PICKASTORY 2026: Submissions Are Now Open

The Cottbus Film Festival is once again inviting directors and screenwriters from all over Europe to submit their film ideas for PICKASTORY 2026.

The competition focuses not on a finished screenplay, but on the initial spark of an idea: a compelling logline. Five projects will be selected from all submissions and presented to the audience at the Cottbus Film Festival. The audience will then vote to decide which story should be developed further.

The winning project will receive four mentoring sessions with experts in dramaturgy and production to develop the idea into a project package eligible for funding. In addition, the project will be presented to producers at the 2027 edition of connecting cottbus, the East-West Co-Production Market.

Who can apply?

Directors and screenwriters from across Europe with professional experience in the audiovisual industry are eligible—including both established filmmakers and emerging talents.

The film concept should be set in Central or Eastern Europe, or the applicant should have a connection to this region, for example through their place of residence or country of origin.

The submission deadline is September 15, 2026 (12:00 a.m. CEST).

Submission language: English.

We look forward to receiving exciting new film concepts!