The Kyoto Filmmakers Lab (KFL) is accepting applications until September 2, 2022.

About the Lab:
Kyoto Filmmakers Lab (KFL) is the training program for young of Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival(KHIFF). They aim to provide an international networking place for young filmmakers, as well as an opportunity for them to receive guidance from leading directors and professionals in the industry and gain filmmaking experience in active studios while taking advantage of Kyoto’s filmmaking heritage. The Lab hope that this workshop, where filmmakers of various cultural backgrounds gather in the city’s studios to live and create a film together, will inspire the creation of new films in Kyoto and spread the tradition and spirit of its filmmaking across the globe.

In the 15-year history of Kyoto Filmmakers Lab, a total of 430 participants from 51 countries, selected from 1,872 applicants from 111 countries, have experienced KFL workshops and collaborated with each other in Kyoto.

Program Period:

Hands on JIDAIGEKI (November 3 (Thu) to November 9 (Wed) 2022 <7 days>)
Selected young filmmakers will create three-minute short samurai films using the open sets in Toei Studios Kyoto and Shochiku Kyoto Studios. An authentic traditional Jidaigeki-making experience is provided, using almost the same facilities and equipment for feature filmmaking, including JIDAIGEKI permanent sets, props, lighting, and costuming. Screenplays will be invited for entry from the participants in advance, and 2 screenplays among them will be selected by the Lab staff. Participants will be divided into 2 groups, the Toei and Shochiku teams, and each team will work together from scenario development to post-production, with production support by supervisors and professional staff from the studios. After 2days shooting, participants will join Masters Session to communicate with guests and lecturers.

Masters Session (November 3 (Thu) to November 6 (Sun) 2022 <4 days>)
A variety of juries and guests who will be invited to TIFF (Tokyo International Film Festival) and Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival (KHIFF) will serve lecturers. from 2018, we have presented Biennale College Cinema feature films and Biennale College Cinema – VR projects; Biennale College Cinema is a program realized by La Biennale di Venezia to train new filmmakers, in microbudget productions. Participants can learn how to present an application at the call Biennale College Cinema too. Also, a theatrical sword fight workshop will be scheduled in collaboration with Toei TSURUGI KAI. We hope to foster the development of talented filmmakers by inspiring young participants in the workshop.

Hands on JIDAIGEKI Application Guidelines

Eligibility:
– You have professional experience in the film, videogame or animation industries, OR you have made a short film, OR You are a film school/program graduate or graduate student.
– We accept applicants of any nationality.
– English communication ability is preferable.
– We do NOT accept team/group applications.
– You must be able to attend all 7 days of the program, from November 3rd to 9th 2022.
– Those who have attended “Hands-on JIDAIGEKI” in the past are not eligible to apply. (If you have experience of only participating in Masters Session in the past, you can apply to Hands-on JIDAIGEKI.)
– Actors and Actresses can’t apply to Hands on JIDAIGEKI. You can only apply to Masters Session this year.

Submission Process
– Fill the ONLINE entry form: https://www.kyotofilmmakerslab.com/online-application/hands-on-jidaigeki/
– Receive email from KFL: Kyoto Filmmakers Lab will send you a REGISTRATION NUMBER and Work Sample Submitting Form URL for your work sample by e-mail.
– Upload your work sample to Video Sharing Site or File Transfer Services (Youtube or Vimeo is recommended).
– Submitting a Work Sample through Our Online Form

Work Sample Submission Regulations
– Your work sample must have been completed after January 1, 2018
– Your work sample must be either a short film or an abridged version of your work, less than THREE MINUTES in length and in English or with English subtitles. (We will NOT accept any work samples longer than THREE MINUTES.)
– The volume of your work sample must be less than 700MB.
– The file format of your work sample must be Mpeg4.
– The work sample needs English subtitles if it is not in Japanese.
– Please be sure to be able to be downloaded your work sample when you upload to the video sharing site.
– After you complete entry your profile and obtain your registration number and Work Sample Submitting Form URL for work sample from KFL office, you must submit your work sample with URL, password, registration number, name, email address, title and your role through our online application form.
– Applicants are only allowed ONE work sample per entry.
– We don’t determine any themes or styles. You can submit anything that you think is worth showing. If you submit digest version of your past works, you need to clear to each title and your role in your work sample.
– Please make the work sample viewable until September 30th.
– We don’t accept any application by team/group
– Your work sample also needs to submit until September 2nd, 23:59 JST through our form.
– We don’t accept any files of work sample or profile through email.
– The work sample should be submitted by Work Sample Submitting Form but if you worried about security or have some reasons, you can send DVD. Please contact us before you send DVD because of the regulations.
– Replacement or Resubmitting is not allowed.

Participation Fee: Free
– Participants need to arrange your own accommodation and transportation. Partial accommodation expenses (Max JPY 7,000 yen /day) will be provided to participants during the KFL program. However, this will not be provided to Kyoto residents, those who can commute from home, or those staying at a friend’s or relative’s house. The accommodation subsidy will be given in exchange for a receipt on the last day.
– Partial travel expenses(JPY 60,000 yen) will be provided to participants who lives outside Japan. However, this will be paid during the KFL program period. NO transfers will be made in advance for any reason. The procedure for VISA for coming to Japan will be announced separately.
– Participation fee is free, but participants need to pay for your own transportation or meals and etc, during KFL.

Submission Deadline: September 2, 2022 (Friday)
Notification Date: September 2022

Masters Session Application Guidelines:

Eligibility
– Anyone who has professional experience in the film, video game, or animation industry, OR has made a short film, OR has experience that involved in filmmaking. Examples: Filmmaker, Director, DP, Production Manager, Producer, Grip/Electrics, Sound Operator, Music Composer, Editor, Production Designer, Art Director, Set Decorator, Makeup, Special Effects, Visual Effects, Costume, Scenario Writer, Actor/Actress, Game Designer, Game Creator, Game Programmer, Sound Creator, Graphic Designer, Animator, Character Designer, etc. Also, students are welcome.
– We accept applicants of any nationality.
– English communication ability is preferable.
– We do NOT accept team/group applications.
– Participants must attend all 4 days program from November 3rd to 6th.
– Those who participated in Hands-on “JIDAIGEKI” in the past can apply to the Masters Session. However, you can’t apply if you have participated in a Masters Session in the past.

Submission Process
– Fill the ONLINE entry form: https://www.kyotofilmmakerslab.com/online-application/masters-session/
– Receive email from KFL: Kyoto Filmmakers Lab will send you a REGISTRATION NUMBER. Please check our email.

Participation Fee: Free
– Participants need to arrange your own accommodation and transportation. Partial accommodation expenses (Max JPY 7,000 yen /day) will be provided to participants during the KFL program. However, this will not be provided to Kyoto residents, those who can commute from home, or those staying at a friend’s or relative’s house. The accommodation subsidy will be given in exchange for a receipt on the last day.
– Partial travel expenses(JPY 60,000 yen) will be provided to participants who lives outside Japan. However, this will be paid during the KFL program period. NO transfers will be made in advance for any reason. The procedure for VISA for coming to Japan will be announced separately.
– Participation fee is free, but participants need to pay for your own transportation or meals and etc, during KFL.

Submission Deadline: September 2, 2022 (Friday)
Notification Date: September 2022

For more information, please visit: https://www.kyotofilmmakerslab.com/