We received over 150 applications for this new edition of Laguna Film Lab, the creative documentary residency curated by ZaLab in collaboration with Giornate degli Autori.
Thank you to everyone who applied, sharing with us stories, visions and cinematic journeys.
The selection process was anything but easy – the level was very high and choosing just 5 participants proved to be a real challenge.
We’re happy to announce the 5 selected filmmakers who will take part in the residency in Chioggia between July and September 2025. Each of them will create a short film inspired by this year’s theme: FATAŁITÀ.
Selected filmmakers
Sébastien Willem
Born in Liège in 2000 – lives in Zibreira, Portugal
A DocNomads graduate, Sébastien explores documentary as a form of travel and discovery.
Liliya Timirzyanova
Born in Tatarstan in 1995 – based in Greece
Director of Anima (2021), she left Russia due to political reasons. She blends film and photography to explore exile, love and freedom.
Jacopo De Falco
Born in Castellammare di Stabia in 1992 – lives in Marseille
A documentary filmmaker and human geographer, he leads participatory film labs in working-class neighborhoods and prisons.
Ludovico Polignano
Born in Milan in 1997 – based in Rome
He debuted with Lacci and works between independent cinema and commercial sets. He studied at IED and the Accademia Silvio d’Amico.
Francesco Rubattu
Born in Brussels in 1995 – lives in Milan
Cinema has always been a part of his life. Today, he creates stories that are both ironic and heartfelt.
Laguna Film Lab will take place between July 24 and September 2, 2025, as part of the Laguna Sud – Il Cinema fuori dal Palazzo film series in Chioggia. The final films will premiere at Giornate degli Autori during the Venice Film Festival, followed by a local screening.
