Your Ciné 2026 – Open Call for Competition Entries, deadline March 23rd, and open call for mentors, deadline March 31st
The Your Ciné idea competition, now being held for the fifth time, invites emerging creators to refine their film and series ideas together with mentors!
Launched in 2022, the competition is an initiative of Espoo Ciné to promote a more diverse film industry. It is aimed especially at minorities underrepresented in the Finnish media landscape, whose stories are too rarely seen on the big screen. These include, for example, gender and sexual minorities, people with disabilities and reduced mobility, BIPOC individuals, and members of linguistic minorities. Students, early-career creators, and completely new voices are all eligible to apply.
Open call for the idea competition organized by Espoo Ciné
The selected writers will be invited to participate in the competition workshop. During the workshop days, finalists will meet the competition mentors, receive training in presenting their stories, and further develop their ideas with an assigned mentor. With the mentors’ support, the finalists will craft short pitches of their ideas, which will be presented to the other workshop participants on the second day. Depending on the participants, the workshop language will be Finnish and/or English.
The program culminates in a pitching competition, where a professional jury will select the final winner. The winner will receive a €2,500 prize at the opening screening of Espoo Ciné on August 21.
The application period is open until Monday, March 23, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
Your Ciné 2026 – Open Call for Competition Entries, directs to espoocine.fi
Open call for mentors
Espoo Ciné is now looking for experienced industry professionals to serve as mentors at a workshop taking place on 20–21 May 2026. The application period is open until 31 March 2026 at 23:59.
Sinun Ciné 2026 – Espoo Ciné Seeks Mentors for Idea Competition, directs to espoocine.fi
