MANILA, PHILIPPINES, JANUARY 10, 2021 —  The Full Circle Lab Philippines (FCL PH), a joint capacity-building program for Filipino and other Southeast Asian filmmakers of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and European production outfit Tatino Films, has opened the call for applications for this year’s edition. The 2022 edition will consist of four (4) labs that will directly benefit fifteen (15) projects and eleven (11) talents, with no less than ten (10) international mentors and industry advisors involved. The Story Editor’s Lab, a new section, will also be introduced and will be focusing on story development particularly in the script development stage. 

The FDCP’s flagship international film lab for Filipino and Southeast Asian films and filmmakers was renewed for another three-year cycle which will cover 2022 to 2024—a long term plan that will culminate into the FCL Horizons 2025. The project will be in hybrid format consisting of an onsite residential workshop in April and follow-up online sessions in September 2022. 

The program aiming to provide opportunities for filmmakers and producers to further develop and elevate their projects will be opening its doors to participants of the following films labs: 

• Fiction Lab - twelve (12) projects in development (feature films, series, animation)
• First Cut Lab - three (3) projects in post-production (feature films & documentaries)
• Creative Producers Lab - eight (8) producers with or without project/s in development
• Story Editing Lab - three (3) participants 

Full Circle Lab Philippines aims to identify, nurture, and train creative talents in the Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia by supporting film projects along their development & post-production processes in order to enhance their artistic and audience potentials with a focus on storytelling. This program also aims to foster the internationalization of the Filipino film industry and position the Philippines as a creative hub in the Southeast Asian region by creating synergy between the industry experts and professionals across the globe through sessions and talks. This new three-year cycle will be joined by a mentor team composed of esteemed film professionals from all over the world. 

The Full Circle Lab Philippines call for application is open to eligible filmmakers from the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries: Brunei, Cambodia, East-Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

“The whole world is looking at Asia now, and we want to capitalize on that and make sure that we are ready and equipped with the tools to take our diverse and unique stories to the global stage. Through the Full Circle Lab Philippines, we are taking concrete steps toward making the Philippines a creative Hub for Filmmaking in the Southeast Asian region,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño. 

“With that goal, and especially with this fast evolving milieu, it is imperative to continually equip our filmmakers with the tools for them to keep learning new skills, unlearning less effective practices, and relearning new strategies in doing things so they can keep up with the times,” she added.   

Last year, the 3rd FCL PH was held online alongside the first Philippine Film Industry Month celebration. The FCL 2021 edition has supported a total of 24 projects and participants from various countries in Southeast Asia and the Philippines. 

Eligible applicants may submit the complete application package consisting of complete requirements and accomplished application form to [email protected] with the subject: Full Circle Lab Philippines 2022 [Lab Category Application] ex. Full Circle Lab Philippines 2021 [Fiction lab Application]. Applications for Fiction Lab, Creative Producers Lab, and Story Editing Lab will be accepted until February 15, 2022 with announcement of selected participants in the FCL PH’s social media pages on March 15, 2022. The application period for First Cut Lab will be until March 15, 2022, announcement date of chosen projects will be posted this month. Interested applicants may download the application form here: https://bit.ly/FCLPH2022-ApplicationForm.

Stay tuned for more details and announcements in Full Circle Lab Philippines’ Facebook page and Instagram. For guidelines, eligibility, and requirements, see below: 

Fiction Lab

Open for projects in the early stage of development to pre-production stage in any of the following formats: feature films, series, or animation. 

Applicants must submit the following: 

• Duly accomplished application form
• Logline (50 words), synopsis (1 page), and concept/treatment (up to 10 pages)
• Director’s and producer’s statements (Up to 2 pages)
• Director’s and screenwriter’s filmographies (1 page)
• Producer’s filmography (1 page) and production company profile (1 page)
• Rights to adaptation, if applicable
• High definition profile photo

All requirements must be submitted in separate PDF documents.

Note: 

• Projects with or without current affiliation with a producer will be equally welcomed.
• There is no need to have financing in place.
• The participating team must be composed of the writer accompanied by the director and/or producer of the project.

First Cut Lab

Available for projects in the editing stage. Participants will receive expert advice from editor-consultants and industry advisors chosen according to the specific needs of each film. 

Applicants must submit the following: 

• Duly accomplished application form
• A minimum of 30 minutes of scenes from the film with English subtitles. Scenes can be separate and can be in the rough cut
• Logline (50 words), synopsis (1 page)
• Director’s and producer’s statements (Up to 2 pages)
• Director’s and editor’s filmographies (1 page)
• Producer’s filmography (1 page) and production company profile (1 page)
• High definition profile photo

All requirements must be submitted in separate PDF documents.

Note: 

The film’s producer, director, and editor must attend the whole duration of the Editing Lab.

Creative Producers Lab

Open to producers who will have the chance to be mentored on topics covering the different key areas of this profession—project development, legal & financial issues, and company development. 

Applicants must submit the following: 

• Duly accomplished application form
• Letter of intent
• Filmography
• Production company profile
• Project dossier
• High definition profile photo

All requirements must be submitted in separate PDF documents.

Note: 

Producers with or without current affiliation with production companies are equally welcome to apply.

Story Editing Lab

Open to aspiring script consultants, scriptwriters, heads of development in production companies, or commissioning editors of broadcasters, who will work hand-in-hand with the Fiction Lab groups. Each participant will work primarily with the script and production mentors of his group, but he/she will also receive expert advice and lectures from mentors from the other groups.

Applicants must submit the following: 

• Duly accomplished application form
• Letter of intent
• Filmography
• Production company profile
• High definition profile photo

All requirements must be submitted in separate PDF documents.

 LAB GUIDELINES

1. 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.

2. For Fiction Lab, Creative Producers Lab, and Story Editing Lab, applicants should submit their complete application package by February 15, 2022. For First Cut Lab, applications will be accepted until March 15, 2022.

3. 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 2022 [(Lab Category) Application] ex. Full Circle Lab Philippines 2021 [Fiction lab Application].

4. 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.

5. FDCP will be announcing the final selection of the official projects by March 15, 2022.

6. The official participants shall agree and sign a Memorandum of Agreement with FDCP upon accepting the terms and lab slot.

7. The official participants shall agree to disclose their vaccination certifications.

8. The FDCP shall cover the costs for flights and accommodations of the participants for the duration of the onsite lab.

9. 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.

10. The official participants will be given schedules with their assigned Full Circle Lab  Philippines mentors.

11. The official participants must comply and submit their requirements as advised by the mentor and/or the organizers.

12. The official participants would be given passes to the International Film Industry Conference in September. Each interested participant should register to secure a slot.