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WORK IN PROGRESS LAB

The Work-in-Progress Lab gives selected filmmakers the opportunity to screen the rough cut of their film to an eminent panel of international advisors, including film festival directors, film critics, producers, and editors. These advisors provide valuable feedback on the edit, with the aim of helping the filmmaker achieve an accomplished final cut. Previous year’s advisors included Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (India), Philippa Campbell (New Zealand), Sandrine Cassidy (USA), Sunmin Park (USA), Nitin Baid (India), and Cristina Carrasco Hernandez (Venezuela).

In 2024, the Work-in-Progress Lab selected six feature fiction films. The lab is exclusively open to feature-length fiction films.

The Director and Editor of each selected film screen their rough cut to the panel of advisors and receive in-depth one-on-one feedback. An international editor assigned to the project then guides the Director and Editor through two dedicated sessions of the Editing Lab.

Since its inception in 2008, the Work-in-Progress Lab has nurtured films that have gone on to premiere at top international film festivals and receive critical acclaim.


Applications for Work-In-Progress 2025 are opening soon!

Selected Projects-Work-In-Progress Lab 2024- Film Bazaar 2024

Fiction Feature Section (FF)

Fiction Feature-Length Films are eligible to apply for Work-In-Progress Lab, Waves Film Bazaar. Films of all genres/ themes can be submitted.

Animation Films (AF)

Animation Feature-Length Films can apply in the Work-In-Progress Lab. Animation Films in post-production and rough cut stage can also apply.

BEFORE YOU SUBMIT

Before you begin, please read the Rules | Regulations for guidelines on filling the online Application Form as well as Submission of Materials. Please also read the Undertaking which has to be submitted along with the application for it to be considered complete. For any further queries, please read the FAQs.

ELIGIBILITY
  • The Work-in-Progress Lab is open to fiction features in the rough cut from all around the world.
  • The film to be submitted should be in their rough-cut stage or just before the final edit. All or a large part of the principal photography must be complete, but not the entire post-production. Completed films are ineligible for the Work-in-Progress Lab.
  • Feature/Animation fiction of duration above 72 minutes are eligible for submission.
  • Documentaries, Mid-length films (30-70 minutes) and short films (under 30 minutes) are ineligible for the Work-in-Progress Lab.
APPLICATION

In order to apply for the Work-in-Progress Lab, please create a WavesFilmBazaar Login account by clicking here.

Only completed submissions by the due date will be considered for the selection process of the Work-in-Progress Lab.

When you apply, you will need:

  • Details of the applicant (Director, Producer, Production company)
  • Synopsis (150 words max)
  • Director’s Note and Biography (150 words max)
  • Filmography of director and producer (Please mention the film name – duration – the year of completion of film. Only mention the films where the director has a ‘Director’ credit and producer, the ‘producer’ credit.)
  • A password protected, downloadable screener link of the film
  • Three stills of submitted film (These should be three images from the film and not production/working stills.)
  • Director’s photograph

 

SELECTION PROCESS
  • A maximum of 8 fiction feature-length films are selected for the Work-in-Progress Lab. The number of selected projects might alter depending on discretion of the Waves Film Bazaar team. 
  • The decision of NFDC Waves Film Bazaar will be final.
  • Projects that are not selected for the Work-in-Progress Lab can be showcased in the Viewing Room if the applicant is seeking finishing funds, distribution or film festivals for the film, without any additional application fee
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS
  • A filmmaker can choose to submit a film in both sections – Viewing Room and Work-in-Progress Lab. (For more information, please read the Rules | Regulations)
  • The Producer of the film cannot attend the WIP Lab in place of the Director and the Editor of the film cannot attend in the absence of the Director. Both the Director and the Editor of the film will have to be present. The director and editor cannot be the same person for the film selected for the Lab.
  • The Director and the Editor of the selected films will be provided free registration to NFDC Waves Film Bazaar 2025 to attend the Work-in-Progress Lab
  • In case, the Director cannot attend the sessions of the Work-in-Progress Lab, the film will be disqualified and another project will be selected in its place
DATES
  • Regular Deadline – 5th September' 2025
  • Extended Deadline – 15th September' 2025

The Work-in-Progress Lab will take place before the dates of NFDC Waves Film Bazaar. The exact schedule of the Lab will be communicated with the filmmakers of the selected projects.

FEE

Application fees for Fiction Films

  • Feature-length films (above 72 minutes):
    • INR 9,000/- for submissions received on or before the Regular Deadline
    • INR 10,000/- for submissions received after the Regular Deadline
CONTACT

For further clarifications, write to us at films@nfdcindia.com (Fiction) and vrwipdocs@nfdcindia.com (Not for WIP coordination)

  • The Work-in-Progress Lab is open to fiction features in the rough cut from all around the world.
  • The film to be submitted should be in their rough-cut stage or just before the final edit. All or a large part of the principal photography must be complete, but not the entire post-production. Completed films are ineligible for the Work-in-Progress Lab.
  • Feature/Animation fiction of duration above 72 minutes are eligible for submission.
  • Documentaries, Mid-length films (30-70 minutes) and short films (under 30 minutes) are ineligible for the Work-in-Progress Lab.

In order to apply for the Work-in-Progress Lab, please create a WavesFilmBazaar Login account by clicking here.

Only completed submissions by the due date will be considered for the selection process of the Work-in-Progress Lab.

When you apply, you will need:

  • Details of the applicant (Director, Producer, Production company)
  • Synopsis (150 words max)
  • Director’s Note and Biography (150 words max)
  • Filmography of director and producer (Please mention the film name – duration – the year of completion of film. Only mention the films where the director has a ‘Director’ credit and producer, the ‘producer’ credit.)
  • A password protected, downloadable screener link of the film
  • Three stills of submitted film (These should be three images from the film and not production/working stills.)
  • Director’s photograph

 

  • A maximum of 8 fiction feature-length films are selected for the Work-in-Progress Lab. The number of selected projects might alter depending on discretion of the Waves Film Bazaar team. 
  • The decision of NFDC Waves Film Bazaar will be final.
  • Projects that are not selected for the Work-in-Progress Lab can be showcased in the Viewing Room if the applicant is seeking finishing funds, distribution or film festivals for the film, without any additional application fee
  • A filmmaker can choose to submit a film in both sections – Viewing Room and Work-in-Progress Lab. (For more information, please read the Rules | Regulations)
  • The Producer of the film cannot attend the WIP Lab in place of the Director and the Editor of the film cannot attend in the absence of the Director. Both the Director and the Editor of the film will have to be present. The director and editor cannot be the same person for the film selected for the Lab.
  • The Director and the Editor of the selected films will be provided free registration to NFDC Waves Film Bazaar 2025 to attend the Work-in-Progress Lab
  • In case, the Director cannot attend the sessions of the Work-in-Progress Lab, the film will be disqualified and another project will be selected in its place
  • Regular Deadline – 5th September' 2025
  • Extended Deadline – 15th September' 2025

The Work-in-Progress Lab will take place before the dates of NFDC Waves Film Bazaar. The exact schedule of the Lab will be communicated with the filmmakers of the selected projects.

Application fees for Fiction Films

  • Feature-length films (above 72 minutes):
    • INR 9,000/- for submissions received on or before the Regular Deadline
    • INR 10,000/- for submissions received after the Regular Deadline

For further clarifications, write to us at films@nfdcindia.com (Fiction) and vrwipdocs@nfdcindia.com (Not for WIP coordination)