Nick Cunningham

Ukrainian Iryna Tsylik presented her animated docudrama project Red Zone, about life during just one day of war, last week at EFM. “I chose an animated format for this film because, I believe, it can address even the most intimate and painful experiences safely but accurately,” she comments. “Animation pairs beautifully with my personal art form, poetry. Unlike a more traditional documentary, these two art forms can express the absurdities of my mundane life (which is really anything but mundane), with just the right amount of humour and a hint of magic.”

Mr Nobody Against Putin by Pasha Talankin and David Borenstein was handed the gong for Best Documentary during the Bafta award ceremony February 22 at London’s Festival Hall. The film, which is also nominated for Academy Award, follows a Russian teacher (Talankin) who documents the Putin administration’s movements in controlling public perception of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Yo (Love is a Rebellious Bird), the only documentary in Berlin Competition, picks up the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution. The Berlinale Documentary Award was given to If Pigeons Turned to Gold by Pepa Lubojacki. In the Teddy Awards, the Best Documentary/Essay Film award went to Brydie O’Connor for Barbara Forever. All doc awards…

The leading Greek docfest revealed February 19 the fourteen-film selection for its International Competition. Prizes include the Golden Alexander, which is accompanied by a cash prize of 12,000 euros, and the Silver Alexander, accompanied by a cash prize of 5,000 euros. The 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival runs March 5-15.

At EFM 2026 Ji.hlava IDFF presented the current cohort of professionals partaking in its Emerging Producers programme, and put out the call for the next programme that will run 2026 through 2027. Every year the festival selects 18 talented producers (17 European and one representing a guest country), which it provides with educational, networking and promotional support. The applications deadline for the next programme is March 31.

Academy Award-winning Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson sat down with Geeta Gandbhir to discuss her Oscar and Bafta-nominated The Perfect Neighbor, about the shooting of Ajike Owens, a Black mother of four, by her white neighbour, who claimed "stand your ground" rights in her defence. “It's really about the intersection of racism, polarisation, anger and predatory laws that lead to violence,” says Gandbhir of her Netflix documentary.

Around Paradise is a film of opposites and extremes, of myths, legends and beliefs. Set in a poor region of Paraguay, it is also a film about neo-colonialism, as practised by “settlers” from around the world [many of whom are German]. Meanwhile, locals such as students Will and Yoha are trying to eke out a living. “We were actually there to listen and to explore," director Lokshina tells BDE. "This is how we work in general... we are genuinely interested in understanding the dynamics of the places we are spending time in, getting an idea of what's driving the people who we interact with.”

CPH:DOX returns to Copenhagen March 11–22 2026 for its 23rd edition, presenting more than 200 new films alongside debates, live talks, concerts, exhibitions and special events. 86 world premieres, 25 international premieres and 10 European premieres are featured in this year's festival, of which 63 are feature-length films. Key figures coming to Copenhagen include HBO cult icon John Wilson, French actress and director Juliette Binoche and acclaimed documentarian Louis Theroux, amongst many others.

The 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (Greece) announced February 17 the selections for its Newcomers and >>Film Forward Competition sections. Films will compete for the Golden Alexander “Dimitri Eipides” award (€10,000 ) and the Silver Alexander Award (€4,000) in Newcomers and the >>Film Forward Golden Alexander (€6,000) and >>Film Forward Silver Alexander (€3,000) in the latter. The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival will run March 5-15.

BFI (British Film Institute) announced February 16 tat it will continue to prioritise dedicated support of the UK documentary filmmaking sector, thanks to National Lottery funding. As part of the BFI National Lottery Funding plan 2026-29, Doc Society will receive £7.2m over three years as BFI’s UK-wide delegate partner to distribute documentary funding across features, immersive, shorts and support talent development - an uplift of 20% from the previous three-year period.