Lab Films
DISPLACED WOMEN PITCH
*A pitch development program for displaced women working in film
An open call program for displaced and migrant women in film — exploring identity, storytelling, and belonging through mentorship, collaboration, and pitch development of their documentary and fiction shorts.
Launched in 2025, lab: is an initiative created in response to the personal and collective challenges faced by displaced women in the film industry. It offers space, structure, and support for those who’ve had to start over — far from home, and often far from industry networks.
First boots donated to her in the UK. Three sizes bigger.
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And yes — we’re already preparing for the next open call. It will be listed on our .
In the meantime, explore the journey and results of our inaugural program below
Celebrating our 1st Edition Cohort
Our first edition brought together 7 visionary filmmakers from across the globe: Ukraine, Brazil, Lebanon, Indonesia, China, India, and Poland.
Her Ursula hoodie. She wore it through the occupation. A refugee centre volunteer said it was cool.
Explore 1st Edition Projects
This diverse group developed 3 documentary and 4 fiction shorts, each exploring profound themes of identity and belonging.
The program featured 3 months of dedicated mentorship and professional development, including:
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10 International Mentors: Personalized and group sessions with industry leaders to refine artistic vision and pitch strategy.
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Funding Insights: Exclusive sessions with BFI NETWORK and The Doc Society on navigating film funding and support.
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Professional Toolkit: Participants left with a professional pitch deck, a confident verbal pitch, and a deeper understanding of the UK industry.
Meet the Mentors & Session Highlights
Culminating in the Live Pitch
The journey reached its peak with a Live Pitch Event in London.
Participants presented their projects to a panel of industry experts, competing for prestigious awards and in-kind support.
Special thanks to our partners for providing professional prizes to the selected projects:
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Canon
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BFI Inclusion Team
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My SMASH Media
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Counterpoints Productions
Glitter ballerina. A gift from her mother’s English friends, kept since she was a child.
All participants received a one-year MUBI subscription.
Explore Live Pitch Highlights
Meet the Founder & Lead
was founded by Marharyta Sheremet, a displaced filmmaker from Ukraine who knows firsthand the barriers of starting over in a new country and industry.
As both an artist and a refugee, she created this initiative to offer a clear, structured, and human entry point into professional filmmaking for those whose voices are often left outside the room:
“As a displaced filmmaker, I once needed this support myself.”
With gratitude to our partners and supporters
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with support from the BFI Inclusion Team
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