Euro Connection 2027 Opens Call for Short Film Projects Ahead of Clermont-Ferrand Market

Euro Connection is accepting fiction, animation and creative documentary shorts of up to 30 minutes for its 2027 co-production forum, with up to 11 projects selected to pitch at the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market.

European short-film producers have a new opportunity to develop international co-productions, with Euro Connection 2027 opening its annual call for projects.

The 19th edition of the short-film co-production forum will take place on 2 and 3 February 2027 during the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market in France.

Applications opened across participating European countries in early September, with a general deadline of 20 October 2026.

Euro Connection is not a conventional festival submission. Instead, it is aimed at short films still in development, connecting producers with potential international co-producers, broadcasters, distributors, financiers and other industry partners.

Which short-film projects can apply?

Projects can be:

• Fiction
• Animation
• Creative documentary

The planned film must have a maximum runtime of 30 minutes.

Applications must be submitted by a producer whose production company is based in one of Euro Connection’s participating countries.

The project must also be intended as an international co-production and cannot enter production before June 2027.

One particularly important eligibility condition is that projects must already have some external development or production funding secured.

There is no minimum amount or percentage required, but the support must come from a third-party organisation.

Examples include a script-development grant, film fund, regional or national production support, broadcaster co-financing, foundation funding or prize money from a recognised competition.

A producer’s own investment, in-kind services or contributions from affiliated companies do not count towards this requirement.

Up to 11 short-film projects will pitch at Clermont-Ferrand

Applications are initially assessed through Euro Connection’s network of national partner organisations.

Each participating country normally nominates one finalist, although countries receiving at least 10 eligible applications can nominate a second project.

A three-person European industry jury will then review the national finalists and select up to 11 projects for Euro Connection 2027.

Finalists are expected to learn whether they have been selected by 2 December 2026.

The chosen producers will travel to Clermont-Ferrand to pitch their projects to an international industry audience during the Short Film Market.

Selected filmmakers receive development and pitching support

The programme begins before filmmakers arrive in France.

Selected teams receive an online script consultancy session in December 2026, followed by pitch training in Clermont-Ferrand on 1 February 2027.

The main project pitches take place on 2 February, with one-to-one business meetings scheduled for 3 February.

The forum typically brings together around 150 industry participants.

Euro Connection says previous editions have helped lead to the completion of 147 short films, including 78 international co-productions.

That track record makes the programme particularly relevant to producers who already have a viable short-film project but need additional international partners to move it towards production.

Travel, accommodation and market accreditation are provided

Each selected production company receives support for one producer to attend Euro Connection.

The invitation includes:

• €160 travel support
• Four nights of accommodation
• Meals during the programme
• Full accreditation for the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market and Short Film Festival

The project’s writer or director is also strongly encouraged to attend.

Writers and directors accompanying the producer can receive shared accommodation, accreditation, meal vouchers and access to the forum’s networking activities.

Applications must go through national partners

Unlike many international film opportunities, filmmakers do not submit their projects through a single central festival portal.

Applications are handled by national correspondents in participating countries.

The 2027 network includes partners in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, among others.

The Netherlands and Flanders also participate through Go Short and Leuven International Short Film Festival.

Special arrangements apply to projects from the Baltic countries and Kosovo, where projects are selected through partner pitching programmes.

Special support remains available for Ukrainian filmmakers

Euro Connection has maintained a separate pathway for Ukrainian filmmakers.

Directors who were born in or are currently living in Ukraine can submit projects while residing elsewhere in Europe, provided the project is attached to a production company based in Ukraine or another European country and is seeking international co-production partners.

Projects produced by Ukrainian companies are also exempt from the requirement to have partial external funding secured at the time of application.

Ukrainian projects use a dedicated online application form rather than the national-correspondent process.

What needs to be included in an application?

Applications are submitted as a single PDF containing the official entry form and supporting documents.

Required materials include:

• Complete screenplay
• Director’s artistic statement
• Producer’s note outlining the co-production strategy
• Evidence of secured third-party funding
• Director and producer CVs
• Director and producer photographs
• Production-company profile
• Previous work from the director when available
• Production-company filmography

Only one project per production company can be submitted.

Projects previously entered into Euro Connection generally cannot apply again unless the organisers specifically invited a resubmission or substantial changes have taken place.

Euro Connection key dates

• Applications opened: Early September 2026
• Application deadline: 20 October 2026
• Selected projects announced: By 2 December 2026
• Online script consultancy: December 2026
• Pitch training: 1 February 2027
• Project pitching: 2 February 2027
• One-to-one industry meetings: 3 February 2027
• Location: Clermont-Ferrand, France
• Maximum runtime: 30 minutes
• Projects selected: Up to 11 short films
• Eligible formats: Fiction, animation and creative documentary

For producers already developing a financed short and looking towards international co-production, Euro Connection offers something different from a standard festival call: access to potential production partners before the film is made.

Eligible producers have until 20 October 2026 to contact their national Euro Connection representative and prepare the required project materials.