dok.incubator has opened applications for a dedicated 2026 regional workshop aimed at documentary projects from the Visegrad countries, marking a renewed format for the long-running rough-cut training initiative.

The dok.incubator REG 2026 programme is open to projects from Czechia, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, as well as co-productions with those countries, and is designed for teams working at rough-cut stage. Eight projects will be selected, each represented by a director, editor and producer, for two residential sessions taking place in September and November 2026.

The updated edition places stronger emphasis on dramaturgy, audience strategy and market positioning, reflecting the growing need for documentary projects to enter the international field with clearer editorial shape and sharper distribution thinking. The programme will include individual guidance from international tutors, feedback from festival representatives, sales agents and other decision-makers, and support in developing tailor-made marketing and distribution strategies.

The first session, focused on rough cuts, will take place in Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia, from 14 to 22 September. A second fine-cut and open programme session is planned for the end of November in Kutná Hora, Czechia, with the exact dates still to be confirmed. Individual consultations will take place between the two workshops in October.

For the first time, the regional programme is also widening its scope beyond conventional feature documentaries. Eligible formats include documentary TV and web series, hybrid films, web-based narratives and other cross-genre works with a strong documentary core. The workshop will also explore how AI tools can support filmmaking workflows, creative decision-making and audience testing.

Andrea Prenghyová, dok.incubator’s founder and director, said the changes were designed to keep the workshop «relevant and useful» after 14 years of activity and more than 200 supported documentary projects.

The submission deadline is 1 June 2026.