FilmEU invites undergraduates (BA level) and postgraduates (Master and PhD) with ideas and entrepreneurial spirit to propose concepts/projects to the FiHub, a dynamic initiative designed to support early-stage projects and help turn visionary concepts into actionable solutions. Participants take part in a straightforward ideation and development programme during September, October and November 2025 that provides mentorship, tools, and a collaborative environment to refine and elevate their ideas.
Whether you are brewing something tech-related, an initiative that intends to have a social impact, or an innovative product or service in the realm of film and media, this programme is designed to accelerate your journey from concept to prototype. The process concludes with a demonstration workshop held at the FilmEU Industry event, hosted by Lusófona University, in the third quarter of 2025. Representatives from cultural and creative industries will attend this event and will provide an excellent opportunity to receive feedback and pitch the projects. The proposals will be evaluated by a panel of experts from the FilmEU Alliance. The project that wins the presentation competition, in addition to a cash prize of 550€, will be awarded the chance to continue to receive support and mentorship and pitch the concept at other events around the FilmEU cosmos.
WHAT IS THE CALL ABOUT?
FilmEU is an alliance of 8 European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) forming one joint European University. FilmEU is advancing innovation in the multidisciplinary realm of Film and Media Arts. This collaboration aims to create a truly international teaching and learning environment, capable of providing unique experiences to students.
FilmEU invites undergraduates and postgraduates with ideas and entrepreneurial spirit to propose concepts/projects to FiHub (FilmEU’s very own virtual incubator), a dynamic initiative designed to support early-stage projects and help turn visionary concepts into actionable solutions. These innovations can assume many forms. They can be tech-related, an initiative that intends to have a social impact, or an innovative product or service in the realm of film and media. From the conception of new ways to experience film and media to experimental approaches to filmmaking, almost everything is possible. The main rule is that, at the end, the idea can turn into a product or service. (NB! The development of scripts or ideas for experimental films are outside the scope of FiHub and are perhaps a good fit for the upcoming “Changemakers” call for proposals.)
Participants embark on an incubation programme, based on the best practices in entrepreneurship education, divided into several steps, that will take their initial intentions from basic ideation all the way to productisation and the preparation of a structured pitch and/or prototype. As a virtual incubator, most of FiHub’s activities and mentorships will happen remotely. This will not only give more flexibility to the programme but also an extended network, since there is the possibility of participation from students and mentors from the whole FilmEU Alliance. FiHub runs from September to mid-October. The process includes mentorship (both in groups and one-on-one sessions dedicated to each project), tools, and a collaborative environment to refine and elevate their ideas. A final demonstration workshop is set for the FilmEU Industry Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, in November. This provides the opportunity for students to pitch their then-developed projects in front of an audience of cultural and creative industry professionals. At the end of the session, a monetary prize, the opportunity to continue to receive support and mentorship, and the chance to present the idea at other FilmEU events is awarded to foster the development of the projects. The aim is to offer soon-to-be-alumni the chance to develop their concept so that they might take it with them into the world of work after graduation and perhaps implement or sell the concept.
WHAT IS EXPECTED?
Requirements:
- Students must fill the application form and send a motivation letter to communicate their willingness to take part in FiHub. Even if the idea is just a sketch, please try to make it as clear as possible in the form – as if it were a press release style text outlining the concept and what you want to achieve with it. The rest will be developed later. If there is already a prototype or a financial plan, these are very welcome to be submitted alongside the application form.
- Students must be currently enrolled in a FilmEU+ member institution and expect to remain there for the 2025-2026 school year.
- FiHub is project-based. A project can be submitted by an individual or a group (however, if a group is successful then the prizes will be split amongst their membership and intellectual property divisions must be made clear in the pitch document).
- Students are expected to dedicate from 5 to 8 hours per week (schedules are relatively flexible) to their projects and FiHub activities.
- The deadline for applications is May 18th 2025; they should be sent to André Rui Graça.
WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES?
At the close of the FiHub pilot we expect students to have successfully developed their innovation over the following timeline.
TIMELINE
April – Call for projects/ideas
May – End of call. Communication of acceptance/rejection and preliminary discussion of ideas
September – Beginning of the FiHub incubation programme. Ideation week. Business plan, business canvas and product development workshop. Intellectual property seminar.
October – Acceleration month: mentorship sessions (first in groups, then individually); expert talks; value-creation debate; and development of concept and pitch.
November – Pitch session at the FilmEU Industry Summit in Lisbon and FiHub awards
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
Students must submit a project and need to be enrolled in a FilmEU+ member institution and expect to remain there for the 2025-2026 school year.
Applications or queries should be sent to andre.graca@filmeu.eu
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:
May 18th 2025
