Science Documentaries for CaixaForum+

Description and call for proposals

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  • TIMELINE

    Call launch and opening of the online system for proposal submission
    30 October 2026, at 2 pm CET

    Deadline for applications (automatic closure)
    17 December 2026, at 2 pm CET

    Selection of Documentary Proposals
    January–February 2027

    Announcement of Documentary Proposal Awards
    February 2027

    Production Negotiation Phase
    March 2027

    Selection of Documentaries for Production
    April 2027

    Production of Selected Documentaries
    May 2027–June 2028

  • OVERVIEW

    The Science Documentaries for CaixaForum+ call supports the development of high-quality science documentaries through collaborations between researchers, research institutions and professional audiovisual production companies.

    The resulting productions will transform cutting-edge biomedical and health research into engaging and accessible narratives for broad audiences, enriching the CaixaForum+ catalogue with rigorous and attractive content linked to frontier biomedical and health research and its clinical, public health and societal impact.

    Selected proposals may receive a Documentary Proposal Award and subsequently enter discussions with representatives of CaixaForum+ and the ”la Caixa” Foundation regarding their potential production as part of the CaixaForum+ audiovisual programme.

  • WHO CAN APPLY?

    This call is open to researchers and fellows currently or previously affiliated with the ”la Caixa” Foundation’s research, innovation or fellowship programmes. To be eligible, applicants must belong to at least one of the following categories:

    Research and Innovation Calls awardees

    • Health Research (Project Leaders of projects funded through the ”la Caixa” Foundation Health Research Call).

    • HealthCare Research (Project Leaders of projects funded through the ”la Caixa” Foundation HealthCare Research Call).

    • CaixaImpulse (Project Leaders of projects funded through any stage of the CaixaImpulse Innovation Call).

    • ”la Caixa” Foundation Strategic Research Projects (Project Leaders or Principal Investigators of strategic research initiatives funded by the Foundation).

    ”la Caixa” Foundation Fellows (*)

    • Junior Leader fellows in biomedicine and health-related fields.

    • INPhINIT doctoral fellows in biomedicine and health-related fields.

    • Postgraduate fellows who received their fellowship within the last ten (10) years in biomedicine and health-related fields.

    (*) Researchers from disciplines beyond biomedicine and health sciences may also apply, provided that the proposed project is clearly connected to a biomedical or health-related challenge and contributes relevant expertise from an interdisciplinary perspective.

  • SCOPE

    The topic of the Science Documentary for CaixaForum+ must be related to the applicant’s research activities within the framework of the ”la Caixa” Foundation programmes. It may build upon a project funded by the Foundation or, more broadly, address the applicant’s line of research and scientific expertise developed through their association with the Foundation’s research, innovation or fellowship programmes.

    The documentary should address a frontier topic in biomedical and health research while exploring wider scientific, clinical, public health and societal dimensions. The selected topic should lend itself to compelling audiovisual storytelling, combining scientific rigour and creative vision to engage broad audiences and foster public understanding of science and health.

  • PROJECT TEAM

    The Project Team shall consist of a Scientific Team and a Production Company working together through a co-creation model:

    • Scientific Team: led by the Applicant and supported by the Applicant’s Host Institution. The Scientific Team shall be responsible for the scientific content, accuracy and relevance of the documentary. The Host Institution may facilitate access to scientific knowledge, research infrastructures, facilities, archives, audiovisual materials and other resources relevant to the project.

    • Production Company: responsible for the creative development, audiovisual production and technical delivery of the documentary. The proposed Production Company should have demonstrated experience in documentary, educational, cultural or science-related audiovisual productions.

  • DOCUMENTARY FORMAT

    Science Documentaries for CaixaForum+ supported under this Call shall transform scientific knowledge into engaging, rigorous and accessible audiovisual narratives for broad audiences. Documentaries may adopt different formats, including feature-length documentaries, documentary series, reportages or other audiovisual productions. The duration and format of each project should be appropriate to its objectives and the complexity of the topic addressed.

  • FUNDING AND PRODUCTION OPPORTUNITIES

    Up to six (6) documentary proposals may receive a Documentary Proposal Award of €5,000, VAT included.

    Following the award, selected Project Teams will be invited to participate in a Production Negotiation Phase with representatives of CaixaForum+ and the ”la Caixa” Foundation. During this phase, discussions may address aspects such as editorial interest, production approach, feasibility, strategic relevance, indicative budget, potential co-financing opportunities and alignment with the CaixaForum+ programming strategy

    Subject to the outcome of these discussions, and to editorial, operational and budgetary considerations, up to three (3) documentaries may subsequently be selected for production as part of the CaixaForum+ audiovisual programme.

  • CONTACT

    Questions and answers: e-mail: [email protected].

Application process

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  • APPLICATION PROCESS

    1. Applications must be submitted through the ”la Caixa” Foundation online platform via the dedicated workspace created for this call. The online application system will be open from 30 October 2026, at 14:00 CET, until 17 December 2026, at 14:00 CET.

    2. A validation button will be available during the application process to help applicants identify incomplete or incorrect information before submitting their proposal. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use this feature throughout the application process and well in advance of the deadline to avoid last minute issues with their submission.

    3. Applications must be completed in English. Applications submitted in any other language, containing incomplete information or missing documentation, or submitted outside the online platform and after the deadline, will not be considered.

  • APPLICATION FORM

    Applicants will be required to provide information about the documentary concept, logline and synopsis, the Project Team and its expertise, the scientific topic and its broader biomedical and health research context, the intended audience and expected impact, the visual approach and narrative structure, the production plan and the budget and financing strategy.

  • CONTACT

    Questions and answers: e-mail: [email protected] 

Selection process

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  • EVALUATION COMMITTEE

    The Evaluation Committee will be composed of 5 to 7 experts with recognised experience in biomedical and health research, science communication, documentary production, audiovisual storytelling and related fields.

    The Evaluation Committee will be responsible for evaluating the proposals and recommending those to be funded.

  • SELECTION PROCESS

    Proposals will be assessed according to the evaluation criteria defined in the Rules for Participation. For detailed information on the evaluation criteria, please download the Rules for Participation.

    1. Eligibility review (content and format) 
      Applications will first undergo an eligibility review to verify compliance with all requirements established in the Rules for Participation. Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria will be excluded from further evaluation. Applicants will be notified by e-mail of any such decision.

    2. First-stage evaluation (remote review and scoring)
      Where the number of eligible proposals is sufficiently high, each proposal may be independently assessed by two evaluators: one expert in biomedical and health research and one expert in documentary production, audiovisual storytelling, science communication or related fields. Based on the scores obtained during this stage, up to ten (10) proposals may be shortlisted.

    3. Panel evaluation 
      The shortlisted proposals will be reviewed by the full Evaluation Committee. Following the panel discussion, the Committee will establish a final ranking and formulate its recommendations for the Documentary Proposal Awards.

  • FINAL SELECTION

    Based on the recommendations of the Evaluation Committee, the ”la Caixa” Foundation will approve the final list of selected proposals and communicate the results to all applicants.

    A maximum of six (6) documentary proposals will receive a Documentary Proposal Award.

    Following the award, the selected Project Teams may be invited to participate in a Production Negotiation Phase with representatives of CaixaForum+ and the ”la Caixa” Foundation. Subject to editorial, operational and budgetary considerations, up to three (3) documentaries may subsequently be selected for production as part of the CaixaForum+ audiovisual programme.

    The production of selected documentaries will be governed by a separate agreement between the Production Company and the ”la Caixa” Foundation, setting out the corresponding budget, deliverables, rights, roles and responsibilities of the parties.