Business Doc Europe

23/07/2024

Industry: Grierson British Documentary Awards shortlist 2024 unveiled

Spanning 15 programme and presenter categories, the list reflects “the best documentary singles and series launched across broadcasters, streamers and online, as well as theatrical releases.” Nominations will be announced September 23. The Awards Ceremony will take place Wednesday 6 November at London’s Roundhouse.

The nominations will be announced September 23. The Awards Ceremony will take place Wednesday 6 November at London’s Roundhouse.

20/07/2024

Industry: EFA repeats call to release Belarusian filmmaker Andrei Gnyot

The has voiced again its demand for the release of filmmaker/activist , who is currently imprisoned in Serbia and in immediate danger of being extradited to Belarus. “It is our firm belief that the charges against him are fabricated and politically motivated, and were introduced by the Belarusian authorities in retaliation for his activist activities,” says Chair . European Film Academy

The Belarusian filmmaker/activist Andrei Gnyot is currently imprisoned in Serbia and in immediate danger of being extradited to Belarus.

18/07/2024

BDE interview: A Sudden Glimpse To Deeper Things by Mark Cousins

In his winning film, prolific Northern Irish docmaker profiles Scottish artist , a woman whose brain underwent profound recalibration after she climbed the Grindelwald Glacier in Switzerland in 1949. There she encountered the mathematical "certainty” which would inspire and inform her later paintings. “When I first saw her pictures in the late 80s, I was drawn to them, as if by a tractor beam,” director tells BDE.

“When I first saw her pictures in the late 80s, I was drawn to them, as if by a tractor beam,” director Cousins tells BDE.

15/07/2024

Industry: Call for entries for 40th IDA Documentary Awards open

Organisers call the awards “the world's most prestigious event [December award date still TBA] dedicated to the documentary genre, celebrating the best non-fiction films, TV work, and audio documentaries of the year and seeking to represent excellence in the doc field by emerging and established documentarians worldwide." The call for entries is open until August 5, 2024.

Call for entries are open until August 5, 2024.

13/07/2024

BDE interview: This Is My Moment by Lieven Corthouts

It’s a disturbing anomaly that, until recently, only six Black cyclists had competed in the , the sport’s blue riband event. In his latest feature documentary , tells the story of the seventh, the Eritrean cycling prodigy (currently setting this year’s Tour ablaze with multiple stage wins). “I knew from the beginning he was good. I couldn’t imagine how good,” tells BDE.

“I knew from the beginning he was good. I couldn’t imagine how good,” Corthouts tells BDE of Tour de France start rider Biniam Girmay.

11/07/2024

Galway Film Fleadh: The Song Cycle by Nick Kelly
Irish multi-hyphenate (director, screenwriter, pop star, activist, not to mention long distance cyclist) talks to Business Doc Europe about how he cycled from Ireland to , carrying his tent and his guitar, to prove that the business of making art doesn’t have to kill the planet. Kelly’s saddle-bound feature documentary world premieres July 12 at .

07/07/2024

Sunny Side of the Doc panel: Human in Nature Documentary

The conversation sought to explore the different programming strategies for nature and wildlife docs and shows, while acknowledging that humans are taking centre stage within the content, forging emotional connections to convey a powerful conservation message, with Indigenous communities leading the way. But are stories with human characters connecting wider audiences with nature? Sunny Side of the Doc

The panel sought to explore the different programming strategies for nature and wildlife docs and shows, acknowledging that humans are taking centre stage.

06/07/2024

Industry: Taskovski call for Conscious Filmmakers Lab

The lab, running October 17-21 in Sitges, Spain, will focus on the art of pitching, innovative storytelling, and impact distribution. "Making impactful creative films, being successful, changing the world—all of this starts with you,” comments producer and Head Tutor . “Our labs combine industry know-how with mindfulness practices and conscious leadership training to empower filmmakers to lead with purpose and creativity.” Deadline for applications: July 30 2024.

"Making impactful creative films, being successful, changing the world—all of this starts with you,” comments Irena Taskovski.

04/07/2024

Sunny Side of the Doc panel: Meet the Executives – National Geographic

On June 25 hosted a "Meet the Executives" session during which ( ) reps took centre stage to share insights into the factual needs of the channel, commissioning opportunities and to explain who commissions what. The session also sought to “deep dive” into some of the series that work best for the channel as well as provide sneak peaks at new content in production. Sunny Side of the Doc National Geographic

The session sought to “deep dive” into some of the series that work best for the channel as well as provide sneak peaks at new content in production.

03/07/2024

Industry: Final call for doc submissions for 10th MIA

The call for projects for the Rome-based Doc Co-Production Market will close July 8, 2024 (5 PM CET). The market accepts submissions across all genres and formats, at different stages of development (not yet in post-production). The projects must be suitable for international co-production, and aimed at representing “independent and diverse voices and perspectives,” say organisers. The next edition of runs October 14 to 18.
MIA Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo

The projects must be suitable for international co-production, and aimed at representing “independent and diverse voices and perspectives.”

01/07/2024

Karlovy Vary Special Screening review: Real by Oleh Sentsov

Ukrainian director and activist , who was awarded the European Parliament’s while in Russian captivity before his release in 2019, is now a soldier in the Ukrainian army fighting Russian invaders. In the trenches, he accidentally switched on his helmet cam. Real is the very real result, a film of unprecedented historical value.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

Ukrainian director and activist Oleh Sentsov, who was awarded the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize while in Russian captivity before his release in 2019, is now a soldier in the Ukrainian army fighting Russian invaders. In the trenches, he accidentally switched on his helmet cam. Real is the v...

28/06/2024

Industry: 35th Sunny Side closes and announces award winners
Over four days, the La Rochelle market hosted 2100 participants from 68 countries, over 1000 companies, 90 exhibitors, and 250 international decision-makers including major broadcasters, streamers, foundations, distributors, financiers, and museums from across the world. Award winners from seven pitch sessions were announced plus other cash and in-kind prizes. (Pic: Best Science Pitch: by )

27/06/2024

Karlovy Vary interview: Real by Oleh Sentsov

Not many films happen by accident. However, Ukrainian director (and soldier) freely admits that his new project (world-premiering this week at the International Film Festival) was not planned in advance. “It was everything that the go-pro shot that day,” he tells BDE of his film shot in the front-line trenches during the counter-offensive against the Russian invasion. “Usually, when you see videos from the war, they are edited. This is what makes Real different. It is just raw footage.”
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

Not many films happen by accident. However, Ukrainian director (and soldier) Oleh Sentsov freely admits that his new project Real (world-premiering this week at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival) was not planned in advance. “It was everything that the go-pro shot that day,” he tells B...

26/06/2024

Sunny Side History pitch: How to Stop a War by Frankie Fenton
At 2024, BDE caught up with , director of the feature-length project . ’s latest effort will be pitched in the History strand of the French industry event on June 27. During our chat, Fenton touched on the project’s inception, its visual look and style and the timely themes it tackles.

26/06/2024

Sunny Side Arts & Culture pitch: Edgar Hilsenrath – The Ma*******or

BDE speaks to , producer at Paris-based outfit about ’ bold feature-length doc project – *******or, which showcases June 25. “At La Rochelle, we expect to put the project on the map for securing co-producers, broadcasters and a sales agent,” says . Sunny Side of the Doc

“At La Rochelle, we expect to put the project on the map for securing co-producers, broadcasters and a sales agent,” says producer Clara Vuillermoz.

24/06/2024

Sunny Side 2024: ShareDoc at Sunny Side to deliver immediate Impact
founder talks to Business Doc Europe about her QR code initiative that enables immediate financial engagement by audiences as soon as the credits roll. “We exist to amplify the social impact of documentaries for the protagonists/charities involved in the project,” she says. “We believe in guiding the audience towards immediate action while bridging the gap between the documentary industry and documentary lovers.”

23/06/2024

Industry: Forsyth & Pollard announce upcoming Emilíana Torrini hybrid doc

winners & announced June 20 the imminent completion (July 2024) of their hybrid feature The Extraordinary Miss Flower, which tells the remarkable story of producer 's mother Geraldine and the discovery of a suitcase of letters from the 60s and 70s that inspired acclaimed Icelandic singer/songwriter to return to the studio to record a new album. The directors describe their work as “part film, part theatre, part fever dream with strong documentary elements.”

The producer describes the film “as part film, part theatre, part fever dream with strong documentary elements.”

21/06/2024

BDE interview: Docs Ireland Head of Industry Roisín Geraghty

The 3-day Industry programme of the Belfast-based kicks off June 20 with an ongoing objective to support the production of non-fiction across the whole island of Ireland. “We really just want to support, nurture and foster the island of Ireland’s industry, particularly its emerging filmmakers,” Industry Head tells BDE of her event. (Pic: Opening film at . Photo includes with Freedom the dog [right] and director , centre back)

“We really just want to support, nurture and foster the island of Ireland’s industry, particularly its emerging filmmakers."

19/06/2024

Industry: Sheffield DocFest announces 2024 Award Winners
Grand Jury Award for International Competition goes to At the Door of the House Who Will Come Knocking by . The Grand Jury Award for the International First Feature Competition was won by The Boy and the Suit of Lights by . The Tim Hetherington Award was picked up by No Other Land by , , , (Palestine, Norway, 2024). All festival and Industry awards…
Sheffield DocFest

Grand Jury Award for International Competition goes to At the Door of the House Who Will Come Knocking by Maja Novaković.

19/06/2024

Sheffield Rebellions interview: Strike, An Uncivil War by Daniel Gordon
tells the story behind the infamous “battle of Orgreave” in June 1984 between the Yorkshire police and striking mineworkers. It also reveals just how the government ripped the heart out of Britain’s mining communities during the year-long strike. “Irrespective of your political viewpoint, you see the results,” tells BDE of the social devastation caused by the closure of the mines.

16/06/2024

Sheffield First Feature Comp: The Boy and the Suit of Lights by Inma de Reyes
For her debut feature world-premiering June 14, Spanish filmmaker follows the young would-be matador Borja as he prepares for a career in the bullring. “I’ve never been interested in bullfighting,” admits the director. “My family have never taken me to a bullfight or anything like that. I’m just completely oblivious to that world. But I think now you cannot be neutral in Spain. You’re either in favour or you’re against…”

16/06/2024

Sheffield Industry project: 24 Strong by Rieneke Van Santen

Dutch director presents her campaigning doc project , set in Papua New Guinea and which underlines the universal message of press freedom as “an indispensable pillar of any democracy.” The film's story narrative is woven together by the themes of gender equality, corruption, collectivism and survival. “What strikes me most in this story are the women,” says . “It's the women that are leading the investigations and that are exposing corrupt businessmen and politicians.” Sheffield DocFest

“It's the women that are leading the investigations and that are exposing corrupt businessmen and politicians."

13/06/2024

Sheffield Int'l Comp interview: The Hexagonal Hive and a Mouse in a Maze

Renowned Scottish Oscar-winning actor and artist is co-director of , a playful, experimental documentary produced by the and that looks at learning from every angle. The film, also co-directed by , screens in the International Competition at . As tells BDE, they decided to make a film that would “interrogate” the very idea of education. Sheffield DocFest

As Dziadosz tells BDE, they decided to make a film that would “interrogate” the very idea of education.

13/06/2024

Sheffield First Feature Comp interview: My Sweet Land by Sareen Hairabedian
In the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, 11-year-old Vrej is, in equal part, philosopher, dreamer and realist. He wants to be a dentist, but is fully aware that he is being prepared for combat, as are all the kids of his age, both and girls. “He was just a child full of wonder, full of dreams, but also very much older [than his years],” says director of her subject. “His personality was what really attracted the lens, and that’s what kept us going.”

08/06/2024

Industry: FIDMarseille announces competition films for 35th edition
Fifty films make up the competition sections (International, French, First Film, Flash and Cine+) of the 35th edition of . Of these, 42 are World Premieres, 5 are International Premieres and 3 are French Premieres. The festival opens June 25 with by and closes June 30 with ’s .

07/06/2024

Tribeca/Sheffield interview: The Official Genesis P-Orridge Documentary

Back in the 1980s was described as “too shocking, even for punks,” this coming on the back of his sexually graphic performances at London’s ICA in 1976 together with his equally notorious girlfriend . But ’ new doc reveals another side to . Yes, he was formidable and dangerous, but he was also a genuine intellectual and a philosopher years ahead of his time, as well as a loving dad. “You can live for your art and be this extreme artist and musician and thinker, but also part of your extremeness is living with unconditional love for your family,” the director tells BDE.

“You can live for your art and be this extreme artist, musician, thinker, but part of your extremeness is living with unconditional love for your family."

07/06/2024

Industry: Doc Alliance Awards for The Landscape and the Fury & Crushed
The winners of the were announced June 6 at the award ceremony of in Kyiv. The prize for the Best Feature Film, endowed with 5,000 euros, went to by . by received the for Best Short Film, endowed with 3,000 EUR. Both awarded films were nominations of .

06/06/2024

Krakow FF Audience Award winner interview: Everything Needs to Live

Ukrainian is many things, a q***r world champion powerlifter, a social media influencer with 350,000 followers and a protector of thousands of animals which are also victims of the war in Ukraine. Her kindness also extends to fellow Ukrainians such as filmmakers and ever since they met in 2019. “Every time we came to ‘Mama’s home’ she would feed us, she would take care of us,” remembers. “From those five years grew up a friendship.” Krakow Film Festival

Anna Kurkurina is many things, a q***r world champion powerlifter, a social media influencer and a protector of thousands of animals in Ukraine.

03/06/2024

Industry: Winners of the 64th Krakow Film Festival

for Best Film was given to and for (Germany, pictured above). The Silver Horn for Highest Artistic Merit went to for (Poland). The Silver Horn for Best Film on Social Issues was won by for (Canada, France, Ukraine). The KFF Recommendation to the (Doc) is by (Poland). Krakow Film Festival

The Golden Horn for Best Film was given to Askold Kurov and Anonymous 1 for Of Caravan and the Dogs (Germany).