DocLab Academy

In new media, talent development doesn’t follow a traditional route. Artists can be established in one medium, but beginners in another. And the type of support that can help bring a project to the next level varies widely across disciplines.

Therefore, DocLab Academy now offers a tailor-made program that uses the festival as a living lab for research and development, experimentation and networking.  DocLab Academy is aimed at supporting the growing international ecosystem of artists, developers, scientists and entrepreneurs working across interactive and immersive media and art.

This year, a selection of both established artists and exciting new talents across various disciplines were invited to participate. These project teams working on a specific new media project will each receive a tailor-made program during the festival to advance their work.

The program can include network meetings; matchmaking with potential coproduction partners, co-financiers, distribution partners and creative technologists; access to markets, prototype presentations and individual consulting; follow-up sessions after the festival; the opportunity to R&D and present new work to different audiences; and priority access to key events within the IDFA DocLab festival program.

Together with partners across the emerging media industry, we recognize the increasing need for tailor-made support for creators to develop and further their projects. This year’s selection was made with The Netherlands Film Fund (for Dutch participants) and The Flanders AudiovisualFund (for Flemish participants). Others were scouted through various experts in the field, including MIT Open Doc Lab, The National Theatre’s Immersive Storytelling Studio, Creative XR, Mediamorfosis, Electric South and Tolhuistuin.

DocLab Academy is supported by The Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF) and The Netherlands Film Fund.