Regulations 

1) About

RAW: Arché→Work Residencies (“RAW”) is an itinerant programme of creative development and film training organized by the associations Apordoc (Portugal) and Cine en Ruta (Spain), addressed to Ibero-American filmmakers and critics. Conceived as a working space focused on the creative process, it seeks to foster the interrelationship between creation and film criticism and research. It takes place between October and November, between Portugal and Spain, and includes participation in Arché (creative development laboratory at Doclisboa – International Film Festival) and MÁRGENES/WORK (Márgenes. Madrid International Film Festival). It also includes a period of artistic residency in Lisbon and participation in the international seminar Doc’s Kingdom (Odemira, Portugal).

The programme offers two strands: Creation Residencies and Criticism Residencies.

 

Creation Residencies

Intended for filmmakers with projects at different stages of development and production, from writing to post-production, the residencies are designed to combine individual and collective work, fostering exchange between participants, professional mentoring and critical reflection to advance and strengthen each project. Participants with projects in the writing or development phase can work with a variety of materials: from initial ideas or scripts to footage already shot, written ideas or visual references. For projects in the editing phase, the focus will be on the collective viewing of audiovisual material (rough cut, first version, final version or working copy), promoting collective exchange and discussion.

 

Criticism Residencies

Designed for critics interested in non-fiction films, the programme offers personalized support tailored to each project, as well as a theoretical and practical approach to film history and theory, taking advantage of the immersion in festivals with a strong editorial focus, such as Doclisboa and Márgenes. Selected candidates will have the opportunity to connect with the festival ecosystem, enabling direct contact with filmmakers, critics, programmers and other industry professionals. Residents’ participation in the festivals includes selecting films for critical analysis with their tutors; attending screenings and discussions with filmmakers; and writing essays, under the tutor’s supervision, exploring different theoretical and methodological approaches.

 

2) Goals

RAW promotes creativity, professionalization, research and experimentation through an immersive and rigorous residency programme for filmmakers and audiovisual creators, as well as critics, with the following objectives:

  • To put the Lisbon-Madrid axis at the service of a plural and lively independent non-fiction film industry and to encourage co-productions between Ibermedia countries
  • To create market access opportunities for emerging producers and filmmakers, respecting the artistic and economic specificities of each project and considering production also as an authorial process.
  • To promote the production of knowledge and encourage the interrelationship between creation and critical research, creating a common and constructive space for both.

 

3) Participants

RAW: Arché→Work Residencies (RAW) focuses on innovative film projects of a strongly authorial nature, with special attention to non-fiction practices and experimentation, as well as critical and research work related to the cinema of the real in the Ibero-American context.

The programme is addressed to talents with a feature film project in the development, production or post-production phase, as well as to film critics from Ibermedia programme member countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela. Being a national from one of these countries is mandatory for participation.

 

4) Programme and activities

Participants in the Creation residency begin the programme at Doclisboa, where they attend the Arché Lab, which offers mentoring and workshops focused on project development.

For Criticism residents, the programme begins before arrival with an online meeting with a tutor, aimed at designing a schedule of screenings and meetings for their time at Doclisboa. During the festival, they work in groups and in individual sessions alongside their tutor, based on screenings of selected films. In this initial phase, they also take part in both individual and group meetings.

After Doclisboa, the programme continues with an artistic residency in Lisbon, where the participants further develop their projects with personalized support from their tutors.

They then take part in the Doc’s Kingdom international seminar in Odemira, which offers an intensive programme of sessions and debates with invited filmmakers.

In the final phase, residents take part in MÁRGENES/WORK. The Creative Residencies include workshops on scriptwriting, project production and marketing, public presentations, individual mentoring and meetings with experts. The Criticism Residency participants will take part in both individual and group meetings with professionals from the fields of criticism, publishing, and other areas related to critical writing. Accompanied by their tutor, they will present the evolution of their projects during the Residency, alongside the participants from Márgenes Work. Additionally, the publication of their texts on the Doclisboa and Márgenes platforms will be promoted. The Criticism residency is connected with the Márgenes Festival programme with the purpose of creating a space for critical development that fosters and empowers professional enrichment.

The working languages are Spanish, Portuguese and/or English.

 

5) Dates

In 2026, RAW: Arché→Work Residencies (RAW) will take place between October 18 and November 24, according to the following schedule:

  • October 18 to 25: Arché (as part of Doclisboa, Lisbon);
  • October 26 to November 13: Artist Residency (Lisbon);
  • November 13 to 18: Doc’s Kingdom International Seminar (Odemira);
  • November 20-24: Márgenes/Work (Madrid).

 

6) Expenses and Grants

With the support of the Ibermedia programme, the programme covers specifically the following costs to each selected project:

  • Mentoring by a tutor;
  • Meetings with experts and professionals from the sector;
  • Access to Arché and all associated activities;
  • Access to the screenings and activities of Doclisboa’s industry programmeme, Nebulae;
  • Access to the activities of Doc’s Kingdom – International Documentary Film Seminar;
  • Access to Márgenes/Work and all associated activities;
  • Travel expenses from Lisbon to Odemira (round trip);
  • Travel expenses from Lisbon to Madrid;
  • Accommodation (with shared bathroom) and meal allowance during the RAW: Arché→Work Residencies programme (from October 21 to November 25). During Doc’s Kingdom, the provided accommodation is shared.

Expenses not included:

  • Travel expenses to and from the country or city of origin must be covered by the participants.
  • In the Creation Residencies category, the grant will go to the candidate filmmaker. Should a second representative of the project wish to participate, they must cover all associated costs for their participation in RAW. Such participation must be notified to the organizers, who will not be responsible for travel or accommodation costs.
  • Additionally, any expenses incurred by participants during the programme, other than those mentioned above, shall be borne by them.

 

7) Awards

Film projects that take part in the Creation Residencies are eligible for the Nebulae and Márgenes/Work awards. Information on the awards will be made available in September.

 

8) Submission

In 2026, the call for projects will be open from April 15 to May 15, until 23:59 (GMT+1). Registration is free. 

Applicants must complete the application form and upload the materials required for each call:

Creation Residencies

1) Project dossier (max. 8 pages) in PDF format, including the following information in Portuguese, Spanish or English: 

  • Film title
  • Synopsis
  • Director’s note of intent (director’s vision and motivations)
  • Director’s notes with references to the formal and visual treatment
  • Director’s bio-filmography
  • Producer’s and screenwriter’s bio-filmography (if applicable)
  • Production company’s bio-filmography (if applicable)
  • Links to work in progress or excerpts with English subtitles (if applicable)
  • Links to previous films (if applicable)
  • Planned work schedule
  • Notes on the current state of development and the current needs of the project
  • Provisional budget and financial plan

2) 2 to 5 stills or visual references of the project;

3) Motivation letter (why participate in the RAW programme);

4) Copy of identity card or passport.

 

Criticism Residencies

1) Academic and professional curriculum vitae;

2) Description of the project to be developed, whose study material is linked to non-fictional film spaces and/or creators;

3) Previous film research/criticism work and/or articles (if applicable);

4) Planned work schedule, in regards to the proposed project to be developed during RAW;

5) Motivation letter (specifying the relevance of the festivals in which RAW is part of the research project);

6) Copy of identity card or passport.

Applications with missing information will be considered incomplete and will not be processed.

 

9) Selection Process

A total of 5 projects will be selected: 3 for the Creation Residency and 2 for the Criticism Residency.

The participating projects will be selected by the organization and invited independent professionals.

The evaluation criteria for creation projects will take into account innovation in narrative and aesthetic forms, as well as the inclusion of non-traditional forms of production and the viability of the project.

For film criticism projects, positive consideration will be given to the fact that the proposals present a possibility of materialization within the framework of the residency: space, structure, medium, support, etc.

For the final selection, video call interviews will be held with the shortlisted finalists.

 

10) Notification

Selected participants will be informed of the results by email by July 31. The selection will remain confidential until the official announcement is made by the organization.

 

11) Obligations of the participants

Candidates must guarantee their availability during the RAW dates. Participation in all activities is mandatory, as is the submission of all materials requested by the organisation within the specified deadlines for both workshops and public presentations

Participants are responsible for securing medical and travel insurance for the entire duration of the activities.

Selected participants authorize the use of project-related information(excluding confidential data), as well as images and excerpts, for dissemination in the media and on social media for promotional purposes (i.e. the festival’s website, catalogue, social media, and promotional videos).

Participants must include the RAW logo on all materials (including film credits and promotional assets). In addition, they agree to use the following wording: “RAW Project Participant” + RAW logo.

Film projects awarded at Arché or Márgenes/Work must include the corresponding award logo in the credits and promotional materials.

Participants must sign an agreement to join the programme before the start of the activities.

No later than one month after the end of the activities, participants must deliver a report on the development of the project within the programme, as well as a feedback form in accordance with the Ibermedia programme regulations.

 

12) Infringement of rules and obligations

Failure to attend any activity without justification may result in exclusion from the rest of the programme.

Failure to use the provided accommodation without prior request and approval may result in participants being required to cover the corresponding costs.

 

13) Responsibilities and Acceptance of the Terms and Conditions

The submission of a project implies knowledge and acceptance of these regulations.

Submitted projects must not contain any content that infringes upon third-party rights.

Any matter not covered by these regulations will be resolved by the organization in accordance with international film festival regulations.

The organization reserves the right to modify or change the program at any time, notifying participants accordingly.