Nick Cunningham

The elections for the Board of the European Film Academy have resulted in 8 new incoming members. The Board now comprises 16 members representing 15 regions, with one seat representing transnational populations in Europe, such as Sámi and Roma filmmakers. “The new board of the European Film Academy is the most representative board in our history,” says Chairman of the Board Mike Downey, who will stay in the role for another two years.

Eight films from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland are nominated for the Dragon Award Best Nordic Documentary at the 47th Gothenburg Film Festival. The winner receives post production services to the value of SEK 250,000 (approx. €23,000). Göteborg Film Festival runs from January 26 to February 4.

Sam Green’s interactive 32 Sounds works across many frequencies. The Oscar-shortlisted film is part-science, part-history and part-personal reflection on all things sonic. It can also serve to channel the trauma we experienced during Covid, Green tells BDE. “I think that we all are still carrying around a lot of feelings from that, feelings that we probably don't really express much or have words for. And I think in some way, I'm not sure if this is true, but I have wondered this in some ways, the film is an opportunity for some of that to come out.”

In his Oscar short-listed feature doc, Luke Lorentzen follows outspoken hospital chaplain Mati and supervisor David as the former engages in an emotionally challenging and physically exhausting year-long residency at Manhattan’s Mount Sinai during Covid. “It was Mati pushing back that I think made the film a really profound and deeper dive into the work, but it required a reorientation of a certain way of working that I had applied in other projects,” the filmmaker tells BDE.

While undertaking research following a near-fatal fall, forest ecologist and biology professor Nalini Nadkarni begins to expose, little by little, the tangled roots of her troubled and disturbing childhood. Director Andrew Nadkarni, Nalini’s nephew, talks to Business Doc Europe about his Oscar-shortlisted short film.

The webinar is titled ‘Impact Filmmaking for Social Justice: Exposing human rights defenders in films and impact campaigns – risks and benefits’ and will include Zippy Kimundu and Meena Nanji, co-directors of the Kenyan Our Land, Our Freedom (2023). Impact Days (March 10-12) is the Industry arm of FIFDH – International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights Geneva (March 8-17).

Several awards to be given to the best projects selected across the various Forum funding activities (Public Pitch, Rough Cut Pitch, New Tech Pitch and Speed Meetings) during the 27th edition of the festival. Professional activities, including the inaugural Tech Pitch, will take place May 6-10 May. The deadline for project registration is January 29.

Fifteen films make the cut in each of the Documentary Film and Documentary Short Film categories. Mstyslav Chernov’s 20 Days In Mariupol (Ukraine) and Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters (Tunisia) are additionally shortlisted in the International Feature Film category. Nominations for the 96th Academy Awards will be announced on January 23 2024.

32 Sounds is an immersive documentary and profound sensory experience that explores the elemental phenomenon of sound. The film is a meditation on the power of sound to bend time, cross borders, and profoundly shape our perception of the world around us. Academy Award-nominated director Sam Green discusses his film with fellow filmmaker (and Oscar winner) Steven Bognar.

Visions du Réel Industry will run 14 to 17 April in 2024, and will join forces with the Eurimages Fund to present the new Eurimages Co-production Development Award – a cash-prize of €20,000. “This prestigious award has been created to promote the Fund’s role in encouraging international co-production from the initial stages of a project, and will be awarded to one project from the VdR–Pitching strand,” write organisers.