Visions du Réel has announced the jurors its 55th edition running April 12–21 2024.
The jury members will bestow the festival’s prizes during the Awards Ceremonies that takes place on Friday 19 April. The Awards for VdR-Industry will be handed out April 17. The 55th edition of Visions du Réel runs April 12–21 2024.
International Feature Film Competition
The Jury for the International Feature Film Competition, comprising the outgoing artistic director of the Berlinale Carlo Chatrian, Swiss filmmaker Carmen Jaquier and producer Dora Bouchoucha, will award the competition prizes from a shortlist of fifteen films, which include fourteen world premieres and one international premiere. The Jury will deliver the Grand Jury Prize offered by la Mobilière (CHF 20’000) and the Special Jury Award offered by Région de Nyon (CHF 10’000).
Burning Lights Competition
Burning Lights is dedicated to the latest, most free and contemporary forms and perspectives in cinema. The 2024 Jury, which will watch fifteen world premieres and one international premiere, is composed of the programmer and curator Lyse Ishimwe Nsengiyumva, the film critic and programmer Devika Girish and the filmmaker Eduardo Williams. The Jury will deliver the Jury Prize in the Burning Light Competition offered by Canton de Vaud (CHF 10’000) and the Special Jury Award offered by la Société des Hôteliers de la Côte (CHF 5’000).
National Competition
The National Competition is dedicated to medium length and feature films (two in 2024), (co)produced in Switzerland. The Jury will select the winners among eleven films, including ten world premieres and one international premiere. It will be composed of the Swiss editor Gabriel Gonzalez, Pauline David, programmer and artistic director of the Belgian festival En ville, and Bojana Marić, an international sales agent for Lightdox. The Jury will deliver the Jury Prize in the National Competition offered by SSR SRG (CHF 15’000) and the Special Jury Award offered by SSA/Suissimage (CHF 10’000).
International Medium Length & Short Film Competition
In 2024, the International Medium Length and Short Film Competition comprises 35 films – 29 world premieres, five international premieres and one European premiere. The Jury will deliver various prizes for both Medium Length & Short Films including: the Jury Prize for the Best Medium Length Film offered by Clinique de Genolier (CHF 6’000) and the Jury Prize for the Best Short Film, offered by Fondation Gobelet (CHF 5’000). Jury members are filmmaker Rokhaya Marieme Balde, producer Zsuzsanna Kiràly and festival programmer Carla Vulpiani. Alongside, the Youth Jury will award a Special Prize to a Medium Length Film offered by École Moser (CHF 4’000) and the Special Prize for the best Short Film (CHF 2’500) delivered by Mémoire Vive.
FIPRESCI
The FIPRESCI (International Critics’ Award) Jury will awards a first or second feature film presented in the International Feature Film Competition or the Burning Lights Competition. Jury members Swiss-Italian-Syrian filmmaker and scientist Samer Angelone, film critic and curator Călin Boto and film critic/translator Petra Meterc.
Interreligious Jury
The Interreligious Jury awards a prize to a work that highlights questions of meaning and direction in life, worth CHF 5’000. Jurors are Valérie Arato (Culture at Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities), Jean-Claude Boillat (professional catechist and adult educator), Majid Movasseghi (director, critic and reader), and fest director/curator Claude Rossi
ZONTA
The ZONTA Awards for creative support will deliver a Prize for a female filmmaker whose work reveals mastery and talent and calls for support for future creations, worth CHF 5’000. Jurors are Marion Blöchlinger (trusts, asset management), director Jorge Cadena, and Marie Klay (General and Administrative Director of the Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival).
The Perception Change Award
The Perception Change Award, presented by the Director General of the Geneva UN with the support of the Diplomatic Club, awards a film that sheds light on the current issues that will define the world of tomorrow (CHF 5’000). Jurors are Aziyadé Poltier-Mutal (Senior Officer of Partnerships in the Office of the Director General of UN Geneva) and François Vioud, Programme Management Specialist for the UN Geneva Perception Change Project.
VdR–INDUSTRY JURIES & AWARDS 2024
In 2024, 29 projects were invited to participate in three key activities: VdR–Pitching, VdR–Work in Progress and VdR–Rough Cut Lab, that will run as part of the Festival’s Industry activities in Nyon from April 14-17. “With its numerous prizes and grants, VdR-Industry and its partners reaffirm their determination to support independent documentary filmmaking in all its diversity,” write organisers. On April 17th, the Awards Ceremony for VdR–Industry will take place in La Colombière.
The Industry Jury comprises: Rémi Burah (CEO and Selection Committee Member of ARTE France), Lisa Kleiner Chanoff (Co-founder of Catapult Film Fund) and Kristy Matheson (Director of BFI London Film Festival).
The Eurimages Jury comprises: Eleni Chandrinou (Film Consultant/Audiovisual Expert), Vadim Jendreyko (Director/Writer/Producer at Mira Film) and Susana Santos Rodrigues (Co-director at IndieLisboa Film Festival).
The visions sud est Jury comprises: Zsuzsi Bánkuti (Head of Open Doors at Locarno Film Festival), John Canciani (Artistic Director of Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur) and Meret Ruggle (Co-Director of Trigon-film).
Eurimages Co-production Development Award
€ 20,000 in cash, this award has been created to promote the Fund’s role in encouraging international co-production from the initial stages of a project.
visions sud est Award
CHF 10,000 in cash awarded to the best project from the South (Africa, Latin America and Asia) or from Eastern Europe (according to SDC’s eligibility country list) presented at either the VdR–Pitching, VdR–Work In Progress or VdR–Rough Cut Lab.
RTS Award
A RTS pre-buy of one project pitched at the VdR–Pitching showcase.
Xe Award
CHF 5,000 in cash awarded to the most promising co-production pitching as part of the VdR–Pitching showcase.
The Party Film Sales Award
€5,000 including a cash contribution of €2,500 awarded to one project with strong international potential.
Lightdox Award
€3,000 in cash awarded to the project with highest international potential at the VdR–Work In Progress showcase.
Unifrance Doc Award in partnership with TitraFilm
Subtitles creation (to the value of €2300) sponsored by TitraFilm and one Unifrance membership (value of €1590) for the French producer attached to the project.
TËNK Post-production Award
Sound post-production facilities at Tënk studios (France) including 2 weeks in the mixing studio and 1 week in the Auditorium.
TËNK Opening Scenes Award
Purchase of distribution rights for one film of the Opening Scenes section.
Raggioverde Subtitling Award
Subtitles creation included translation in one language.
Downtown Studios Award
Creation of a DCP package for one project pitched at the VdR–Work In Progress showcase.
No Nation Films Award
One No Nation Films Fellowship including guidance, mentorship, and counsel towards completing their feature-length documentary films for one project from a low capacity country.
Cannes Docs Award
Invitation to feature as a Cannes Docs ‘Spotlighted Project’, including 2 complimentary Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes badges valid for the 2024 or 2025 edition.
DOK Leipzig Award
Two accreditation and four nights accommodation at DOK Leipzig & observer access to the DOK Co-Pro Market for the filmmaker and producer for the 2024 or 2025 edition.
DAE Encouragement Award
Two free consultations with network members tailored to the needs of the project.
Prix RTS de soutien à la création documentaire
CHF 10’000 for the best feature film project
