Audiovisual Connect LAB (AC LAB) is a European cooperation project addressing a critical cultural challenge: while young people consume audiovisual content daily, many lack the tools to understand film language, recognise authorship and perspective, and actively discover European cinema beyond global platforms and algorithms. The project positions film literacy as a strategic cultural and policy issue, essential for cultural diversity, democratic resilience, and the future of European audiovisual works.

Project Aim

AC LAB aims to strengthen film literacy among young people aged 15–19 and to support long‑term audience development for European cinema by combining education, research, and advocacy. The project seeks to:

• empower young people to become conscious, critical, and culturally aware viewers,
• equip educators and cultural institutions with tested, transferable methodologies,
• generate evidence and tools that inform cultural and educational policy at national and European levels.

Within the project, film literacy is the capacity to engage with film as an artistic, cultural, and social practice - understanding audiovisual language, authorship, and context, and navigating film culture beyond algorithm‑driven access.

HOW THE PROJECT WORKS

National LABs

The project operates through eight national laboratories (LABs) in eight European countries, each bringing together cultural organisations, schools, educators, researchers, and students, functioning as testing and learning environments, adapting activities to local contexts while contributing to a shared European framework. LABs work in tandem with local partners and festivals, such as Netwerk Filmeducatie (NL), Kino Úsmev (SK), Visegrad Film Forum (SK) and others on their project activities.

Project Days

Intensive learning formats in which young people actively engage with European films through viewing, analysis, discussion, and creative work, serving both as educational experiences and as a basis for researching film literacy development.

Learning Innovation Circles

Collaborative professional‑learning formats that bring together educators and cultural professionals to reflect on, test, and adapt film‑education approaches, strengthening long‑term capacity for film literacy education.

Workshops for Peers, Cultural Organisations and Policymakers

Transfer and advocacy‑focused formats that share tested film‑literacy methodologies, research results, and audience‑development strategies with the wider European cultural and policy ecosystem, supporting long‑term adoption and systemic impact. These activities were kicked-off in Prague with a 2-day workshop in cooperation with the Czech Association of Cinema Operators in late January 2026.

Research, Evidence, and Policy Value

AC LAB combines primary research (tests, interviews, questionnaires) with secondary research on film literacy, viewing habits, and audience development. This evidence base allows the project to: move beyond anecdotal impact; compare approaches across countries and provide policy‑relevant insights on how young audiences engage with European cinema.

Digital Platform: A public resource

A central output will be an open, user‑friendly online platform offering:

• film literacy testing tools,
• access to selected European films,
• methodologies for educators and cultural organisations,
• research summaries and data entry points.

Advocacy and European Relevance

The project explicitly links practice, research, and advocacy:

• demonstrates why film literacy matters for cultural diversity and democratic participation,
• provides concrete data and examples for decision‑makers,
• formulates recommendations for cultural, educational, and audiovisual policy,
• supports recognition of film literacy as a key pillar of audience development for European works.

The Czech Dimension of the Audiovisual Connect LAB

Alongside joint European activities, AC LAB also develops follow-up programs within the Czech environment, translating AC LAB's core themes into the specific practice of cinemas, schools, cultural organizations, and audiovisual production. The Czech LAB functions as a space for testing, education, consultations, and professional networking — bridging European cooperation with the long-term activities of the Audiovisual Center and Kino Kavalírka.

Audience Testing

We are running a pilot program for Audience Testing – a method of structured feedback that connects creators with their potential audience during the development, production, or distribution prep phases of an audiovisual work. It helps verify thematic clarity, character dynamics, pacing, atmosphere, emotional impact, and potential target groups. The goal is to provide creative teams with a more precise understanding of how their work resonates with different types of viewers.

Learning (in) the Cinema

Learning (in) the Cinema is an educational program for Czech exhibitors and cinema staff, focusing on working with schools, teachers, and young audiences. In cooperation with the Association of Cinema Operators, we develop practical tools that enable cinemas to systematically offer film and audiovisual education, design programs for schools, and better align with the educational needs of teachers. The program has a nationwide reach and supports the expansion of film education to other cinemas across the Czech Republic.

Consultation and Development for Teachers and Educators

We offer ongoing support to educators, tutors, and other education professionals who wish to incorporate film, audiovisual media, and European production into their classrooms or after-school programs. We provide consultations, workshops, methodological support, and a space for sharing experiences in working with children and youth. This initiative builds upon AC LAB's innovation programs for teachers, which connect educators, research, and the practical testing of audiovisual education methods.

Networking for Audiovisual Professionals

At Kino Kavalírka, we also develop educational and networking events for audiovisual professionals from film, animation, video games, and related fields. In collaboration with independent game developers, game production experts, animation industry representatives, and professional associations, we create a space for knowledge sharing, cross-disciplinary dialogue, and exploring new forms of cooperation.

Duration: 01/2026 - 12/2027

Coordinator: krutón z.s. Prague CZ

Partners:

Wajda Film Centre (Poland)

Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People (Greece)

National Film Institute - Film Archive (Hungary)

Interfilm Berlin (Germany)

Eye Filmmuseum (the Netherlands)

Boiler (Slovakia)

Cinema and Culture Development (Ukraine)

Project Manager: Michal Brenner

Contact: michal@krutonfilm.cz

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.