A. Basic form information
Form title: Call for Applications – Albania–UK Film Lab 2026
Subtitle: Film | AI & Creative Technologies | Gaming & Interactive Storytelling
Organiser: Albanian National Center of Cinematography (QKK/ANCC), in cooperation with John Newbigin Limited and with the support of the British Council
Target applicants: 30 young people aged 16–25 from Korça
Training location: Korça, Albania
Call launch: 21 September 2026
Application deadline: 5 October 2026, 23:59
Workshop/Lab period: 19 October – 15 November 2026; the detailed schedule for each module will be confirmed
Final event: December 2026 – date to be announced
Application language: English
Language of the Workshops: English
English requirement: Minimum intermediate level (B1). No formal language certificate is required.
B. Introduction
The Albanian National Center of Cinematography (QKK/ANCC), in cooperation with John Newbigin Limited and with the support of the British Council, is launching a call to select 30 young people aged 16–25 from Korça to take part in the Albania–UK Film Lab – Training & Talent Accelerator 2026.
The programme is supported by the British Council WB-UK Creative Skills Development Fund which enables partnerships between the Western Balkans and the UK. This initiative, part of the British Council’s Creative Economy Programme, supports the creative industries as strategic economic sectors with transformative potential, with a specific focus on empowering youth skills and employment.
The programme is an intensive, practical and interdisciplinary Lab connecting film with emerging creative technologies, artificial intelligence and interactive storytelling. Participants will work directly with 3 UK experts and 3 Albanian experts/trainers through practical sessions, exercises, teamwork, mentoring and continuous feedback.
The programme covers three thematic areas:
• Film / Filmmaking – story development, screenwriting, directing, producing, cinematography, editing, budgeting and scheduling;
• AI & Creative Technologies – practical and responsible use of AI for ideation, visual development, creative workflows and experimentation;
• Gaming & Interactive Storytelling – narrative design, world-building, interactive storytelling and development of game/interactive concepts.
📍 Training location: Korça, Albania
📅 Workshop/Lab period: 19 October – 15 November 2026
⏰ Application deadline: 5 October 2026, 23:59
🎬 Final event: December 2026 – date to be announced
The Workshops will be conducted in English. Applicants should have at least an intermediate (B1) level of English, sufficient to follow training sessions, communicate with UK experts and participate actively in group work. No formal language certificate is required.
The programme aims for balanced and inclusive participation, with a target of at least 50% participation by girls and young women. Extensive professional experience is not required; motivation, creative potential, willingness to learn and commitment to fully participate in the programme will be valued.
