Organised by the Institute of Documentary Film (Prague) and running March 6-17, East Doc Platform is the largest co-production, funding and distribution platform for Central and East European documentaries, every year connecting 120 East European filmmakers and more than 100 key decision makers – producers, broadcasters, distributors and festival programmers from around the world.
The East Doc Forum is the flagship pitching opportunity for the funding and co-production of projects in the development/early production stage.
The East Doc Market offers curated meetings between filmmakers and decision makers to pitch projects in development/production/post-production stage.
The East Doc Series is a brand new activity that targets the documentary series.
Within the EDP programme, one event is dedicated only to Czech documentary projects.
In Czech Docs… Coming Soon, upcoming feature documentaries from the Czech Republic will be introduced to an audience of the invited representatives of international film festivals, sales agents, distributors and to wider public.
Awards
The East Doc Platform Award: The Institute of Documentary Film will announce the main EDP prize – East Doc Platform Award that includes financial support of €7500 for the best project in development and production. The prize is intended help the filmmakers further develop their documentary film. The East Doc Platform Award jury is comprised of Asta Dalman (SVT – Sveriges Television AB), Luisa Schwamborn (NEW DOCS) and Jane Mote (Whicker’s World Foundation). The winner will be announced during the EDP closing ceremony on March 17, 2021.
The Golden Funnel is granted to one of the projects that took part in the year-long Ex Oriente Film workshop and underwent the most significant development. The winning project is awarded €1000, designed to aid further development and international promotion of their emerging documentary film. Jury members are Ex Oriente Film workshop lead tutors Mikael Opstrup, Iikka Vehkalahti, Filip Remunda and Ivana Pauerová Miloševičová.
Ex Oriente Fine Cut Award: the winning Ex Oriente Film project selected by the workshop lead tutors will receive consultations on their rough cut valued at €3000 Euros with renowned film editor.
The Cut thru the Noise Award will be given to the Ex Oriente Film participant team which makes the most progress over the course of the workshop in terms of first-package preparation. The winning team will receive tailor-made consultancy on the release, distribution and sales strategies. The project will be selected by Andrea Hock, Head of Sales of Autlook Filmsales, and Mirjam Wiekenkamp, Founder and Manager of International Projects at NOISE PR.
Czech TV Co-production Award: The award represents a financial investment of 150, 000 CZK (approx €5790) and a subsequent co-production deal. The jury consists of the Czech TV representatives: Markéta Štinglová, Manager of International Content Projects Center, Petr Morávek, Head of Production Department Documentary and Educational Programmes, and Věra Krincvajová, Chief Editor of Documentaries, Film Center.
Current Time TV Director’s Award: Current Time TV, a 24-hour Russian language television and digital news network aimed at audiences in Russia, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and around the world, produced by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in cooperation with the Voice of America (VOA) will award the director of “the most relevant and actual project for Current Time” with a cash prize of 3,000 USD. This award does not constitute any co-production or distribution deal and doesn’t bind the winning director to sell any rights for the film to Current Time TV in exchange for the award.
HBO Development Award: HBO Europe, the General Partner of the Institute of Documentary Film, will award the HBO Europe Development Award valued at €2000 to one of the projects. The award will be presented by Hanka Kastelicová, the Executive Producer of Documentaries HBO Europe. This award does not constitute any co-production or distribution deal and doesn’t bind the winning director/producer to sell any rights for the film to HBO in exchange for the award.
IDFA Spotlight Award: This special award shines the spotlight on talented filmmakers and promising documentary projects. Head of IDFA Industry Adriek van Nieuwenhuijzen, together with East Doc Platform guest juror Maëlle Guenegues (CAT&Docs), will award one winner with free travel and accommodation during IDFA 2021, alongside accreditation to the festival, its markets, and talent development activities.
Sunny Side of the Doc Prize: The 32nd edition of Sunny Side of the Doc (21 to 24 June) will provide industry support and two complimentary accreditations to the creative team behind one project presented in the framework of East Doc Forum 2021.
DOK Leipzig DOK Co-Pro Market Award and DOK Preview Award: The DOK Leipzig Co-Pro Market Award will be offer fast-forward participation for one project in the 17th DOK Co-Pro Market. The project will have the chance to present itself to around 80 decision makers in prescheduled individual meetings during October 2021. DOK Leipzig is looking also for one project for the DOK Preview presentation, highlighting the best late-stage projects from different training initiatives ready to hit the international market. Both prizes include participation fees and free festival accreditation for two representatives of each project. The award will be selected by Roland Löbner, DOK Film Market Coordinator.
DocsBarcelona Award: Offers selection for Speed Meetings at 2021 DocsBarcelona. The meetings will be arranged previously depending on financer and project preferences. The award enables the filmmakers to additionally present their project to international decision makers and thus soon follow up on and broaden the deals and co-operation initiated at East Doc Platform. The project will be selected by Mikael Opstrup.
DAE Pitch Talent Encouragement Prize: Given by the Documentary Association of Europe, the award consists of two free memberships for 12 months, valued at €100 each, and bespoke mentoring sessions with a DAE member, depending on the needs of the project team.
Pitch the Doc Award: A prize given to boost the progress of the credited project, providing it with dedicated curation and support in building international recognition. Consultation, valued at EUR 500, will be given by an expert associated with Pitch the Doc platform, and must take place within 6 months of the Award announcement. The Award will be presented by the platform founders, Katarzyna Szarecka and Adam Papliński.
