Asghar Farhadi Lab. 2026

Call for applications open until September 6, 2026

An immersive and transformative creative experience alongside a great film maestro

During ten days, fifty creative directorsof diverse nationalities and backgrounds, share the experience of creating  fifty short films, under a wonderful methodology created by the teacher Abbas Kiarostami, adapted by Werner Herzogand revisited by Apichatpong Weerasethakul y Peter Costa.

The idea of ​​Creators Lab is to step out of our comfort zone, face strange and unfamiliar territory, observe it with curiosity and respect, and co-create from diverse ways of seeing and understanding the world.

Creating from a place other than the one we inhabit every day allows us to see the territory as a blank canvas, each of the elements that compose it, the people who inhabit it, the rivers, the paths we travel, each plant, each animal, the culture that embraces and welcomes us, all of them like brushes and paints that allow us to create and tell stories from another place.

Our Labs

Asghar Farhadi Lab.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 16-26 Nov 2026

Paolo Sorrentino Lab.

Patagonia, Argentina Dec 1—11.2025

Apichatpong W. Lab

Peru Jun 18—28.2022

Apichatpong W. Lab II

Mexico Jun 18—28.2023

Pedro Costa Lab.

Mexico Sep. 23—Oct. 9.2024, XNUMX

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The experience

1

An international call for entries open for 2 months receiving around 500 applications every year from around the world.

2

The selection of 50 creative filmmakers from all over the world.

3

A 10-day lab designed in different locations carefully chosen by the Playlab team in order to provide a stimulating, out-of-comfort-zone environment to boost creativity.

4

The mentorship of a great Master to individually and collectively accompany the creative process of the participants as well as create their own piece under the same circumstances

5

2 days of locations presentation
4 days of creating and filming
2 days of editing
2 days of showcasing
1 month of post-production

6

An international call for entries open for 2 months receiving around 500 applications every year from around the world.

7

After 1 year of distribution process, the films are included in a collective VOD platform. 


8

After 1 year of distribution process, the films are included in a collective VOD platform. 


Much more than a Lab

To honor the presence of the Maestro, we organized a series of completely free public events, conceived to strengthen ties between the Teacher and the local community. These events are usually held in the capital of the country we have chosen to hold the LAB.

News conference

This event marks the official launch of the entire experience, encompassing public events and the lab. It also serves to announce the arrival of the Master's program in the country. Coverage by our national and international media outlets sets the stage for upcoming activities.

Master class

During this engaging session, the Maestro engages the audience in a dialogue with the attendees, delving into the foundations of his creative methods, the motivations that drive his approach, and the questions that inspire his work. It's an opportunity for attendees to delve into the Maestro's creative process.

Retrospective

To close the public event, we usually screen some of the Maestro's most iconic works. After the screening, a Q&A session takes place.

film teacher

new international talents

Workdays

new destination every year

short film for each student

short film from each edition

short film with exclusive distribution

short films on VOD

community of creative directors

selected feature film projects

The results

As a result of the workshop we obtain 10 short films which we consider versatile cinematic creations, so we act as a bridge between our creators and the industry and explore new ways and spaces to present the results to an international audience, such as recognized festivals and distribution sales.

Creators Shorts Lab

For Bruce

Installation of Apichatpong W.