Ex Oriente Film Programme is an international training initiative dedicated to the development and funding of creative documentary films in Central and Eastern Europe. It was established in 2003 as the very first training programme for documentary professionals in the region. Its goal is to cover subjects related to the development and production of documentary films within the international context, help filmmakers from the region to build suitable production and distribution goals from the very early production stage and link them with their outlet and audiences.The three week-long residential sessions and the additional online sessions of the Ex Oriente Film Workshop support the individual and tailored development of twelve documentary projects at the development or early production stage and on the intensive training of professional skills of the producers and directors representing the projects. Participants receive guidance from a wide range of film experts in developing the subject, narrative and the visual style of their projects, making drafts of a financing and distribution strategy, and finding international partners. Each workshop focuses on a different segment of development.The Ex Oriente Film Follow-up Programme then continues to support the participants in the wider audiovisual market. It is a yearlong chain of follow-up support and additional activities for projects that have completed, or are currently completing, the Ex Oriente Film workshop. The aim of the Follow-up programme is to bring participants to key European festivals, markets, coproduction forums and partner events, as well as enable them to further promote their projects, expand their network of contacts, and use the knowledge gained during the workshop. The programme supports directors and producers until the completion of the film that participated in the workshop, and also during its distribution.