The Fiction Feature Lab is on hiatus for 2021. For fiction feature films in halted production or post-production—from first-time or more experienced directors—please consider applying to the Gotham Week Project Market as a U.S. Features submission. More info here.
About
The Gotham Fiction Feature Lab (formerly IFP Narrative Lab) annually supports first-time feature filmmakers as they prepare to finish and premiere their debut fiction features. The Lab provides the creative teams behind these films with key support through the completion, marketing, and distribution of their work.
The Filmmaker Labs consist of three modules: the Completion Lab, Gotham Week, and the Distribution Lab. See here for more information.
Gotham Week
As part of the participation in the Fiction Feature Lab, selected projects are granted participation in the Gotham Week Project Market, where Lab Fellows can connect with key industry members—sales agents, distributors, festival programmers, and more—to help move their projects and careers forward. See here for more information.
Please read carefully before applying.
Questions? Please contact Gotham Director of Narrative Programming, Zach Mandinach: [email protected]
Eligibility Criteria
Applicant
- Labs are open to first-time feature directors only;
- If you released a fiction feature before, you are still eligible to apply to the documentary lab and vice versa;
- The film must be directed by an American, or a director with an foreign nationality must be based in the U.S;
- It is not necessary that the film was shot in the U.S. or that an American filmmaker primarily reside in the U.S.
Project Type
- Projects should be intended for feature length, one hour or longer;
- Short films are not eligible for the Labs;
- Projects should be low-budget – under $1Million;
- Projects that sold all their distribution rights are not eligible;
- Films can be in any language; if not in English, work must be subtitled;
Stage of production
- All, or a majority of principal photography must be complete & editing is ongoing. Post (sound/color) should not be complete;
- We prefer projects that have not already been submitted to festivals; the goals of the program are to help improve the project before this kind of industry exposure.
Materials – Narrative Lab
- A current rough cut to fine assembly;
- We don’t accept trailers;
- Understanding how quickly the post process of a fiction feature can move, we will consider submissions that offer under 40 minutes of footage on a case-by-case basis. Filmmakers unable to submit more than 40 minutes of footage must contact Zach Mandinach ([email protected]) prior to submitting;
- If submitted footage and written materials do not fully represent the entire story arc, additional materials may be requested including a treatment and/or completed script.
Commitment to Diversity
As part of The Gotham’s ongoing commitment to diversity, the Fiction Feature Labs seeks to ensure that at least 50% of the participating projects have an inclusive range of races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and abilities in key creative positions.