MakeDox is happy to announce the open call for an intensive Editing Lab designed as a rough-cut laboratory for documentary filmmakers. The lab will be led by acclaimed documentary editors Per K. Kirkegaard and Kasia Boniecka, whose work has been presented and awarded at major international film festivals. 

While editing is often viewed as a series of problems to be solved, this workshop is envisioned as a collective space for experimentation, dialogue, observation and discovery. We are looking for projects and teams eager to experiment and ready to openly share their creative process with the other participants from the very beginning.

Focus of the Workshop

The main focus of this lab is one very specific and crucial aspect of filmmaking: the opening of the film.

The opening sequence does much more than simply start a film – it defines the cinematic language, introduces the characters, establishes the mood and sets the thematic direction of the film. Together, we will explore how changing the beginning of a documentary can completely reshape its structure, emotional trajectory, character arcs and overall tone.

By focusing deeply on the opening, the workshop will naturally expand into broader dramaturgical and structural questions concerning the entirety of the selected films.


Workshop Methodology

The Editing Lab combines collective learning, practical editing work and critical reflection. Participants will take part in live editing sessions where selected footage is explored in real time with the entire group present, creating space for discussion around storytelling, perception and editorial choices. Building on these sessions, each team will receive individual consultations with the tutors while continuing to work on their projects independently. The programme will also include masterclasses inspired by the challenges emerging from the selected films, as well as discussions on the creative relationship between director and editor. The workshop will conclude with a collective screening of the newly developed openings and a reflection on the discoveries made, helping each of team define the next steps in their editing process.

Who Can Apply?

The lab will select four documentary projects currently in rough cut stage.

Eligible projects must originate from or be co-produced in the following Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. 

⚠️ Important Note:

Projects should not be too advanced in their editing process. We are particularly interested in projects representing diverse cinematic approaches and storytelling styles, as the dialogue between different editing languages is an essential part of the workshop experience.

Due to the collective and hands-on nature of the lab, the active presence of both the Director and the Editor throughout the entire workshop is required.

How to Apply

Please submit the following materials at the following link:

–  Project Synopsis & Director’s Note (max. 1 page)
–  Current Rough Cut Link (with English subtitles)
–  A selected scene (up to 10 minutes) that the director considers crucial to the film
–  Editor’s Note & Motivation Letter briefly explaining:

• Why do you wish to focus on the opening of the film
• What editing challenges are you currently facing
• Short biographies/CVs of both the Director and the Editor

Practical Information

• Participation in the workshop is free of charge.
• Participants are responsible for covering their own travel and accommodation expenses. The MakeDox team will be happy to assist in identifying suitable accommodation options in Skopje.
• Selected participants will receive complimentary festival accreditation and lunch during the workshop days.
• The working language of the workshop is English.

Application Deadline: 10 July 2026
Workshop Dates: 22 – 25 August 2026
Location: Skopje, North Macedonia

Biographies of the mentors: 

Kasia Boniecka is a film editor and documentary consultant based in Paris. Her work has been screened and awarded at major international festivals including Sundance, Berlinale, IDFA, Locarno, CPH:DOX and Visions du Réel. She edited We Will Not Fade Away (shortlisted for the EFA), A Picture to Remember (opening film of IDFA 2023) and Welded Together (Grand Prix
Sheffield DocFest 2025). A graduate of the Łódź Film School, she later taught documentary editing there for five years. She regularly leads editing and visual storytelling workshops internationally, tutoring at B2B Doc, dok.incubator and Pitch the Doc. She is a member of the European Film Academy.

Per K. Kirkegaard is one of the most established editors in the Danish film industry. He has edited numerous critically acclaimed international documentaries: Armadillo (2012) awarded an Emmy for best editing; The Kingmaker (2019) selected for Venice Film Festival; The Cave (2020) nominated for an Oscar. He is an Oscar Academy member, tutor at DOK.incubator and member of Rough Cut Service. His latest work, Mother, premiered at Venice Film Festival 2025.