09/03/2023 - A showcase of innovation and creativity in the Central and Eastern European documentary world is running in Prague, with a rich programme of events open to the public

Running from 24-30 March, the East Doc Platform has announced its full programme, with all events set to be held at the French Institute in Prague and accessible for free without any accreditation necessary. However, professionals wishing to attend the East Doc Forum, the awards ceremony or other closed events need to apply for an industry pass here by 13 March.

Regarding the industry events, they kick off on 28 March with two presentations: B2B Doc: Visegrad Pitch and Czech Docs: Coming Soon, which will feature upcoming Ukrainian and Czech feature-length documentaries seeking funding and co-producers, respectively. On 29 March, the East Doc Forum will pitch 19 feature-length documentary projects from Central and Eastern Europe (see the news) and, the following day, will feature new documentary series projects as part of the East Doc Series presentation.

Some highlights of the open programme include case studies on successful documentary co-productions by German producer Ümit Uludag (Corso Film), a lecture on the ten most common mistakes made in teaser design by Iikka Vehkalahti, and a discussion by Mikael Opstrup, author of The Uncertainty, on character-driven documentary-making. Erik Gandini will also explore the art and craft of directing in his master class, while Ben Kempas will discuss Emma Davie's Oil Machine impact campaign.

The programme also includes a panel discussion on the mental health of documentary filmmakers, presentations on new digital tools for documentary makers, a lecture and case study on the international distribution strategy for Fragile Memory [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Igor Ivanko
film profile] by Ihor Ivanko, and a conversation on the complexities of power with gatekeepers Ruth Reid and Caroline Libresco. Furthermore, a panel debate will explore the use of virtual reality to create impact projects, while the KineDok conference will offer presentations on setting up screening venues and organising cultural events in alternative social venues. Also, a showcase of success stories from venue managers from all KineDok countries is planned, alongside a session aimed at empowering communities through documentary film. The events will bring together experts from across Europe to inspire and equip participants to think beyond traditional formats and use innovative approaches to create engaging experiences for audiences. A detailed programme of the 2023 East Doc Platform can be found here.

Here is a list of the projects selected for the East Doc Forum 2023:

Brothers in the Hunt - Ieva Ozolina (Latvia)
Producer: Madara Melberga (Fa Filma)

Cuba & Alaska - Yegor Troyanovsk (Ukraine)
Producer: Olga Beskhmelnytsina

Girls Sometimes - Anna Artemyeva (Germany)
Producer: Ksenia Gapchenko

I Made a Mistake Coming Here - Kseniya Halubovich (France)
Producer: Louis Beaudemont (Les Steppes Productions)

Insurance Against Meteorites - Natalia Śliwowska, Jorik Galama (Poland)
Producer: Kasia Kuczyńska (Haka Films)

Sisters - Tereza Bernátková (Czech Republic)
Producers: Natália Pavlove, Dagmar Sedláčková (MasterFilm)

Songs of Sisterhood - Hanka Nobis (Switzerland)
Producer: Esther van Messel (First Hand Films)

The Soldier's Journey - Helena Maksyom (Romania)
Producer: Adrian Pirvu (Pirvu A Adrian PFA)

World of Walls - Lucia Kašová (Slovakia/Czech Republic)
Producers: Matej Sotník, Wanda Kaprálová (Guča sro), Claw AV

The ten Ex Oriente Film 2022 projects that are part of the 2023 East Doc Forum 2023 are as follows:

Basement 341 - Roman Blazhan (Ukraine)
Producer: Roman Blazhan (Minimal Movie)

Beautiful Void - Andris Gauja (Latvia)
Producers: Elza Gauja (Riverbed), Film Tower

Chasing Stumps - Mihai Gavril Dragolea, Radu Mocanu (Romania)
Producers: Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan (Manifest Film), Elena Martin (Manifest Film)

December - Grzegorz Paprzycki (Poland)
Producer: Piotr Śmiechowski (Telemark)

European Union Wolf - Jadran Boban (Croatia)
Producer: Dana Budisavljević (Hulahop)

Love and Capitalism - Bára Jíchová Tyson (Czech Republic)
Producer: Kristýna Škodová (Cinepoint)

May It Be a Girl - Katerina Suvorova (Kazakhstan/Austria)
Producers: Aruan Anartaev, Mischief Films

Maomi - Larger Than Life - Judit Oláh (Hungary/Germany)
Producers: Inez Mátis (Pi Production), Majmun Film

One Day I Wish to See You Happy - Maryna Nikolcheva (Ukraine)
Producer: Oleksandra Kravchenko

War on Women - Maris Salumets (Estonia)
Producer: Volia Chajkouskaya (Allfilm)

The projects selected for the 2023 East Doc Market are as follows:

A Picture to Remember [+see also:
film review
film profile] - Olga Chernykh (Ukraine/France)
Producers: Regina Maryanovska Davidzon (Real Pictures), Laurence Uebersfeld (LuFilms)

Bitter Sugar - Ana Barjadze (Georgia)
Producer: Irina Gelashvili (Radium Films)

Fixing the War - Clare Stronge (Ireland) - Awarded at Docs Ireland 2022
Producer: Gary Lennon (Plainsong Ltd)

Flowers of Ukraine - Adelina Borets (Poland/Ukraine)
Producer: Glib Lukianets (Gogol Film)

Four Winters in Edificio Cuba - Aleksandra Maciuszek (Poland) - Awarded at DocsBarcelona 2022
Producer: Aleksandra Maciuszek (New Plot Films)

Hasan's Joy - Natalia Pietsch, Grzegorz Piekarski (Poland) - Awarded at Krakow Film Festival/Doc Lab Poland 2022
Producer: Katarzyna Kostecka (Larmo)

I Have Never Been on an Airplane - Redon Kikaj (Kosovo/Czech Republic)
Producers: Dardan Hoti, Farid Eslam (Mind Riot media)

Liberation Diaries - Matteo Parisini (Italy/Germany/France) - Awarded at Sunny Side of the Doc 2022
Producers: Lorenzo Cioffi (Ladoc), Tina Leeb (DOCDAYS Productions), Audrey Ferrarese (Drôle de Trame)

Memory - Vladlena Sandu (France/Netherlands/Kosovo)
Producer: Yanna Buryak (Mimesis)

Souvenirs - Pegah Ahangarani (Czech Republic)
Producers: Gabriela Daniels, Kaveh Farnam (Europe Media Nest)

Until the Wedding - Daniel Stopa (Poland)
Producer: Daniel Stopa (KIOSK FILMS)

Where I End and You Begin - David Power (Romania/Italy)
Producer: Raffaella Pontarelli (Amarena Film)

The projects selected for East Doc Series are:

Bohemian Identity - Jakub Skalický (Czech Republic)
Producer: Michal Gregorini (Mowshe)

Dance Plus City - Lina Lužytė, Marius Paplauskas, Triin Ruumet, Martti Helde, Rūta Ronja Pakalne, Valerijs Olehno, Vadim Ilkov (Lithuania/Latvia/Estonia/Ukraine)
Producer: Dagne Vildziunaite (Just a Moment)

Out & Open - Ieva Ozolina (Latvia)
Producer: Madara Melberga (Fa Filma)

Pacenotes - Timo Novotny (Austria/Germany)
Producer: Sebastian Rieker (Seehund Media)

The Silent Hostage - Katrina Tomasicka (Latvia)
Producers: Ilze Falkovska (Kultfilma), Amber Sound Ltd

The projects selected for Czech Docs: Coming Soon are:

1+1+1 - Ondřej Vavrečka (Czech Republic)
Producer: Vít Janeček (D1FILM)

Amoosed! - Hana Nováková (Czech Republic/Slovakia)
Producer: Kateřina Traburová (LaDamplinque)

Atyrkul in the Land of Real Men - Janyl Jusupjan (France/Czech Republic)
Producers: Alice Tabery (Cinepoint), Christian Lelong (Cinédoc Films)

Police Symphony Orchestra - Dominik Kalivoda (Czech Republic)
Producer: Michal Kráčmer (Analog Vision)

The World According to Jiri - Marta Kovářová (Czech Republic/Slovakia)
Producers: Jan Bodnár (Gnomon Production), Silvia Panáková (Arina Ltd)