The prizes were handed out September 16 at AJD Industry after three days of frenetic pitch activity and during which 29 projects were presented across four categories (Main Pitch, Rough Cut, Balkan Stars, and Special Selection). The projects competed for co-production and cash awards worth more than 120,000 EUR provided by Al Jazeera Documentary, Al Jazeera Balkans, and other partners.
AJD Industry Days were held from September 14 to 16 and presented projects dealing with various issues facing Southeast Europe (SEE), Caucasus, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions.
AL JAZEERA DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL AWARDS
- MAIN PITCH (Co-production Award of 25,000 USD): The Amateur Photographer’s Family Portrait, dir. Nurlan Hasanli. Synopsis: A filmmaker, whose script was shot without notice and ruined by the Ministry of Culture in Azerbaijan, seeks creative revenge by uniting his family to remake the film.
- WORK IN PROGRESS (Co-production Award of 15,000 USD): 32 Meters, dir. Morteza Atabaki. Synopsis: In a village where no crime has occurred for years, everyone is engaged in arms production. Halime challenges the com- munity by deciding to organize a women-only shooting festival. She introduces the sudden idea to change the status of women in society.
- BALKAN STARS (Co-production Award of 10,000 USD): Weeping Houses, dir. Srđan Perkić. Synopsis: Those are all weeping houses.
AL JAZEERA BALKANS AWARDS
- MAIN PITCH (Co-production Award of 8,000 EUR): Big in Gazi Baba, dir. Pauline Blanchet. Logline: Sadije, a 14-year-old wrestling champion in North Macedonia, navigates expectations to fulfill a male role, defying traditional gender norms and ethnic barriers in her isolated Albanian-Muslim community.
- WORK IN PROGRESS (Co-production Award of 7,000 EUR): Dreams of the Wild Oaks, dir. Marjan Khosravi. Synopsis: A race against time to save her freedom: Samaneh, a young Bakhtiari girl in Iran, must find a rare and endangered bird to escape a forced marriage and a tradition of “Cease Blood Sacrifice”, in a journey that challenges her beliefs and tests the limits of her father’s love.
- BALKAN STARS (Co-production Award of 5,000 EUR): Third Person, dir. Dragan Gmizić. Logline: The Constitution of Serbia guarantees a home to everyone. Yet, homes are being taken from people every day.
PARTNER AWARDS
- DOC HOUSE TUNISIA AWARD (Invitation to the pitching sessions of Point Doc 2025): My Father’s War, dir. Younes Jaddad
- BELDOCS AWARD (Opportunity to present the project at the next BelDocs Pitching Forum, including free accreditation and accommodation): For Whom the Bells Toll? dir. Denis Karam and Zlatko Ivanišević
- SHEFFIELD DOC FEST NETWORKING AWARD (This award will support emerging talents in discovering and connecting with the UK and international documentary industry): The Amateur Photographer’s Family Portrait, dir. Nurlan Hasanli
- MOVIES THAT MATTER IMPACT AWARD (One project will be selected to attend the Festival, Industry Days Film & Impact, including free accreditation and accommodation): 3 Brothers, dir. Katalin Bársony
- DOHA FILM INSTITUTE – DFI PRODUCERS LAB AWARD (Selection of one project to participate in the DFI 2024 Producers Lab): The Amateur Photographer’s Family Portrait, dir. Nurlan Hasanli
- MIA – DOC & FACTUAL AWARD (Attendance at the Doc Co-Production Market and Pitching Forum/Doc Hosted Session): The Other Gaza, dir. Wafa Jamil
- SUNNY SIDE OF THE DOC AWARDS (Two Sunnyside 2024 accreditations for one project. One €500 grant plus accreditation for another project): The Other Gaza, dir. Wafa Jamil
- CANNES DOCS – MARCHÉ DU FILM AWARD (Two projects invited to take part in Cannes Docs as “Spotlighted Projects” at Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes 2025, plus tailored mentoring): Big in Gazi Baba, dir. Pauline Blanchet and The Dry Period, dir. Nihal Atasoy
- IDF – EAST SILVER CARAVAN AWARD (One year of festival distribution service. During the year, films are submitted to international film festivals for consideration): Big in Gazi Baba, dir. Pauline Blanchet
- LOOKS TV – PROGRESS FILM AWARD (Award of Progress archive material worth 3,000 EUR): Magma, dir. Mia Bendrimia
- EURODOC AWARD FOR THE BEST PITCH (Full tuition fee for one EURODOC training session plus one-year-long EURODOC membership (value of €1900). Eligible for projects whose main producer is based in EU Member States (and non-EU Participating Countries in the Creative Europe Programme): Big in Gazi Baba, dir. Pauline Blanchet
- RADIO TELEVISION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – BHRT AWARD (In-kind award of archive material worth 5,000 EUR): Weeping Houses, dir. Srđan Perkić
- CZECH TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT AWARD (This award includes editorial support and film archives/financial co-production support/in-kind resources, depending on the nature of the project): Close to Paradise – Zarema and Her Rebel Family, dir. Tatsiana Khamliuk
- RUM PICTURES & MCQ AWARD FULL POST-PRODUCTION PACKAGE (In collaboration with Media City Qatar, a post-production package valued at $30,000 will be awarded. The package includes video editing, audio mixing, color grading, animation & GFZ, DCP creation): 32 Meters, dir. Morteza Atabaki
- FILM CENTER OF MONTENEGRO BALKAN STAR AWARD (Award of 2,000 EUR in cash): Weeping Houses, dir. Srđan Perkić
- BH TELECOM AWARD (Award of 2,500 EUR in cash): Weeping Houses, dir. Srđan Perkić
- CROATIAN RADIO TELEVISION – HRT TV AWARD (Award of 5,000 EUR): Houses on Sand, dir. Vid Begić
Adel Ksiksi, Head of Industry Days, congratulated the winners.
“Over the past three days, we have witnessed remarkable creativity, genuine compassion, and truth-seeking among filmmakers and decision-makers,” he said. “This edition had stories that inspired, challenged, and educated. As we’ve seen, documentary projects are a powerful medium that confronts us with reality. These projects sparked important conversations and called us to act. Each of these stories brings winds of change. These filmmakers did an excellent job – especially those pitched for the first time.”
Ksiksi also expressed gratitude to platform partners, sponsors, friends, and supporters.
AJD Industry Days were held from September 14 to 16 and presented projects covering various issues facing Southeast Europe (SEE), Caucasus, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions.
