Beldocs Pitching Forum, the pitch section of Beldocs Industry Days (23-26 May), handed out its awards May 25 during a ceremony presented by the Head of Beldocs Industry, Andrijana Sofranić Šućur. The program is part of the 17th Belgrade International Documentary Film Festival Beldocs, which is ongoing and runs to 29 May.
The jury members (Sari Volanen, commissioning editor of Finnish television – YLE, Michaela Čajková, founder of sales company Filmotor; and Maša Marković, Head of industry at Sarajevo Film Festival) handed the main award for Best Project in Development, bestowed by the Film Center of Montenegro and accompanied by €2,000 in cash, to the Bosnian project Balcana Presenta. The jury stated that “the project stood up to its most original idea when it mixes genres and filmmakers’ approaches. We appreciate the comedy parts and at the same time topics such as migration and women’s empowerment.”
The Best Project in Progress Award, offered by Al Jazeera Balkans and accompanied by €1,500 in cash, was given to the Croatian project This Is To Be Done, directed by Srđan Kovačević. The jury acknowledged “a film that honours people who help others in oppressed positions.”
The Croatian project Another Film About the War, Father and Home received the Forgrade Post-production Award for “the most coherent pitch in this section as well as for portraying the father – a figure confronted with the consequences by his actions.”
The Current Time TV Award ($1,500) for Best pitch went to Armenian project Serozhik by director Lusine Papoyan. The jury praised a project that depicts the “controversy of magnificent nature opposed to hardships of the society, giving a beautiful background to this touching and dramatic coming of age story.”
The Networking Award from the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival was handed to project Glorious Utopia by Slovak director Marek Moučka, as “a film that captivates the imagination and addresses the philosophical topic of the human desire to create boundaries.”
The DAE – Documentary Association of Europe Talent Encouragement Award went to the Armenian project Serozhik by Lusine Papoyan, for “its cinematic and human potential and because we believe that the guidance given by DAE will help the project grow and develop.”
The Ji.hlava New Visions Market Award was given to by Croatian director Marcella Zanki for the project Zanki and her “authentic approach, cinematic spirit, and universally comprehensible story.”
The East Silver Caravan Award went to the Latvian project Beautiful Void by director Andris Gauja. The jury noted how it “tackles deep philosophical questions with pure cinematic language and unique approach.
The Dok Leipzig XR award went to the project Entropia by Montenegrin director Jovan Mijušković.
The full list of Beldocs Pitching Forum award winners is as follows:
- Film Center of Montenegro Award: Balcana Presenta – Maja Novaković (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Producer: Marko Šipka (Kabinet 101)
- Al Jazeera Balkans Award: This is to Be Done – Srđan Kovačević (Croatia) Producer: Sabina Krešić (Fade In)
- Forgrade Post-production Award: Another Film About The War, Father And Home – Damir Markovina (Croatia) Producer: Tamara Babun (Wolfgang & Dolly)
- Current Time TV Award: Serozhik – Lusine Papoyan (Armenia) Producer: Aram Petrosyan (Formlab)
- Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Award: Glorious Utopia – Marek Moučka (Slovakia). Producer: Tomáš Gič (Silverart)
- DAE – Documentary Association of Europe Talent Encouragement Award: Serozhik – Lusine Papoyan (Armenia) Producer: Aram Petrosyan (Formlab)
- Ji.hlava New Visions Market Award: Zanki – Marcella Zanki (Croatia) Producer: Matija Drniković (Wolfgang & Dolly)
- East Silver Caravan Award: Beautiful Void – Andris Gauja (Latvia) Producer: Elza Gauja
- Dok Leipzig XR Award: Entropia – Jovan Mijušković (Montenegro)
