What is MASO?
At MASO – Short Film Training Programme – up to nine creative teams (18 participants in total) are given the opportunity to realize their short film project under the guidance of international experts. An advisory board of international short film experts selects the participants. The third edition of MASO is kicking off this year.
The project is funded and organized by the IDM Film & Music Commission Südtirol and the Bolzano Film Festival Bozen, and supported by the Departments of German, Italian, and Ladin Culture of the Autonomous Province of Bozen/Bolzano. In addition, there is collaboration with the ZeLIG film school, PFX Italy, and the Centro Nazionale del Cortometraggio, as well as numerous international partnerships, such as with FilmCamp Norway, where the first workshop takes place.
How MASO works:
- In the first phase of MASO, the Open Call, creative duos consisting of a writer/director and a producer can submit their concept for a short film.
- In the next phase, the selected creative teams work on their projects from development to production. Internationally renowned experts accompany the process throughout two workshops and several mentoring sessions.
- Furthermore, the teams are supported in developing a financing plan, and they receive professional advice in all phases of their project, while exchanging ideas and networking with the other participants.
- Once the second workshop is over, they have the opportunity to pitch their short film projects to an audience of industry professionals during the Industry Days of the Bolzano Film Festival Bozen.
When is MASO scheduled?
MASO #3 takes place according to the following schedule:
Story development workshop: November 2026
Scriptwriting phase: December 2026 to March 2027
Online meetings with script tutors: to be scheduled individually for each project between October 2026 and April 2027
Production workshop: April 2027 (more precise dates will be announced by the end of 2026)
Pre-production and production phases: according to the requirements of each project, starting by April 2027 at the earliest
Expected completion date: beginning of 2028. The completion date will be discussed and agreed with the MASO team on an individual basis.
Distribution: starting with completion of each project
The MASO team will inform participants of any scheduling changes as soon as any new information becomes available.
Where does MASO take place?
MASO #3 takes place at several locations, on-site and online:
Story development workshop: FilmCamp Norway, in the town of Øverbygd
Scriptwriting phase: online
Production development workshop: during the Bolzano Film Festival Bozen, in the city of Bolzano, Italy, at ZeLIG – School for Documentary
Pre-production, production and distribution phases of the short films: according to the needs of each project.
Online follow-up meetings with the MASO staff will be scheduled for each project individually.
The MASO team will inform participants of any changes in venue as soon as new information becomes available.
When is the application deadline?
Applications for MASO #3 can be submitted from April 14th to June 30th, 2026.