East Doc Market Award, No Mercy – The Female Gaze by Isa Willinger
As doors closed on 32nd Sunny Side 2021, organisers revealed that 1500 industry professionals from 58 countries (including 380 decision-makers) and 891 companies (68% of which were beyond French borders) took part in the online event. Meanwhile, the 5th edition of PiXii Festival was held across La Rochelle, at the same time offering industry professionals a digital and physical programme.
“As the pandemic is receding globally, industry expectations for resuming normal activity are high. The focus for this online edition was on networking – an element much missed by many over the past months. And the figures prove this to have been a success,” commented Mathieu Béjot, Sunny Side’s Director of Strategy and Development.
Since the platform opened on June 10, more than 1,000 meetings were organised as part of nine tailor-made matchmaking sessions for producers, distributors and new talents, and almost 15,000 messages were exchanged.
The 2021 winners are:
PITCH SELECTIONS
Best Global Issues Pitch
The Click Trap
Produced by: Polar Star Films (Spain). Directed by: Peter Porta
Award sponsored by RTBF: 3,000 euros in cash
Jury citation: “The jury members selected The Click Trap because they were confident of the producers’ treatment of this subject, which has broad international appeal and sits very comfortably in investigative current affairs slots around the globe.”
Best Arts & Culture Pitch
This is not a Kanga
Produced by: Wonder Maria Films (Portugal). Directed by: João Nuno Pinto and Fernanda Polacow
Award sponsored by IMZ: 3,000 euros in cash
Jury citation: “The jury members decided to select this project because we believe celebrating these artists is a story that will speak to audiences around the world.”
Best Immersive Experiences Pitch
Noire
Produced by: Novaya (France). Directed by: Stéphane Foenkinos, Pierre-Alain Giraud
Award sponsored by Ubisoft: 3,000 euros in cash
Jury citation: “The jury members decided to select Noire because AR storytelling is still quite new and the hommage/story lends itself perfectly to leverage this new technology. With the award, we wish to show our trust to help them to excel in this.The cinematographic/scene-setting sounds very promising. Unique 3D audio is taken into consideration by a renowned sound designer. Professional team already in place, with experience in theatre performance & storytelling via HoloLens.”
Best Wildlife & Conservation Pitch
The Tiger Spirit – The Race to Save Malaysia’s Last Tigers
Produced by: Clearwing Foundation For Biodiversity (Poland).Directed by: Paolo Volponi
Award co-sponsored by Love Nature & The Redford Center: 3,000 euros in cash
Jury citation: “The jury chose this project for several reasons. First of all, the urgency of the conservation issue at hand and the engagement of the film making team with the issue. We felt that this was an important story to highlight and present to a wide audience. Then, we particularly appreciated the personality and approach of Marta, the Polish biologist. We felt that the project could benefit greatly from the award.”
Best Science Pitch
Music’s Superpowers
Produced by: CPB Films (France). Directed by: Jacques Mitsch
Award sponsored by Science et Vie TV: 3,000 euros in cash
Jury citation: “We felt that the quality of presentation was exemplary – It presented as a truly original and engaging idea, executed with infectious humour, clarity and creativity. It contained a clear indication of the style of production in addition to the range of topics that they aspire to cover, giving us a true sense of what the completed film will be. Music is often relegated to the outer realms of schedules, yet this project so convincingly illustrates, it is at the heart of humanity and this year, more than ever, plays a vital role in our lives. By exploring music from a scientific point of view with the input of neuroscientists and musicians it enables us to better understand why music moves us so extensively both on an emotional and physical level.”
Best History Pitch
The Ultimate Joker
Produced by: Vision House Productions (Poland) Directed by: Krzysztof Dzieciolowski
Award sponsored by PBS International: 3,000 euros in cash
Jury citation: “An ambivalent and thrilling personality which reflects European politics from fascism through cold war to the newly arised populism of today. A story that should be told. We are looking forward to a film that corresponds in form and narrative to this multi-layered and tragi-comical figure.”
SPECIAL PRIZES
Grand Prix PIXII
Lady Sapiens, The Experience
Produced by: Little Big Story (France). Coproduced by: Ubisoft, France Télévisions (France). Directed by: Camille Duvelleroy
Technology: Virtual Reality
Prize: 2,000 euros in cash
Jury citation: “We, the jury, distinguish Lady Sapiens as it best combines storytelling and artistic merit, as well as it masterfully uses of digital technology to create an unforgettable immersive experience, by keeping in the same time the balance between Arts and Science on one hand, Education and Entertainment on the other hand.”
New Voices Award
Girls’ Stories
Produced by: Pinot Films (Poland). Directed by: Aga Borzym
Award sponsored by Netflix: 3,000 euros in cash
Jury citation: “The jury members unanimously decided to select the project Girls’ Stories for the Netflix New Voices award because we felt the filmmakers’ gained intimate access, and their storytelling approach is both creative, quirky, innovative and poetic. With the use of mixed media, animated sequences, and humour, their pitch brought a universal “coming of age” story to life. Above all, we wanted to support these passionate emerging female filmmakers who are connected to the story and the culture from which the story originates. We can’t wait to see the final film and wish them all the best on their storytelling journey.”
Ushuaia Impact Award
Sound of Ice
Produced by: Oslo Pictures (Norway). Directed by: Tommy Gulliksen
An award sponsored by Ushuaïa TV: 2,000 euros in cash
Jury citation: “We felt that the Sound of Ice is a wonderful and very ambitious project. It deals with climate change in a most original way, through art, emotion and experimentation with a committed artist and his audience. The film will certainly have a significant and positive impact on a large audience. We also found the project visually appealing.”
East Doc Market Award
No Mercy – The Female Gaze
Produced by: Tondowski Films (Germany) Directed by: Isa Willinger
Award supported by Institute of Documentary Film: 2 industry passes to East Doc Platform (producer-director), individual meetings at the East Doc Market & 2-night accommodation
Jury citation: “We are delighted to award a project that is coming with a very original approach towards gender issues and offering a unique, highly artistic view on the creative power of female directors.”
Meeting Point Vilnius Award
The Ultimate Joker
Produced by: Vision House Productions (Poland) .Directed by: Krzysztof Dzieciolowski
Award supported by Meeting Point Vilnius: Free accreditation for Meeting Point Vilnius 2022 and 2-night accommodation for one representative of the film.
Jury citation: “For the smart, dense picture of a character who represents a perfect balance of historical meditation on past, and the vivid burden of the current political and human circumstances.”
TALENT HUBS & WORK IN PROGRESS
Best Talent Hub Central & Eastern Europe
Cinema Under Siege
Produced by: Novi Film (Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovia). Directed by: Srđan Šarenac
Award sponsored by Institute of Documentary Film: 2,000 euros in cash
Jury citation: “Cinema Under Siege: from the strong title to the trailer, to the presentation, to the importance, to the strong archive, animation and stories from the protagonist, convinced us that this will turn out to be a film that tells the history of a war from an unique angle; that should not be forgotten and has to be remembered today.”
Best Talent Hub Women In Doc
To Embody
Produced by: Les Films du Tambour de Soie (France). Directed by: Noëlie Giraud
Award sponsored by Arte: 2,000 euros in cash
Jury citation: “The jury members decided to award the project To Embody for its impressive and moving display of intimacy and its strong collaborative approach. We were instantly captivated by the delicate yet creative nature of this unique story world and applaud the intelligent and powerful representation of those whose bodies too rarely make it to the screen.”
Best Work In Progress: Central & Eastern Europe
72 Hours
Produced by: Playtime Films (Belgium). Directed by: Anna Savchenko
Award sponsored by Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival: 2,000 euros in cash
FESTIVAL INVITATIONS
Movies That Matter
Waitergate
Produced by: ZK Studio (Poland). Directed by: Konrad Szolajski
Prize sponsored by Movies That Matter: 2 free accreditations for Movies That Matter 2022 and 2-night accommodation
Wildscreen Festival
Animal Nation
Produced by: Rotating Planet Productions (Canada). Directed by: Ari A. Cohen, Jesse Bochner
Prize sponsored by Wildscreen Festival: Full access Pass to the hybrid edition Wildscreen Festival 2022 + free year of membership (Small Corporate) to the Wildscreen Network
Jackson Wild
Our Forest
Produced by: Lato Sensu Productions (France). Directed by: Marc Dozier, Jérôme Bouvier, Quincy Russell, Hamid Sardar-Hafkhami, Mike Magidson
Prize sponsored by Jackson Wild Award
