Cannes Docs, the dedicated documentary programme of the Marché du Film, has unveiled its 2023 Docs-in-Progress jury; Angeliki Vergou, Head of Agora at Thessaloniki Doc Fest, French producer Karim Aitouna and Brazilian Fernanda Lomba, EP at Mundi Filmes and co-founder of NICHO 54.
The Docs-in-Progress selection comprises non-fiction works at the final stages of post-production ahead of their imminent launch onto the doc circuit. The 32 projects will be presented May 19-22 across 8 showcases from Scotland, Canada, Scandinavia, Italy, Chile, Spain, Docs By The Sea & CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator. Each showcase is composed of four projects, and each project is presented in the form of a pitch and a 10-minute excerpt of the rough cut.
“The showcases are primarily designed for decision makers looking for fresh new titles, in particular festival programmers and sales agents. The projects are also generally in search of post-production funding or general gap financing, and sometimes still open to co-production opportunities,” writes Cannes Docs.
The jury will hand out the following awards during Doc Day, May 23:
- Docs-in-Progress Award €10,000 cash prize and project follow-up by IEFTA – The International Emerging Film Talent Association.
- Al Jazeera Documentary Award Al Jazeera Documentary to come in as co-producer, with a minimum contribution of $15,000.
- Post-Production Award €5,000 grant in post-production services, with the participation of Hiventy, Technical Partner of the Festival de Cannes.
- Alphapanda Award Two consultations on film marketing & social media, given by the Alphapanda team.
- Think-Film Impact Award A strategic impact workshop + an impact pitching coaching session given by the Think-Film Impact Production team.
- DAE Award Free one-year memberships for the team, with all associated benefits, and a rough cut consultation with one of DAE’s senior advisors.
France/Morocco-based jurist Karim Aitouna, producer at Haut les Mains Productions, comments: “For me, the most important criteria in evaluating a documentary film are its ability to engage and move the audience. I believe that great cinema has the power to inspire, challenge, and provoke thought, and I will be looking for projects and WIPs (works-in-progress) that have these qualities. I look forward to discovering new talents who believe in the power of diversity and who are pushing boundaries and expanding the possibilities of cinema.”
Adds Brazilian Mundi Filmes EP Fernanda Lomba, also co-founder of Nicho 54 whose aim is to champion Black Brazilians in the film industry: “It’s worth emphasizing that these [jury] spaces have been historically occupied by professionals working in the northern hemisphere. This invitation brings recognition to the work I’ve been carrying out as a producer, as well as the director of Nicho 54, embodying the goal of internationalizing my career.”
Angeliki Vergou, Head of Thessaloniki Doc Fest Agora, says: “As someone who is passionate about storytelling and strives to support documentary filmmakers through Thessaloniki IDF’s AGORA, I am excited to discover the documentaries that will be presented at Cannes Docs. By amplifying the voices of those who are often marginalized and shining a light on important issues, we can create a more just and equitable world, and I am eager to see how these documentaries contribute to that vision.”
