Balkan Watchers – Media Program for Documentary Films and Podcasts, a 3-module initiative of the Balkan Documentary Centre run in collaboration with One World Romania, has unveiled the slate of doc film projects and podcasts for its inaugural edition. The program kicks off in Bucharest (One World Romania, April 2024, project development), continues with an online session (pitch honing) and culminates at Sofia Documental in September 2024 where the projects will be pitched to professionals.
Aimed at journalists and filmmaker activists, the new initiative ‘Balkan Watchers – Media Program for Documentary Films and Podcasts,’ looks “to amplify the voices engaged in investigative and independent journalism, through documentaries and podcasts as alternative forms of critical reporting.”
“Balkan Watchers seeks to nurture the development of investigative and independent journalism on the Balkans, and in Central and Eastern Europe,” organisers continue. “By providing professional training and funding for investigative documentary and podcast projects, the initiative aims to support journalists in the creation of powerful work, which challenges the status quo and holds those in power accountable, work promoting transparency and democracy.”
Six of the projects (three documentaries and three podcasts) will be awarded with prizes. The program is supported by Creative Europe Media. Eligible countries are:
- EU: Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Croatia, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Cyprus and Malta
- Non-EU: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Comments Balkan Watchers director Martichka Bozhilova: “We were utterly honoured and amazed by the overwhelming number and quality of projects, submitted to the first edition of Balkan Watchers. In most applications it was beautiful to observe the originality and boldness of the ideas and the singular creative views of the authors, who tackle topics of great importance relevant beyond the borders of their own countries, to contemporary society as a whole.”
DOCUMENTARY FILM PROJECTS
- The Captain and the Caspian Sea Director: Turkan Huseyn. Producer: Emil Najafov, Turkan Huseyn. Production Company: Chinar Film. Country: Azerbaijan
- Survivors Directors: Nina Paschalidou & Maria Louka. Producer: Mina Dreki, Iro Aidoni. Production Company: Marni Films. Country: Greece
- A Trash Full of Gold Director: Silva Khnkanosian. Producer: Anahit Zakaryan (Armenia), Stephane Jourdain (France). Production Company: Picartix production company (Armenia). Country: Armenia, France
- The Forest Glade Director/Creator: Oksana Savoskina and Oleksiy Nikulin. Producer: Roman Negrienko. Production Company: hromadske.ua. Country: Ukraine
- Language X Director/Creator: Tanya Haurylchyk. Producer: Katerina Barushka. Production Company: Fundacja Skaryna. Country: Poland/Belarus/Germany
- Lost and Found – Between Worlds Director/Creator: Laurentiu Garofeanu. Producer: Laurentiu Garofeanu. Production Company: Mekanism Media. Country: Romania
- 80 Angry Journalists Director/Creator: András Földes, Co-director: Anna Kis. Producer: Loránd Balázs Imre. Production Company: filmDOUGH (Productions UG). Country: Hungary, Germany
- Not in the business of making friends Director/Creator: Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan. Producer: Elena Martin, Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan. Production Company: Manifest Film. Country: Romania
- Wave Director: Mariam Chachia. Producer: Mariam Chachia. Production Company: OpyoDoc. Country: Georgia
- Escape Director: Yevgenia Danilenko. Country: Ukraine
PODCASTS
- Shadows in the Sunset: Unveiling Human Rights and Corruption in Western Balkans Director/Creator: Teodora Cvetkovska. Producer: Demijan Hadji – Angelkovski. Production Company: Anekta. Country: North Macedonia
- Untitled Director/Creator: Marta Kasztelan. Country: Poland
- Alex’s Job Director/Host/Producer: Alex Lungu. Country: Romania
- Press-unbound Director/Creator: Marius Daea. Production Company: Asociatia Eurolife. Country: Romania
- War: ON and OFF the air Director/Creator: Irina Nedeva. Country: Bulgaria
- Beta Europeans Director/Creator: Daniel Nenchev. Country: Bulgaria
- Equal Voices Director/Creator: Agnesa Qorri. Producer: Agnesa Qorri. Production Company: Maesta Film. Country: Kosovo
- Taxi Taxi Director/Creator: Vladic Ravich. Producer: Sophie Chkheidze. Production Company: NA. Country: Georgia
- Ukrainian Insights: Beyond Disinformation Director/Creator: Valentyn Balahura. Producer: Yuriy Honcharenko. Production Company: Foundation for Democracy Assistance. Country: Ukraine
