Documentary Accelerator is a hands-on, high-impact individual workshop for producers and directors who need to rethink, reposition, or re-energise their project. This programme is stripped of fluff and designed as a compact, transformative space to gain clarity and actionable strategy that reflects the film’s potential.

The programme is designed to meet teams where they are, and support participants in translating their internal clarity into a strong external presentation - loglines, synopses, and pitch. It doesn’t aim to teach the basics or reshape your vision to fit market expectations. Instead, it’s about giving filmmakers the time, space, and strategic support to rediscover the core of their project, articulate its value, and align as a team - so the positioning, financing, and marketing strategy emerge naturally from that clarity.

Whether your project is in early development, has hit a wall, or simply feels unclear, Documentary Accelerator aims to help you recharge the energy, and create momentum.

Over the course of 4 days, director–producer teams work through a tailored, individualised process of one-on-one consultations with mentors in dramaturgy, communication, audience building, financing, and market positioning. This format respects the creative instincts of the team, providing tailored input rather than one-size-fits-all advice.

The course will be taught in English.

What will you learn?

Within the frame of this programme, you will move forward with one film you’re working on, so the skills you develop and refine by doing so, will stay with you for all your other work and projects to come. You will refine a narrative that allows you to pitch the film while staying true to your story and protecting the uncertainties of the documentary filmmaking. Having clarified the core values of your film you will learn how to strategically shape them into formats that work across pitches and proposals. You’ll position your project within the marketplace, and develop a funding and marketing strategy without compromising your voice.

Who is this course for?

Apply if any of these resonate:

• You’re early in development and need to clarify both your story and how it fits into the market.
• Your project has evolved during development and now needs a fresh strategy and sharper identity.
• You’ve realized similar projects are out there and need to define what sets yours apart.
• You’ve hit a wall - be it with funders, markets, or the project itself - and need a reset.

We welcome experienced filmmakers and producers who know exactly what they need, as well as colleagues in the early stages of their career, but with some level of experience of working on an international level. While debut directors are welcome, we encourage producers who have at least a basic overview and experience on the international documentary film market.

Application process

Send your project’s presentation (logline, synopsis, and teaser), as well as a team presentation with a short motivation to participate to efteruddannelsen@filmskolen.dk. The application deadline is September 15 2025.
Workshop participants, who work professionally in the Danish film industry, can apply for financial funding from the Danish Film Institute’s pool for continuous training and competence development. The funding is for those, who work or have worked professionally in the Danish film industry and the people who have a relevant education in film production. The institute funds course fees up to DKK 25.000. The next deadline is September 2nd 2025. Read more here.