Nick Cunningham

Documentary activity to include a second Archive Day on March 2 and a Meet the (Doc) Festivals one-to-one event. Full programme of the EFM Industry Sessions will be published on February 17.

Professional arm of leading Greek doc fest will take place June 25 to July 4 2021 and invites documentary filmmakers to submit their films for Agora Doc Market, Docs in Progress and Thessaloniki Pitching Forum sections. April 20 is key deadline date.

To be presented virtually 18 to 30 May 2021, DocsBarcelona Industry announced a 25 February deadline for new doc projects and doc series pitch events, plus Speed Meetings. Rough Cut Pitch deadline is set for March 9. The Catalan market also announced this year’s development awards and prizes, both cash and in kind.

First collab between European Film Promotion and Sundance places spotlight on the rich array of European cinema presented at the festival (Jan 28 - Feb 3). EFP’s virtual EUROPE! Hub will promote the European films/filmmakers to the industry, with focus on North American distributors.

Scheduled for presentation in hybrid form in 2021, Visions du Réel Industry events to run online April 14 to April 17 before on-site professional activity kicks in April 18-22, COVID permitting.

Kicking off online 4-14 March before presenting ‘main events’ physically June 24 to July 4, TDF will also present a new section dedicated to podcasts, ‘the digital files that have taken the world by storm.’

“What a year to launch a new entity…but it has been a really rewarding process and we have learned a lot.” DAE (Documentary Association of Europe) co-directors Brigid O’Shea and Marion Schmidt open up to BDE about the fledgling organisation’s first year in business, and assess the year to come.

The doc industries of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary are in the spotlight during FIPADOC Industry Days with a full programme of workshops and panels designed to promote industry collaboration. New doc pitches from the four countries start January 20, running for two days.

“After the online edition of the 2020 festival, Cinéma du réel is now mobilising to support the diversity of writing, forms and ideas and give them resonance,” say organisers, who are prepping for all options in the event of continued French/Paris lockdown.

New collab will support diverse filmmakers with funding valued at $100,000 for up to four projects, as well as dedicated lab mentoring activity. “This program expands on IF/Then’s commitment to deep, multidimensional mentorship,” says Supervising Prod Caitlin Mae Burke.