Apply for the HOME Film Lab 2025

Led by filmmaker Dan Thorburn, each day will feature a talk from an industry professional about their own discipline as well as a discussion  on how their role intersects and overlaps with that of the director. The afternoons will feature the cohort continuing to develop these skills in a practical environment.

Starting from discussing the development process with the producer through to script editing, working with a DOP to create a coherent cinematic language, up to the all important post production, editing and sound design, the lab will finish with a discussion with different directors on what they did with their careers.

Although full of practical elements, the overall outcome of the lab will not be a piece of work developed during the week, but taking your filmmaking skills to the next level and understanding the collaborative nature of your work with the guidance and advice of professionals.

By the end of the week, you should have a better understanding of what you can gain from collaborating with different professionals, how to clearly communicate your vision to them, and a cohort of peers you will develop a strong relationship with for your future projects.

The lab will take place at HOME Mon 10 – Sat 15 Mar 2025, from 10:00 until 18:00 at the latest each weekday, with a half day on Saturday morning.

Who is this for?

• Directors or writer/directors who have made film(s) with little or no funding and training, whose genre of predilection is narrative fiction (live action).
• 25 and over
• Currently living in Greater Manchester
• You need to be available to attend the film lab every day from  Mon 10 to Fri 14 Mar (10:00 – 18:00) and Sat 15 Mar in the morning. We will also organise an optional social one of the evening of the Lab.