EURO CONNECTION XVIII
- aroider
- 16 hours ago
- 6 min read
Euro Connection is the main platform for the coproduction of short films. This pitching and networking event aims at fostering partnerships between production companies within Europe around quality short film projects. The 18th edition of Euro Connection will take place on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 February 2026 during the Short Film Market in Clermont-Ferrand, with support from the Creative Europe and the PROCIREP. A selection of XR projects will complete the coproduction forum.
The final conditions of invitation and organisation of Euro Connection may vary to adapt to any external factor that may affect its implementation.
CALL FOR PROJECTS 2026
Deadline for application: 20 October 2025
Important notice: Coproduction and reciprocity
Coproduction requires time and reciprocity for the sharing of artistic and financial responsibilities. For any producer applying with a project, a successful coproduction necessarily implies:
a good relationship with the author/director to jointly welcome and fully trust a foreign artistic and financial partner on board the project.
leaving enough time for a co-producer to apply for funds abroad, before going into production.
being able and ready to oneself take up the position and role of co-producer.
What is Euro Connection?
Euro Connection is a co-production forum designed for European producers, broadcasters, distributors and financial backers looking to partner on quality short projects from a diversity of European country.
Our annual call for projects is launched across Europe early September (see details below). Producers and authors of selected projects are offered online script sessions and pitch training prior to pitching their project and meet potential co-producers in Clermont-Ferrand.
Euro Connection includes:
Script consulting session (online, Dec. 2025)
Pitch training workshop (Clermont-Ferrand, Monday 2 Feb. 2026).
Pitching sessions (Clermont-Ferrand, Tuesday 3 Feb. 2026).
Facilitated networking for producers and attending participants.
One-on-one business meetings (Clermont-Ferrand, Wednesday 4 Feb. 2026).
Euro Connection brings together:
12 European projects selected for pitching
8 producers invited as Producers in Focus
Some 150 industry participants each year
Past editions have resulted in the completion of 142 films, including 77 international co-productions.
How to apply with a project?
Eligibility
Producers with a company based in one of the countries associated to Euro Connection 2026 may apply by email no later than October 20, 2025, to the national correspondent in their country (see list below).
Projects must match the following criteria to be eligible:
The project is a short film (animation, fiction, creative documentary).
Application is made by a company based in one of the associated countries.
The duration does not exceed 30 minutes.
The project must have partial funding* secured from an external source.
Project is intended as an international coproduction.
Shooting or production shall start no earlier than June 2026.
* READ CAREFULLY: partial funding here means actual development or production funding secured. Support must come from a third-party organisation (i.e.: script development grant, production fund, state or local government support, co-financing from a broadcaster, prize money from a foundation or script contest, etc.).
In-kind contributions, services, or own investment share from the original production company or affiliated partners are NOT considered valid for eligibility in the respect of this selection process.
No minimum amount or percentage is required. Projects can be either at an early or a more advanced stage of funding.
Any producer applying with a project formally commits to attend Euro Connection in person in Clermont-Ferrand in case of selection.
National correspondents in each country (see list p.7) may answer queries from producers wishing to apply. Please send your application by email to the national correspondent in your country no later than October 20, 2025. Incomplete applications or ineligible projects will not be considered. Applications shall be sent as 1 single pdf file containing
the entry form below (pp. 5-6) carefully filled out
all additional documents required
Selection process
In each country the national correspondent collects applications, checks eligibility, and sets up an expert committee to nominate 1 finalist project. Expert committees will especially pay attention to the artistic value of the projects. Each national correspondent will inform the applicants of the results of the nomination of the finalist project. Producers with a finalist project, who have applied to their correspondent with an application in another language than English, will then be requested to send an English version of their application (including script) within 7 days. A European jury of 3 industry professionals from different nationalities will then select up to 11 projects from all the finalist projects. All finalist participants shall be informed of the list of selected projects for Euro Connection by the end of November 2025.
For Denmark, the Danish finalist project will be nominated with the results of Pitch Me baby!, in partnership with the Odense Film Festival (August 25-31, 2025). For Kosovo, the finalist project will be nominated with the results of the Short Film Forum, in partnership with Dokufest (August 1-9, 2025). For Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the winning project of the Baltic Pitching Forum (Vilnius, October 7-10, 2025) will be selected for Euro Connection, as a result from the partnership between these two events.
Support to Ukraine
The organization of Euro Connection invites Ukraine as associated country to give a chance to directors born in Ukraine to apply with a project in development wherever she/he may reside on the European continent. The project needs to be attached to a coproduction company based in Ukraine or in Europe and looking for coproduction partners. Ukrainian projects are exempted from the obligation to have secured partial funding at time of application if produced by a company based in Ukraine. Applications must be sent in English using following online form (for Ukrainian projects only): https://forms.gle/7tv5RUKWnJnUEVim6
One Ukrainian project will be nominated as finalist project to be evaluated by the European jury.
XR Projects
A session with XR projects will be presented as part of Euro Connection. Producers wishing to apply with an XR project are invited to do so using following form: https://forms.gle/6EnZXiLP6q6cT9W28
May apply:
AR/VR/XR projects with a maximum duration of 45 minutes.
Presented by a production company based in the European Union.
With initial/partial funding secured.
Whose production will not start before June 2026.
The selection committee set up by the organisers will select up to 4 XR projects.
Invitation for selected projects
The producers of each selected project will be invited to Euro Connection to pitch their project. Invitation is limited to one person per production company, and covers:
A 160 € travel grant (paid on arrival on site)
4 hotel nights and meals (arrival Sunday 1 February – departure Thursday 5 Feb. 2026)
Full accreditation to the Short Film Market / Short Film Festival in Clermont-Ferrand.
The authors/directors of the projects are very welcome, and their presence is strongly advised. Authors/directors are invited in shared hotel room with their producer and will also be granted free accreditation, meal vouchers, and access to all networking facilities.
Producers Focus
8 producers will be invited to be part of Euro Connection as Producers in Focus. Invitations are made at the discretion of the Euro Connection organizing team, in connection with current European cooperation partnerships or with the Festival or Short Film Market programme. Companies showing interest for getting on board international projects will be given priority. If relevant, some producers of the remaining finalist projects, might be invited to attend as Producers in Focus if willing to do so.
Each Producer in Focus is given a two-minute window during Euro Connection to facilitate interactions with other members industry players. This is not a project-related pitch, but rather a brief profile presentation of their company, their approach to short films and to coproduction. The profiles of the Producers in Focus are detailed in the Euro Connection booklet. Producers in Focus are given a chance to be actively identified by the industry audience, to develop their network, and to get on board selected projects.
Invitation to the Producers in Focus includes:
3 hotel nights (arrival Monday 2 Feb. - departure Thursday 5 February 2026).
Meal vouchers for the duration of their stay.
Full accreditation to the Short Film Market & Short Film Festival in Clermont-Ferrand;
Invitation to the Euro Connection / CNC networking cocktail.
How to attend pitching sessions and book meetings?
Access to pitching sessions (Tuesday 3 Feb.) and to the Producers Focus is free, upon presentation of a ticket and your Market badge. Prior online registration is compulsory and reserved with priority to producers, broadcasters, distributors and financial backers holding an accreditation to the Short Film Market. The Euro Connection booklet will be available online, with details of Selected Projects, profiles of Producers in Focus and event schedule.
Producers wishing to meet selected teams or producers in focus to discuss possible production opportunities will be offered to book 30-minute slots for one-on-one meetings taking place on Wednesday 4 February.
The online registration form will be available on January 20, 2026, at www.clermont-filmfest.org, together with the Euro Connection booklet. Registered participants will then be able to book one-on-one meetings with teams of their choice through the Euro Connection team.
Early registration is advised as Tuesday’s pitching sessions are often fully booked and the schedule for Wednesday’s one-to-one meetings fills up quickly.
APPLICATION FORM