DiALAB

What DiALAB does

DiALAB is a Brazilian private cultural platform founded in 2018 and headquartered in Salvador, Bahia, dedicated to developing and accelerating Black audiovisual talent from the African diaspora. The organization operates a multi-component ecosystem comprising the DiALAB Laboratórios — comprising DiALAB Fics (screenplay and business plan development for feature fiction), DiALAB Docs (documentary and non-fiction narratives), DiALAB Series (fiction series for streaming and TV), and DiALAB WiP (post-production consulting for festival placement) — together with the Escola DiALAB educational sub-brand (offering Radar DiALAB in São Paulo, Trilogia do Corpo, Cinema Negro, and Carolina), and the annual DiALAB Film & Media Festival (DLF) held November 30 – December 5 in Salvador.

The platform primarily serves Black filmmakers, screenwriters, directors, and producers seeking international market access, as well as emerging audiovisual professionals requiring foundational training. DiALAB connects participants with a pan-American mentor network spanning Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Spain, and provides pathways to international festivals, streaming platforms, and distributors. Technology infrastructure is minimal: a Wix-hosted website serves as the enrollment and information platform, with Vimeo, YouTube, and Google Drive used as external channels for project submission and evaluation.

Revenue is generated primarily through non-refundable workshop registration fees that cover curation and technical analysis services, plus festival and event ticket sales subject to Brazilian Consumer Defense Code refund rules. DiALAB holds an official Flagship partnership with the Brazilian Ministry of Culture (Ministério da Cultura) as presenter and institutional support from SPCine for its São Paulo–based Radar DiALAB program. The organization is founder-led by Executive and Creative Director Emerson Dindo and Programs and Creative Director Leandro Santos, and operates with 1-10 employees from offices in Salvador and São Paulo.

Name

DiALAB

Website

https://dialab.me

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DiALAB is a Brazilian cultural platform founded in 2018 and headquartered in Salvador, Bahia, that accelerates Black audiovisual talent from the African diaspora through creative development labs, educational courses, and an annual international film festival.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Education and Talent Development

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)

Keywords

• Audiovisual talent development
• Film laboratory programs
• Black cinema festival
• Screenwriting acceleration
• Creative industry education

Headquarters

HQ city

Salvador, Bahia

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Workshop and Lab Registration Fees: Registration fees for workshops including Fics, Docs, Series, and WiP laboratories. The fee covers curation and technical analysis services. These are one-time fees per program cycle.
2. Festival and Event Tickets: Revenue from festival tickets for the DiALAB Film & Media Festival, following Brazilian Consumer Defense Code standards for refunds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DiALAB runs an international hub of creativity and business for the Black diaspora's audiovisual sector, comprising three core components: (1) Laboratórios DiALAB (Fics, Docs, Series, WiP) — paid, application-based acceleration laboratories providing mentorship, curation, and strategic consulting across the film development lifecycle from screenplay to post-production; (2) Escola DiALAB — educational courses for emerging audiovisual professionals; and (3) the annual DiALAB Film & Media Festival (DLF) held in Salvador, connecting creators with international industry professionals and markets.

Product overview

DiALAB is an international hub of creativity and business dedicated to amplifying the voice, presence, and impact of Black talent in the global audiovisual market. The platform operates as a multi-component ecosystem consisting of DiALAB Laboratórios (TALENTS) programs including DiALAB Fics, DiALAB Docs, DiALAB Series, and DiALAB WiP for creative development and acceleration; Escola DiALAB offering educational programs such as Radar DiALAB, Trilogia do Corpo, Cinema Negro, and Carolina for talent development; and the annual DiALAB Film & Media Festival (DLF) for industry connection and exhibition. The platform connects tradition and innovation, acting as a catalyst for creative talent and executives while promoting autonomy, protagonism, and strategic development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Escola DiALAB Educational program dedicated to developing new talent and updating audiovisual professionals, integrating technical knowledge, creative practice, and strategic preparation for global industry challenges. Targets emerging and mid-career audiovisual creators seeking structured professional development.
• Radar DiALAB Creative production laboratory for beginners from São Paulo, supporting projects from idea to market through consulting, classes, and professional practice. Delivered in partnership with SPCine.
• DiALAB Fics Application-based acceleration program focused on screenplay and business plan development for feature-length fiction films seeking the international market, with mentorship and curation by industry professionals.
• DiALAB Docs Immersive laboratory dedicated to documentary and non-fiction narratives, focused on approach strategies, narrative techniques, and co-production support for filmmakers.
• DiALAB Series Specialized acceleration program for developing fiction series for streaming and television, covering development from concept through pitch bible creation.
• DiALAB WiP Final-stage acceleration program providing artistic and strategic consulting for films in the post-production phase, aimed at preparing works for international festival circuits.
• DiALAB Film & Media Festival (DLF) Annual international film and media festival held November 30 – December 5 in Salvador, Brazil, combining cinema showcases, industry panels, and networking events for festival attendees and industry professionals; serves as a platform for Black audiovisual business, creativity, and global connections.
• Laboratórios DiALAB (TALENTS) Acceleration ecosystem dedicated to projecting Black diaspora narratives, combining excellence curation, personalized mentorship, and strategic connections to transform authorial projects into sustainable audiovisual businesses. Encompasses the Fics, Docs, Series, and WiP programs.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Ministério da Cultura (Ministry of Culture Brazil)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Brazilian Ministry of Culture is an official presenter of DiALAB, providing institutional endorsement and governmental legitimacy to the platform's mission of supporting Black audiovisual talent.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Film Independent: Los Angeles-based nonprofit supporting independent filmmakers through labs (FIND, Producing Lab) and the Spirit Awards. Comparable to DiALAB's Escola + Lab structure but at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• Sundance Institute: The most established independent film development ecosystem combining labs, festival, and grants. A much larger and broader incumbent that competes for similar emerging filmmaker talent and increasingly offers diversity-focused programming.
• Locarno Film Festival: Swiss international film festival with industry programs supporting emerging filmmakers from Latin America and Africa. A broader incumbent with overlapping filmmaker development focus.
• Berlinale Talents: The Berlin Film Festival's talent development program, an international lab-style platform with global participants. Comparable to DiALAB's Laboratório model but operating within a much larger established festival.
• IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam): World's largest documentary festival with industry programs (IDA, Frontlight). Comparable to DiALAB's Docs lab for documentary filmmakers, particularly those from underrepresented regions.

Direct peers

• Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF): Nigerian-based annual film festival and talent development platform supporting African and African diaspora filmmakers. A regional peer with similar ecosystem (festival + labs) approach to DiALAB.
• Pan African Film Festival: One of the largest Black-focused film festivals globally, held annually in Los Angeles. Direct peer to DiALAB's film festival and talent development mission for the Black diaspora, though operating in a different geography (US vs Brazil).
• BlackStar Film Festival: Annual Philadelphia-based festival celebrating the cinematic work of Black, African, and African diaspora filmmakers. Comparable to DiALAB in scope, mission, and combination of festival + filmmaker development programs.
• CaribbeanTales: Toronto-based organization supporting Caribbean and Black diaspora filmmakers through development programs and a film festival. Closely aligned with DiALAB's diaspora-focused talent acceleration model.
• New York African Film Festival (AFF): Film Society of Lincoln Center-affiliated festival showcasing African and diaspora cinema. Comparable curation role for Black diaspora film as DiALAB Film & Media Festival.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dialab-me

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DiALAB