Alison Millar, Alexander Jay’s When the Rapping Stops
35 film projects from 36 countries have been selected for the 17th DOK Co-Pro Market of DOK Leipzig . The projects are in development or at an early stage of production and arde given opportunity at DOK Co-Pro Market to connect with potential co-production, financing and distribution partners from all over the world. Click here to see all projects.
Since its founding 17 years ago, the DOK Co- Pro Market has focused very specifically on matchmaking projects with (co-)producers. “The selection consists of projects with a great artistic vision that are developed for an international audience, aim for a theatrical release and have the potential for international co-productions,” stress Market organisers.
Supporting the DOK Industry team in its selection were producer and curator Malin Hüber (co-founder of the production company HER film) and Svetla Turnin, co-founder and executive director of Cinema Politica, a Canadian exhibition and distribution network for political documentaries around the world, and the streaming platform CP On Demand.
“The 35 projects selected are characterised by a strong artistic approach and a wide range of themes. Stories deal with traumas that span multiple generations, efforts for emancipation of various communities and demands for self-determination and representation. They take a stand against violence and violations of human rights, such as the denial of equal rights for women by male-dominated politics,” the September 15 statement reads.
“Some filmmakers utilise archive material to tell their stories. The footage ranges from personal recordings to historical material from state archives. Many of the projects lend a personal perspective to issues of social, political and societal relevance. In some cases, these personal stories unfold against the backdrop of major socio-political upheavals or in places shaken by current crisis and at the centre of the global spotlight, such as Beirut or Afghanistan. A number of the projects feature young protagonists and focus on coming-of-age stories that open up a perspective on the next generation and reveal the issues, challenges and needs that motivate them.”
Many of the projects are by directors whose perspectives have historically been under-represented. Promoting female filmmakers from equity-seeking groups is also important to the European Women’s Audiovisual Network (EWA), which is refocussing its award, presented at DOK Leipzig for several years, in this direction, the festival notes. “The award honours a project by a female director in the DOK Co-Pro Market which tells a story from a point of view thus far marginalised and under-represented in the world of film and which treats its protagonists as equals,” organisers underline. The recipient will receive €1,000 in prize money offered by EWA, and will receive a year-long mentorship by DOK Leipzig in the further development of her film.
The award presented by EWA is one of three awards presented at the DOK Co-Pro Market. The others are the Saxon Award for the Best Documentary Film Project by a Female Director (valued at €5,000) and the Current Time TV Award for a project from Central or Eastern Europe (valued at €1,500).
The 17th DOK Co-Pro Market will be held from 25 to 29 October and will for the first time be organised as a hybrid event, both online and onsite, in order to enable filmmakers to meet in person again, as well as offer industry representatives who cannot come to Leipzig the opportunity to network. Some of the 900 (or so) individual meetings will therefore take place purely onsite, some onsite and online, and some purely online.
In the run-up to the event, the DOK Industry team will organise an online meeting of the project representatives to prepare them and build community. Utilizing online tools – which DOK Leipzig had to embrace in 2020 as the ‘sole space’ for the industry programme – has proven to be a great asset for preparation and training for onsite and hybrid events, organisers.
