APPLY TO BELOW ZERO – AN INTERNATIONAL PITCHING SESSION FOR ARCTIC DOCUMENTARIES
The call for projects to Below Zero, an international pitching session dedicated to documentary projects about life in the Arctic, is now open. The event will take place 20-23 January 2026, and the submission deadline is 3 November 2025.
Below Zero is aimed at filmmakers working on Arctic-related topics with political, environmental or cultural significance. The programme seeks to support international documentary projects with strong potential for financing and distribution, and to foster collaboration within the documentary community.
Two awards will be presented during the event:
– Arctic Documentary Award – chosen by the attending panelists and awarded to the project that demonstrates the greatest political, environmental or cultural relevance to the Arctic and the strongest international potential.
– Below Zero Award – selected by the workshop tutors and given to a project that is hard to categorize but captivates with originality and shows promise beyond the mainstream.
The Below Zero programme includes:
– a pre-pitching workshop, where selected projects are developed under the guidance of experienced international documentary experts. The workshop focuses on optimal project development and on improving presentations; participants can work on both a pitch trailer and written materials.
– a project presentation, in which each project is pitched to a curated selection of decision-makers, including producers, broadcasters and potential partners.
Participation in Below Zero offers not only a chance to compete for financial awards, but also valuable networking opportunities and professional feedback to help advance projects to the next stage.
More information about the programme and application rules can be found here.