Verzió Documentary Film Critics Workshop

Aspiring critics and writers interested in documentary cinema are invited to apply for the 4th Verzió Documentary Film Critics Workshop, held as part of the 22nd Verzió International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival. The event will take place from 11–19 November 2025 in Budapest and in cities across Hungary.
Organized in collaboration with the Doc Around Europe festival network, the workshop is designed for early-career and aspiring film critics, journalists, filmmakers, and students from across Europe. Selected participants will engage in a week-long, writing-intensive program with peers and mentors, gaining hands-on experience in film criticism with a focus on human rights and socially engaged documentary cinema.
Participants will receive accreditation to the Verzió Festival, access to industry events, and the chance to network with international filmmakers, critics, and cultural professionals. Accommodation and intra-European travel costs will be reimbursed. The working language is English, and attendance on-site for all sessions is mandatory. Online participation is not available.
The workshop will be led by Steve Rickinson, a Bucharest-based film and media critic with an international background in independent publishing and cultural programming. Rickinson is the industry editor of Modern Times Review and has been active across Europe’s documentary film festival circuit.
Eligible applicants must be based in one of 21 European countries, including Romania, Hungary, Greece, Germany, France, and several Balkan states. There is no application fee; however, selected participants will be asked to pay a €75 enrollment fee to support operational costs.
To apply, candidates must submit a film review or essay in English (or translated to English) via the online application form. The deadline is 31 August 2025, with successful applicants notified by mid-September.
For more information, contact: info@verzio.org.