AJB DOC has announced a deadline of May 31 May 2023 to submit projects and participate in the second edition of Al Jazeera Documentary (AJD) Industry Days @ AJB DOC that will take place 9-11 September 2023, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The total prize fund offered by Al Jazeera Doc Channel, Al Jazeera Balkans and project partners in 2022 was $80,000 (US). A comparable prize fund will be allocated in 2023.
“If you think you have a unique documentary project idea but are in need of additional financial support – this is your answer,” write organisers. “We provide you with an opportunity to pitch your project to Al Jazeera Media Network decision makers and many other leading industry professionals.”
“We intend to support the expansion of documentaries worldwide, including international co-productions, and introduce exciting and valuable projects to key decision-makers,” organisers continue. “The AJD Industry Days@ AJB DOCplatform will provide documentary filmmakers from the Southeast Europe, Caucasus, the Middle East, and North Africa (MENA) region with an opportunity to network with decision-makers and leading professionals from both regional and international film and TV industries.”
The AJD Industry Days @ AJB DOC the call is for the following:
- MAIN PITCH – accepting all stages of project development by independent filmmakers and production companies
- WORK IN PROGRESS – projects in the post-production stage, intended for broadcasting on Al Jazeera or other international broadcasters and platforms
- BALKAN STARS – the development stage of projects suitable for regional and international co-production with Al Jazeera Balkans/Al Jazeera Documentary or other broadcasters
“Successful applicants will be invited to present their projects on-site in Sarajevo to this year’s board of international broadcasters and prominent professionals that will decide on this year’s winners,” organisers add. “[The winners] will obtain funding for documentary production and support for their broadcast, distribution, screening, and sales worldwide.”
Project submission is invited via ‘Submit a Project Form’ at industry.ajbdoc.ba. Entries are open March 1 to May 31 2023.
Launched in 2022, Al Jazeera Documentary Industry Days @ AJB DOC has achieved “quite a success,” note organisers, addressing a wide range of topics through 32 projects from 21 countries, which offered “authentic storytelling and a promising cinematic approach in portraying the reality.” It is presented alongside the Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival (AJB DOC) which is recognized as a strong platform for TV-documentaries regionally and worldwide. AJB DOC Film Festival will run September 8-12 in 2023.
