16/04/2026 - As the projects selected for the workshop were presented, we met with the Camp coordinator to learn more about the initiative’s genesis, structure and opportunities

On 14 April, four projects selected for the 4th edition of Nord/Est/Doc/Camp - an initiative dedicated to documentary development in the Triveneto area - were presented within the Bolzano Film Festival Bozen (running 10-19 April). The programme looks to lend support to works in the advanced stages of production by way of targeted guidance and networking. We met with coordinator Sergio Fant to hear more about how the initiative is structured and the opportunities it brings.

Cineuropa: Can you tell us a little bit about Nord/Est/Doc/Camp: how did it come about and what is its mission?
Sergio Fant: Nord/Est/Doc/Camp was born out of the need to create a bridge between different bodies which were really active in the Triveneto area: festivals, production companies and four film commissions involved in supporting local filmmaking. We realised that there wasn’t a structured space in which to support and enhance documentary projects which are often developed in relative isolation compared to the wider national context.

That’s where we got the idea to combine IDM Film Commission Südtirol, Trentino Film Commission, Veneto Film Commission and Friuli Venezia Giulia Film Commission with three partner festivals, in order to create a dedicated route into documentary-making, a medium we believe is particularly well-suited to conveying the realities of our region and to which we can make a tangible contribution in terms of advice.

When was the project initiated and what form does this dedicate route take?
The project came about in 2023 and it’s now approaching its fourth edition. The route is divided into three stages, each of which are overseen by different festivals. It starts in Pordenone Docs Fest with a feedback session on projects’ rough cuts, which is a very delicate but extremely fruitful phase for comparing and contrasting projects. The Bolzano Film Festival Bozen is where the selected projects are pitched to an audience of professionals. And lastly, at the end of August, the Euganea Film Festival concentrates on the more industry-centric side of the journey, with focuses on distribution, rights and festival strategies; in other words, the future lives of the selected films.

What role do tutors play in the initiative?
Tutors are fundamental, especially in the first phase. We’ve put together a team boasting a wide range of competencies: editing, film direction, writing and festival strategy. The tutors include Rotterdam programmer Rebecca De Pas, film director and producer Claudia Tosi, film director Marco Segato and editor Sara Zavarise. Our aim is to provide the projects with a local, national but also international outlook, helping them to evolve with greater awareness.

What are the selection criteria for the Camp?
They’re intentionally flexible. Projects produced or co-produced by companies with operations in the Triveneto region can take part, even if they’re minority shareholders. That’s the only real geographical condition.

We also require films to already be at the rough-cut stage: we’re not an early development market or initiative, we’re a space for in-depth work on projects already in the advanced phase.

How many applications do you receive each year?
Around a dozen. It’s a low number because there’s limited documentary production in the region and because the requirements are quite specific. But this allows us to work on the selected projects in a far more targeted way.

What value does this programme add for the film teams involved?
One of the most highly valued aspects of the Camp is that they get to see their films on the big screen while they’re still only works in progress. All of the films are screened in DCP format and under optimal technical conditions, both in Pordenone and in Bolzano. This allows directors and producers to examine their work in a professional context, often for the first time, and to obtain concrete feedback.

Can you give us any examples of past projects from the Camp which did well in terms of distribution and festivals?
Yes, the results were encouraging from our very first editions. Vista Mare by Julia Gutweniger and Florian Kofler won the FIPRESCI Prize in Locarno’s Critics’ Week and was distributed in Italy. My Boyfriend El Fascista by Matthias Lintner enjoyed lengthy international circulation, taking part in numerous festivals, including in the USA. Another interesting example is Noi siamo gli errori che permettono la vostra intelligenza by Erika Rossi, which was distributed in Italy thanks to contacts made during the pitch in Bolzano. It’s important for us to see the work we do here translating into real opportunities.

Looking to the future, are you thinking of expanding the Camp?
Yes, it’s something we’re currently considering. The Triveneto region is an area that’s naturally open to cross-border exchanges, you only need to look at our relationships with Slovenia, Croatia, Austria and Bavaria to see this.

We’d also like to develop a more international dimension, involving partners abroad and opening up dialogue to new bodies. From a linguistic point of view, even switching to English wouldn’t be an issue.

What is the ultimate aim of Nord/Est/Doc/Camp?
To support films at a crucial stage in their development, offering tangible tools to enhance their structure and broadcasting prospects. And to contribute towards the growth of a local production ecosystem, putting talents, professionals and institutions in contact with one another.

(Translated from Italian)