed by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in collaboration with Matthieu Darras, current director of Full Circle Lab and former Artistic Director of the internationally renowned Torino Film Lab. The collaboration looks to make the Philippines a creative hub for filmmaking in the Southeast Asian region. With this aim, the tailor-made Full Circle Lab Philippines will open up its program to discover unique stories from all of Southeast Asia and to encompass the different voices within the region. 

Filmmakers from the Philippines and neighboring Brunei, Cambodia, East-Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam are eligible and encouraged to submit their films for consideration in the program’s four separate film labs. So far more than 100 film professionals and 48 film projects (32 in development and 16 in post-production) have moved through the lab.

For this year’s edition of the Full Circle Lab, the labs are as follows:
 

For the 2023 edition, and FCL PH’s fifth year, the FDCP and Tatino Films will continue to provide opportunities for the filmmakers and producers to further develop and elevate their projects by launching Full Circle Lab Philippines with two (2) sessions spanned over a 5-month period: one on-site residential workshop and one online follow-up session.

With the signed Horizons 2025 agreement, the FCL PH’s goal to become an all-Filipino team shall be realized in the years to come. 

Full Circle Lab Philippines aims for the following:

• Identifying, nurturing, and training creative talents in the Philippines and in South-East Asia;

• Supporting Filipino & Southeast Asian film projects along their development & post-production processes – in order to enhance their artistic and audience potentials with a focus on storytelling;

• Fostering the internationalisation of the Filipino film industry and positioning the Philippines as a creative hub in the Southeast Asian region;

• Creating synergy between the industry experts and professionals across the globe through sessions and talks.

Labs

Full Circle Lab Philippines is made of 4 Labs that will directly benefit 15 projects and 11 talents, with no less than 10 mentors involved. The Lab takes place onsite on March 27 to 31. 

Fiction Lab

The Fiction Lab is the central lab of the whole scheme, as it directly aims at answering one of the most common needs of any film industry, that is making it possible for original & competitive film projects to come to life.

This Lab shall constitute a creative framework, and target the core creative team of a film project: the scriptwriter, the director, and the producer. It consists mainly of script and production consultancies, with different techniques & processes.

The Fiction Lab welcomes twelve (12) projects at various stages of development: from early-stage to pre-production with formats ranging from feature films, series, or animation. This is made possible with a reinforced mentorship: one script consultant & one production consultant per group of 4 projects.

First Cut Lab

The First Cut Lab is a comprehensive training & consultancy program supporting feature films at the editing stage.

By providing a creative framework of exchanges that is simultaneously safe and challenging, First Cut Lab aims at enhancing the artistic achievement of the films, and at the same time at fostering their potential of international circulation.

The First Cut Lab welcomes three (3) projects in the editing stage where participants receive expert advice from editor consultants and industry advisors chosen according to the specific needs of each film. 

Once the workshop is over, the participants receive a memo report that can serve as guidance for further editing. Moreover, the online follow-up session will not take place in September, but around 6 weeks after the workshop (mid-June) when the project would need it the most in order to receive feedback on a new version of the cut.

Creative Producers Lab

The Creative Producers Lab is an essential tool to develop the whole ecosystem of a given film industry. Indeed, the role of a creative producer is key to enhancing the production value of the films.

The Creative Producer Lab welcomes eight (8) producers where they shall discuss topics covering the different key areas of this profession: project development, legal & financial issues, and company development.

This lab would be hybrid with two mentors present onsite and some guest speakers who would be participating online.

Story Editing Lab

The Story Editing Lab answers an important need, which is to train film professionals capable of accompanying authors & directors in the creative process – primarily at the script development stage.

These film professionals can be aspiring script consultants, but they can also be scriptwriters, heads of development in production companies, or commissioning editors of broadcasters as well. They should be able to be sparring partners for the authors, able to design and conduct a script & project development path, but also to intervene at the editing stage.

The Story Editing Lab welcomes three (3) participants who shall work hand-in-hand with the Fiction Lab, with 1 Story Editing Lab participant per Fiction Lab group. Each participant will work primarily with the script and production mentors of his group, but he/she will also receive expertise and lectures from mentors from the other groups.

All requirements must be submitted in separate PDF documents.

Application form can be downloaded via this link: https://bit.ly/FCLPH2023-ApplicationForm 

LAB GUIDELINES

Full Circle Lab Philippines is open to filmmakers from the Philippines and Southeast Asia countries: Brunei, Cambodia, East-Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Applications for Fiction Lab, Creative Producers Lab, and Story Editing Lab will be accepted until November 11, 2022. Meanwhile, applications for First Cut Lab will be accepted until December 5, 2022. 

• The application shall be done by submitting a duly accomplished application form and other supporting requirements. All requirements shall be sent to [email protected] with the subject: Full Circle Lab Philippines 2023 [(Lab Category) Application] ex. Full Circle Lab Philippines 2023 [Fiction lab Application].
• The Full Circle Lab Philippines mentors shall review the materials of eligible applicants and shall confer to select the final selection, ensuring the diversity of the lineup.
• FDCP will be announcing the final selection of the official projects and participants by February 15, 2023. 
• The official participants shall agree and sign a Memorandum of Agreement with FDCP upon accepting the terms and lab slot.
• The official participants shall agree to disclose their vaccination certifications.
• The FDCP shall cover the costs for flights and accommodations of the participants for the duration of the onsite lab.
• The official participants shall agree to attend onsite and finish all sessions and meetings assigned to them and participate in the follow-up session in September.
• The official participants will be given schedules with their assigned Full Circle Lab  Philippines mentors.
• The official participants must comply and submit their requirements as advised by the mentor and/or the organizers.

ELIGIBILITY

1. For Fiction Lab, the stage of development of each project may vary

• Projects with or without producer(s) attached will equally be welcomed.
• There is no need to have financing in place.
• Participants will be the author(s), and the directors and producers will also be attending if they are attached to the projects.
• The Labs are open for projects that have not yet entered the pre-production stage.

2. For the First Cut Lab, the film’s producer, director, and editor must attend the whole duration of the Editing Lab.

3. For Creative Producers Lab, applicants shall be producers who with or without production companies attached are equally welcomed.

4. For the Story Editing Lab, applicants shall be aspiring script consultants, scriptwriters, heads of development in production companies, or commissioning editors of broadcasters.

2019 FIRST CUT LAB PHILIPPINES SELECTED PROJECTS

2020 FULL CIRCLE LAB PHILIPPINES SELECTED PROJECTS