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28 Jan – 7 Feb 2027

Lightroom FAQ

  • What is Lightroom?

    Lightroom is IFFR’s industry platform for immersive and non-linear storytelling.

    Lightroom Market brings selected XR projects into contact with international industry partners at two key moments: early development and late production. Project in Development supports makers looking for creative and financial partners. Project in Production supports near-complete works looking for completion support and a route to their first audiences.

    Lightroom Expanded is a separate development programme for immersive creators working to turn promising XR projects into audience-ready, scalable productions. It offers tailored support in storytelling, technology, production, audience engagement and distribution.

  • When is Lightroom?

    Lightroom takes place during the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The next edition takes place during IFFR 2027, from Thursday 28 January to Sunday 7 February 2027.

  • How can I attend Lightroom Market?

    Project teams are selected through an open call. Industry attendance is by invitation, with participants selected for their potential to contribute to the projects presented. For invitation enquiries, contact lightroom@IFFR.com.

  • How many projects are presented in Lightroom Market?

    A curated selection of up to eight projects in total is presented across Project in Development and Project in Production.

Submitting a project

  • What am I applying for?

    Lightroom is a professional platform, not a fund.

    Team selected for the market meet potential co-producers, financiers, distributors, festival programmers and other relevant partners through pre-scheduled meetings and networking opportunities.

    Teams selected for Lightroom Expanded enter a tailored development programme offering support in storytelling, technology, production, audience engagement and distribution.

  • What does Lightroom Market offer selected projects?

    Selected teams take part in a tailored industry programme during IFFR, including one-to-one meetings with relevant international professionals, networking opportunities and exchanges with peers and experts. The programme is designed to connect each project with the creative, financial, technical, distribution or presentation partners most relevant to its needs.

    Selected projects may also be eligible for IFFR Pro awards. In 2026, Lightroom projects were eligible for awards including the 4DR Studios Awards and Eurimages New Lab Awards. Award partners and eligibility may vary each year.

  • What does Lightroom Expanded offer selected projects?

    Each selected project enters a tailored development process based on its needs, stage and principal research question, beginning with an introductory assessment involving the project team, IFFR, UPscaleXR and DASHXR. Together, the partners define the project’s development priorities and determine which expertise and activities are most relevant. Central to this is that we integrate each project into a new platform for XR management and showcasing, offering a standardized infrastructure for development and presentation. 

    Support may include:

    • artistic or dramaturgical guidance
    • audience design and user-experience development
    • technical advice, prototyping or integration
    • testing of presentation and audience-flow models
    • production and operational guidance
    • development of touring and distribution strategies
    • introductions to venues, programmers, technical partners and other relevant professionals

  • Who can apply?

    Lightroom Market: Projects in Development is open to makers, artists and directors developing an immersive work. You may apply as an individual creator or with a team. If a producer, co-producer, technical partner or other collaborator is already attached, include them in your application.

    Lightroom Market: Projects in Production is intended for teams with a near-complete immersive work seeking completion support, distribution and presentation opportunities. Applications should normally be submitted by the producer or by a designated lead representative of the project team. Include the director or lead creator, producer and any key creative, technical or distribution partners in the application.

    Lightroom Expanded is intended for teams with an already-functioning immersive project – one with at least one live use case – who are working to scale it into an audience-ready, repeatable or touring production. Applications should include both a director or lead creator and a producer, as the programme requires a team capable of carrying the project through production and distribution planning.

  • What kinds of projects can be submitted to Lightroom?

    Lightroom welcomes immersive and interactive projects that explore new forms of storytelling and audience experience. This includes virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), immersive installations, location-based experiences, live or multiplayer works, web-based interactive projects and other expansive formats.

    Projects should be fiction, experimental or animation-based. What matters is that the work has a clear immersive or interactive dimension and is suited to one of Lightroom’s two categories: Market (Projects in Development or Production) and Lightroom Expanded.

  • How are projects that blur documentary and fiction lines treated?

    Lightroom welcomes immersive projects that play with the border between documentary and fiction, as long as they fit the programme’s fiction, experimental or animation-based eligibility.

    This includes works that use documentary methods or materials – for example real testimonies, archival images or observational scenes – within a primarily fictional, essayistic, hybrid or experimental structure. If your project draws on real life but you conceive and present it as fiction, experimental or animation-based, you can apply.

    If your project sits between categories, make sure your application clearly explains its artistic approach, form and intended audience experience.

  • Which category should I apply to?

    Lightroom Market: Project in Development is for immersive works at an early creative stage or in pre-production. The project does not need to have a completed build, but it should be developed enough for potential partners to understand the artistic vision, intended audience experience and proposed form of the work.

    You should be able to explain what your project needs in order to move forward – for example creative development, research, prototyping, technical exploration, co-production, financing, team-building or further development of the audience and presentation strategy. A concept document, visual references, an early prototype, test material, a treatment, a storyboard or previous work may help communicate your project’s potential.

    Lightroom Market: Project in Production is for immersive works that are close to completion and need targeted support to be finished and reach their first audience. Your project should be sufficiently developed for potential partners to understand the work, what remains to be done and how their support could make a difference.

    This may include a playable prototype, a working build, a rough cut, a beta version or another advanced version of the work with clearly defined remaining production tasks. You should be able to explain what still needs to be completed – for example technical development, content production, user testing, installation design, post-production, distribution planning or audience presentation.

    Lightroom Expanded is intended for teams with an already-functioning immersive project – one with at least one live use case – who are working to scale it into an audience-ready, repeatable or touring production. Applications should include both a director or lead creator and a producer, as the programme requires a team capable of carrying the project through production and distribution planning.

  • When and how can I apply?

    You can submit your project through a dedicated Lightroom application form on the relevant Lightroom and Lightroom Expanded pages. Applications are considered only when all required information has been submitted by the deadline.

    Please note the following deadlines:

    • Early fee: until 31 August 2026, 17.00 CEST – €35 (ex. VAT)
    • Standard fee and final submission deadline: 15 September 2026, 23.59 CEST – €55 (ex. VAT)

  • Can I submit a project that has already been presented elsewhere?

    Lightroom prioritises projects that are new to the international market. Projects previously presented at one national or regional market or lab may not be considered. If you are unsure about eligibility, contact the Lightroom team before submitting.

  • What happens if my project is selected by another programme after I apply?

    Please contact the Lightroom team as soon as possible. The team will advise whether the other selection affects your eligibility.

  • In which languages may I apply?

    Application materials and subtitles should be in English. If the language spoken in the film is not English, the submitted excerpt or preview must include English subtitles.

Selection process

  • How does the selection process work?

    The Lightroom selection process has two phases. In Phase 1, submit the online application. A limited number of teams may then be invited to submit a fuller dossier in Phase 2.

  • What information is required in Phase 1?

    The application will ask for basic project, team, technical and financial information. This includes the title, country or countries of production, project status, goals at Lightroom, a project description, a creator statement, team details, format and platform information, and an outline budget and financing plan.

  • What should the project description include?

    Describe the work clearly: its subject, form, audience experience and artistic ambition. Explain what makes the project immersive or interactive, where it is in its development, and what you hope to achieve through Lightroom.

  • What is the right stage for a project?

    The right stage depends on whether you apply to Project in Development or Project in Production. See “Which category should I apply to?” above for detailed guidance on the expected stage and materials for each category.

  • What are the selection criteria?

    The selection committee considers the strength and originality of the project, the clarity of its artistic vision, its relevance, and whether Lightroom can provide meaningful support at its current stage. The final selection aims to bring together distinct voices, approaches and immersive forms.

  • Can I submit more than one project?

    No. Please be aware that it is highly unlikely that more than one project by the same director or producer will be selected at once. We advise you to carefully think about choosing a project which has the highest priority and market readiness.

  • Can I submit the same project again?

    A project may be resubmitted only if it has made substantial progress or if the Lightroom team invites a new application.

After pre-selection

  • What will I need to submit in Phase 2?

    Teams invited to Phase 2 will be asked for a more detailed dossier. Depending on the project, this may include a project description or synopsis, treatment or design document, creator and producer statements, biographies, budget, financing plan, production timetable, audience-engagement plan and links to previous work or a prototype.

    For Lightroom Expanded we will also ask you to include a detailed research question relating to storytelling and audience design, technological and production choices for repeatable presentation or audience reach, touring and distribution.

  • What is a treatment or design document?

    This document gives a fuller picture of the work than a short synopsis. It can explain the project’s narrative, visual language, interaction design and intended audience experience. Keep it focused and readable. 

  • What is a financial plan?

    A financial plan shows the budget, confirmed financing, pending applications and the support still required. It should also explain what the team hopes to achieve through Lightroom.

  • What is an audience-engagement plan?

    This is a short outline of how you intend to find and engage audiences for the work, including relevant presentation, festival, venue or distribution plans.

  • What sort of previous work should I include?

    Previous work is an important element in considering the project dossier. This is the previous work of the director. This can be a short film, a documentary and/or a feature film. Please provide the committee with the work you think is most relevant in assessing the project at hand. Please do not send showreels, trailers or individual sequences.

  • What will the trajectory look like after selection for Lightroom Expanded?

    The programme will be different for each project, since the approach is tailor made. Firstly, we’ll have an introductory meeting in which we will discuss the research question at hand. Together with you, we’ll determine what your programme will look like and which professionals we’ll connect with you.

  • Since there might be plug-ins or adaptations added to increase distribution value, how will matters regarding IP be handled?

    IP on your images will stay with the makers. Plug-ins won’t alter your experience or rights to your IP.