DOCEDGE Kolkata

Incubation and co-production platform for Indian and Asian filmmakers.

DOCEDGE Kolkata
DOCEDGE Kolkata logo
01 Mar
Monday
8 Days
2027
08 Mar
Monday

Docedge Kolkata, Asian Forum for Documentary. The 23rd edition of Docedge Kolkata, Asian Forum for Documentary, will be held from 01 to 08 March 2027.

The weeklong programme of a series of incubation labs, film screenings, talks, and masterclasses is followed by exchanges with industry experts, potential collaborators, and market leaders, such as forums, funds, producers, festivals, and distributors.

About The Labs and Industry Forum

Designed to support innovative documentary projects to unleash creative and co-production possibilities, the forum identifies new talents and experienced filmmakers to support original story ideas that are realised through cross-border collaborations.

The incubation sessions, Narrative and Visual Labs, will be followed by Pitch presentations of projects to a panel of industry guests during the last three days, 6-8 March 2027. The forum also will flourish with special sessions such as masterclasses, talks, and panel discussions on selected days.

Objectives

  • Support innovative documentary ideas to flourish into films.
  • Develop creative storytelling skills through immersive training and mentorship.
  • Create international co-production opportunities.
  • Support original story ideas through cross-border investment and collaborations.
  • Connect filmmakers with artists, professionals, and industry leaders.
  • Provide opportunities for creative exchange through masterclasses, talks, and critical exchange on nonfiction cinema.

Who Is It For?

The programme is intended for filmmakers and producers from Asian countries developing documentary projects or already in production. Applicants must be nationals of an Asian country, and the principal filming location of the submitted project must be in an Asian country.

Aspiring filmmakers, producers, film enthusiasts, students of film, media, and art institutions, professionals, and early-career filmmakers from an Asian country may also apply as Observers to attend workshops and sessions of Docedge Kolkata 2027.

What Programme Offers

  • Group and one-on-one mentorship in the Narrative Labs
  • One-on-one mentorship - Visual Lab
  • Critical discussions on the art and craft of cinema
  • Masterclasses
  • Project pitching
  • Masterclasses
  • Industry Sessions
  • Pitch Presentation
  • One-on-one Industry Meetings

Eligibility

Who Can Apply

  • Applications must be submitted by the director and/or producer of the project, who belongs by nationality to an Asian country.
  • The submitted project's principal filming location must be in an Asian country.

Who Cannot Apply

  • Multiple entries from the same filmmaker/producer will not be accepted.
  • Films that are already completed are not eligible for application.
  • Producer/director not belonging to Asian countries.
  • Applicants in any academic year of institutes or universities.
  • Applicants below eighteen years of age.

Application Guidelines

Application Process

  • Online application through the provided link only.
  • Applications by email or post are not accepted.
  • Entries without all necessary information or entries exceeding the prescribed word count will not be accepted.
  • The visual material is mandatory and should not exceed 3–4 minutes.
  • Entries without the required visual clip or exceeding the mentioned duration will not be accepted.
  • Links to visual material should remain active for at least four months following the deadline.

Submission Requirements

Application Requirements

  • Logline – maximum 30 words.
  • Synopsis – maximum 250 words.
  • Treatment & Narrative Outline – maximum 500 words.
  • Director biography and filmography – maximum 150 words.
  • Audiovisual material – maximum 4 minutes.
  • Two film stills in JPEG, JPG, or PNG format.

Important Dates

  • Selection Announcement: January 3, 2027
  • Application Deadline: December 10, 2026
  • Online Registration for Selected Projects & Observers: January 4–10, 2027
  • Mentoring & Incubation Sessions: March 1–5, 2027
  • Screenings, Masterclasses and Talks: March 1–7, 2027
  • Pitch Season: March 6–8, 2027
  • Industry Meetings: March 6–8, 2027
  • Closing Ceremony: March 8, 2027

Fees

Indian Projects

FEES

Participant with a Project

  • Application Fee: INR 2,000
  • Second Participant: INR 2,000
  • After Selection – Registration Fee: INR 15,000
  • Second Participant – Registration Fee: INR 13,000

Overseas Applicant

  • Application Fee: NIL
  • Overseas Applicant – After Selection: USD 200
  • Overseas Second Participant: USD 180

Observer

  • Application Fee: INR 1,000
  • After Selection – Registration Fee: INR 10,000

Once submitted, Application and Participation fees are not refundable.

Awards

Awards & Recognition

Awards and achievements at DOCEDGE Kolkata.

2026 Edition 15 Images

Kathmandu Doc Lab Award

Selection, participation, travel support, and accommodation at Kathmandu DocLab'26

Project: In Between Rains

Filmmaker: Sudarshan Hake

Sunny Side of the Doc Award

Two complimentary registrations to Sunny Side of the Doc for the project team and Air Fare for the director

Project: Silver Linings

Filmmakers: Kanishka Sonthalia & Siddesh Shetty

Tokyo Docs Award

Selection, participation, travel support, and accommodation | Tokyo Docs 2026

Project: Children of the Sea

Filmmaker: Pooja Sampath

SAAVA (Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association) Award

Accreditation for 2 to the ATF Leader Dialogue, Market and Conference, and submission to the SAAVA IP Accelerator Project Market 2026, Singapore

Project: Our Bodies

Filmmaker: Bora Lee-Kil & Emi Ueyama

Docs by the Sea, Indonesia Award

Selection in Storytelling Lab, participation, travel support and accommodation Docs by the Sea Lab and Forum 2026 in Indonesia

Project: Every Home Ablaze

Filmmakers: Sadia Rao & Karanjit Singh

DMZ Award

Selection, participation, travel support and accommodation | DMZ Docs Industry’s Production Pitch (with a post-pitch support of KW 10,000)

Project: Silver Linings

Filmmakers: Kanishka Sonthalia & Siddesh Shetty

Docedge Kolkata Year-Round Mentorship Award

Project: Through Scratches

Filmmakers: Chandan Biswas & Arjab Sarkar

Docedge-Greenstories Award

Selection, participation, travel support, and accommodation | Green Stories 2026

Project: Come Home Again

Filmmaker: Chentei Khiamniungan

Docedge Kolkata Lumiere Award

A cash award of INR 1,00,000 to a promising first-time filmmaker, supported by Sunil Doshi

Project: Every Home Ablaze

Filmmakers: Sadia Rao & Karanjit Singh

Little Lambs Awards

A Cash Grant of INR 1,00,000 to a promising project.

The grant will be offered after the edit lock.

Project: In Between Rain

Filmmaker: Sudarshan Hake

TimeLight New Vision Award by Hansen Lin

The TimeLight New Vision Award is granted as a cash prize of USD 1,500 along with free consultancy with TimeLight Films. It is intended to support projects in the development stage that demonstrate the most ambitious and creative vision in cinematic language and storytelling.

Project: Whisper of the Warm Spring

Filmmakers: Samstan Gurmat & Sonam Nurboo

Docedge Dishakritiya Award

Development support of Rs 2,00,000 to a project directed by a woman filmmaker.

Project: There Is Gold In Lhasa

Filmmakers: Surbhi Dewan & Jasmine Lovely George

Whickers’ Docedge Bursary

To a first-time filmmaker with a cash support of 3000 GBP

Project: Orange, Beetle, Mother & I

Director: Manisha Halai

Whickers’ HONORARY MENTIONS

Project: Whisper of the Warm Spring

Filmmakers: Samstan Gurmat & Sonam Nurboo

Whickers’ HONORARY MENTIONS

Project: Every Home Ablaze

Filmmakers: Sadia Rao & Karanjit Singh

STAY CONNECTED WITH DOCEDGE

Subscribe For Updates

Get the latest news on documentary incubation labs, masterclasses, co-production pitching, and opportunities.