Transatlantic Rising Stars Project (Film)

Please note that this call for applications is open until October 30, 2026. Applications will be capped at 300.  Stay tuned by subscribing to our mailing list. 

The second Transatlantic Stars Film Program invites five mid-career film directors from the European Union to spend two weeks in the United States, sharing their work with American audiences and building a practical understanding of the U.S. film industry.

The program has three parts:

• The Berkshire International Film Festival: Your award-winning feature film will screen as part of the Transatlantic Stars European Filmmakers Showcase. You will also take part in a retreat, Q&As, panels, and conversations with U.S. filmmakers and industry leaders.
• Los Angeles: Tailored teach-ins will prepare you for curated meetings with studios, streamers, producers, sales companies, and other leaders across the American film industry.
• Washington, D.C.: You will join the Transatlantic Stars visual arts and music cohorts for a public summit celebrating the work (visual arts and music) and perspectives developed during the program.

Two weeks cannot build an American career. They can give you a clearer map of the industry, meaningful conversations that would be difficult to arrange on your own, a screening for American audiences, four fellow directors moving through the experience with you, and an international network that continues after the program ends. Meetings are curated for each new cohort, so the Cycle 2 schedule will differ from the first year. What grows from those conversations will depend on your work, your timing, and your own follow-through.

Each selected director receives international and domestic airfare, visa assistance, accommodation, and meals for the full program.

There is no application fee.

Who should apply

This program is for mid-career feature narrative film directors who:

• are citizens of an EU Member State and hold a valid passport;
• have no criminal record;
• directed a feature narrative film that received an award from a qualifying European film festival or a major European award in 2024, 2025, or 2026;
• are available for the full program, approximately two weeks in late May and early June 2027;
• are proficient in spoken and written English in order to participate fully in program activities;
• are open to cross-cultural exchange and professional networking; and
• are willing to participate in screenings, panels, Q&As, festival events, teach-ins, and industry meetings.

Citizens of EU candidate countries are not eligible. Short films or documentary films (short or feature-length) are not eligible works. Animated feature films will be accepted. However, as the program has been designed primarily to support live-action work, priority will be given to applicants who can also demonstrate a strong interest in working in live-action.

If the qualifying film was co-directed, only one credited director may apply and attend the program.

Key Dates

• September 15, 2026: Application questions available to preview
• October 12, 2026: Submissions open
• October 30, 2026, at 23:59 CET: Submissions close, or earlier if the 300-application cap is reached
• November–December 2026: Eligibility review and scoring
• January 2027: Semi-finalist interviews
• February 2027: Selected directors announced
• April 2027: Screening files and final festival materials due from selected directors
• Late May–early June 2027: Two-week program in the United States
• June 2–5, 2027:Berkshire International Film Festival
• June 2027: Closing summit in Washington, D.C.

Ready to Apply?

You may preview the complete application from September 15 and submit it beginning October 12.

Eligibility and Application Materials

1. Applicant Eligibility

• EU Member State Citizen with a valid passport. Citizens of EU candidate countries are not eligible.
• Confirmation of no criminal background
• Availability to travel to the U.S. for the program dates (Late May – Mid June, 2027)
• Feature Narrative Film Director
• Festival or EU Award Recognition: Applicants must have directed a feature film that received an award from a qualifying European film festival or major award within the past three years
• Collaboration and Exchange:
  • Openness to cross-cultural dialogue and professional networking
  • Willingness to participate in panels, Q&As, and festival events
  • English proficiency (spoken and written) sufficient for program activities

2. Application Materials

• About You
  • CV and filmography
  • Professional biography of one to two paragraphs, written in the third person
  • Publicity-ready photographs of you, including one headshot, with the necessary permissions for program publicity
  • Links to other work samples
  • Responses to the narrative questions in the application form
• Your Award-winning Film
  • Full-film screener link with password and expiry date if applicable
  • Official poster
  • Trailer
  • Three to five publicity stills
  • Film details and technical information
  • Name of the qualifying award, awarding festival or organization, and year received
• Rights and Contacts
  • Information about who controls U.S. festival screening rights for the film
  • Contact details for the producer, sales agent, or distributor, where applicable
  • Information about any U.S. distribution or previous U.S. festival screenings

You do not need to control the film or its publicity materials personally in order to apply. If another party controls them, simply provide the appropriate contact information.

If selected, you will need to deliver a screening-ready file and final publicity materials by April 2027. You will also be asked to connect the program team with the relevant rights holder where necessary.

How are filmmakers selected?

Applications are first screened for eligibility and then scored against the 100-point rubric. The rubric considers artistic strength and international appeal, alignment with EU values, openness to exchange, and potential for transatlantic partnership.

Approximately twenty semi-finalists will be invited to interview with the program team. Interview recordings will be shared with the European Union Delegation to the United States and the selection jury. Ten finalists will then go forward to a jury of European and American film professionals, which will select five directors and two alternates. All applicants will be notified by email, and selected filmmakers will proceed to contracting.

How much does it cost to apply?

There is no application fee.

What does the cap of 300 applications mean?

The call closes on October 30, 2026, at 23:59 CET, or earlier if the 300-application cap is reached. We recommend applying early.

I am just starting out as a director. Can I apply?

This program is intended for mid-career feature film directors whose feature narrative film received an award from a qualifying European film festival or a major European award in 2024, 2025, or 2026. Short films are not eligible. Documentary films (short or feature-length) are also not eligible.

What are the Los Angeles teach-ins?

The teach-ins are practical sessions designed for the selected directors. They explore how projects are financed and packaged, how agencies and sales companies work, what American producers look for, and how a European director may be understood in the room. Senior American producers and strategists lead the sessions before the industry meetings so that participants are ready to make those conversations useful.

Will the program find me a U.S. agent, distributor, or financing?

No. The program will screen your film, prepare you for the U.S. industry, and arrange curated conversations. It does not broker representation, sales, or financing, and no meeting carries a commitment from the organization on the other side of the table. What develops from a conversation is between you and them.

Can my manager or another collaborator attend with me?

No. Participation is limited to the selected director.

My qualifying film was co-directed. Can we apply together?

No. Only one credited director may apply and attend the program. Please name your co-director in the application form.

I applied in the previous cycle. Can I apply again?

Yes. Previous applicants may reapply, provided they meet the eligibility requirements for Cycle 2.

Why do you ask for a poster, trailer, and stills when I apply?

Selected directors will be announced in February 2027, and promotions begin well before the program. Collecting these materials during the application process allows us to present your film well from the moment you are selected.

What if I do not control the film or its publicity materials?

That is common and will not affect your application. Please give us the contact information for the relevant producer, sales agent, distributor, or rights holder so that the program team can make arrangements directly. 

What happens if I am selected?

You will be asked to deliver a screening-ready file and final publicity materials by April 2027 and to take part in an online welcome call before travel. The program will arrange visa support, international and domestic flights, accommodation, and meals.

How will you support fair access for artists from across the European Union?

This is an open call for qualifying filmmakers who are citizens of EU Member States. Applications follow a standardized scoring process that includes independent review, conflict-of-interest checks, and a balanced jury of European and American film professionals. Final selections are based on the published criteria. The call will be promoted across the European Union through official channels and partner networks, with particular attention to visibility in smaller Member States.

Will I be notified if I am not selected?

Yes. All applicants will be notified by email as decisions are made.

Is there an interview?

Yes. Semi-finalists will be invited to interview with the program team.

Who serves on the jury?

The jury includes film professionals from both the European Union and the United States.

I work in visual arts or music. Can I apply?

Yes. The film, visual arts, and music calls share the same application period, from October 12 through October 30, 2026. Each program has its own eligibility requirements and application form. You may apply to only one.

Have questions about applying for the Film Program? Email the Transatlantic Stars Film Team at film@trsproject.eu.