The Beldocs Pitching Forum, part of the Beldocs Industry Days (10-15 May), handed out its awards at a ceremony on Saturday 13 May. They were presented by the head of Beldocs Industry, Andrijana Sofranić Šućur. The Industry Days are part of the Beldocs International Documentary Film Festival, the 16th edition of which is still ongoing until 17 May.

The jury, consisting of filmmaker Dimitra Kouzi, Rene Kubašek (who serves as the head of International Relations at the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival) and Cineuropa’s own Vassilis Economou, singled out a Serbian project, At the Door of the House Who Will Come Knocking, directed by Maja Novaković. They awarded it with the main prize, courtesy of Al Jazeera Balkans, along with a cash prize of €2,000. The same project also scooped the Forgrade Post-production Award. The jury praised the film’s authentic and artistic approach. “Expect a captivating cinematic voyage exploring the depths of intimate psychological realms and the rugged beauty of natural landscapes,” they stated. Novaković’s previous short documentary Then Comes the Evening had a long and fruitful festival run lasting from 2019-2021.

The Networking Award from the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival was given to the project Bitter Sugar by Georgian director Ana Barjadze for “being a sensitive and intimate story brought to life by a promising emerging filmmaker”, as stated in the explanation. The DAE – Documentary Association of Europe Talent Encouragement Award went to the Slovenian project Where Do Butterflies Sleep, directed by Simona Jerala. In the jury statement, it was praised for its moving and introspective portrayal of the gradual dissolution of a father-daughter bond, and for its personal and poetic narrative.

The Pitch the Doc Award was given to Serbian director Dragana Latinović for the project Colors in My Eye, while a Special Mention went to the Ukrainian project Divia by Dmytro Hreshko. The Georgian effort Heart Don’t Be Afraid by Ana Kvichidze won the East Silver Caravan Award, while the Croatian project I Am a Cavern of Blood in the Shape of a Mind by Gaia Radić scooped the DOK Leipzig XR Award.

Here is the full list of award winners:

Al Jazeera Balkans Award
At the Door of the House Who Will Come Knocking – Maja Novaković (Serbia)
Producer: Maja Novaković (Cineseedlings)

Forgrade Post-production Award
At the Door of the House Who Will Come Knocking – Maja Novaković

Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival Networking Award
Bitter Sugar – Ana Barjadze (Georgia)
Producer: Irina Gelashvili (Radium Films)

DAE – Documentary Association of Europe Talent Encouragement Award
Where Do Butterflies Sleep – Simona Jerala (Slovenia)

Pitch the Doc Award
Colors in My Eye – Dragana Latinović (Serbia)
Producer: Duška Latas (Zid Production)

Special Mention
Divia – Dmytro Hreshko (Ukraine)
Producers: Polina Herman, Anastasia Pugach (UP UA STUDIO)

East Silver Caravan Award
Heart Don’t Be Afraid – Ana Kvichidze (Georgia)
Producer: Mariam Bitsadze (17/07 Productions)

DOK Leipzig XR Award
I Am a Cavern of Blood in the Shape of a Mind – Gaia Radić (Croatia)