25/02/2026 - From co-production models and audience design, to industry safety and VR storytelling, this year’s edition deepens its industry focus, while marking 25 years of the Institute of Documentary Film

The East Doc Platform returns from 19-25 March at the French Institute in Prague, held in cooperation with the One World International Human Rights Film Festival. As the largest documentary industry platform in Central and Eastern Europe, the event once again convenes filmmakers, producers, broadcasters, sales agents and fund representatives for a week of panels, masterclasses, pitches and immersive screenings.

Carrying the theme Afterimages, the 2026 edition reflects on the enduring imprint of documentary images, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of IDF. Beyond the conceptual framing, however, the programme leans decisively into practical questions shaping the field in 2026: distribution to younger audiences, recalibrated co-production structures, commissioning realities in the Czech market, and accountability within the industry itself.

The platform will open on 19 March with the panel “Reaching the Next Generation: Distribution Strategies for Young Audiences”, examining how filmmakers can connect with children and young adults across festivals, cinemas, digital platforms and educational circuits. Experts including Paul Rieth, Magdalena Żelasko and Katharina Bergfeld will discuss shifting viewing habits and partnership models in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. The evening will continue with a professionals-only screening of Non-Aligned: Scenes from the Labudović Reels [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mila Turajlic
film profile] by Mila Turajlić.

On 20 March, world sales will take centre stage as Lightdox executive Anna Berthollet will deliver a lecture on positioning creative documentaries in international markets, outlining collaboration strategies with sales agents and practical approaches to both traditional and DIY distribution. Later that day, Greek filmmaker and outreach strategist Dimitra Kouzi will focus on publicity campaigns and audience engagement, drawing on case studies including Apolonia, Apolonia [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lea Glob
film profile] to explore communication strategies across development, production and release stages.

Saturday’s programme will highlight participatory and historical filmmaking practices with a masterclass by Igor Bezinović on his European Film Award-winning documentary Fiume o Morte! [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Igor Bezinović
interview: Igor Bezinović
film profile], addressing collective authorship, propaganda and political performance. Editor and filmmaker Michael Palm will follow with “Editing as Directing”, reflecting on the creative tension and collaboration between director and editor.

On 22 March, former Sundance senior programmer Caroline Libresco will deliver a keynote lecture, bringing her perspective as curator, producer and founder of Sundance Catalyst to questions of project development and funding trajectories. Audience design expert Paul Rieth subsequently will lead a session on integrating audience thinking early in the creative process, positioning it as both a storytelling and market strategy tool. The day will conclude with a masterclass by Mila Turajlić, who will examine archive-driven filmmaking and the complexities of pitching and financing long-term research projects within today’s European funding ecosystem.

Across 21-24 March, immersive works 21-22 CHINA by Thierry Loa and Fresh Memories: The Look by Ondřej Moravec and Volodymyr Kolbasa will be presented in the VR section, underscoring the platform’s continued engagement with expanded documentary forms and technologically mediated storytelling.

The industry core will unfold on 24 March with the East Doc Forum, where 16 feature-length documentaries and five docuseries projects will be publicly pitched to commissioning editors, distributors, sales agents and fund representatives. That afternoon, IMS adviser Henrik Underbjerg will lead “Rewriting the Rules of Co-Production - From Model to Practice”, introducing a value-based framework that rethinks rights allocation, IP ownership and recoupment structures beyond purely financial contribution.

The East Doc Caravan Showcase will present the IDF’s festival launch initiative, followed by a screening of In Hell with Ivo [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Kristina Nikolova, winner of the Jury Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival. Meanwhile, Czech Docs: Coming Soon will offer first looks at five national feature documentaries in production or post-production, connecting local filmmakers with international partners.

The closing day will shift attention to commissioning realities and industry ethics. The panel “Who Pays for Czech Docs Now – And What It Means for Creative Docs” will gather representatives from Czech Television, Nova/Voyo, Prima and the Czech Audiovisual Fund to address editorial priorities, rights negotiations and the balance between public service and commercial broadcasters. The final lecture, led by Marion Schmidt of #DocSafe, will tackle responsibility, accountability and power dynamics within the documentary sector, reflecting ongoing international efforts to establish safer professional environments.

Accreditations are open until 5 March. Documentary professionals can apply for an Industry Pass here.

East Doc Platform 2026 is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, the Czech Audiovisual Fund, the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the capital city of Prague, APA – Audiovisual Producers’ Association, the Czech-German Future Fund, HBO, Creative Europe Desk Czech Republic and the Austrian Cultural Forum.