CENT’ANNI, directed by Maja Doroteja Prelog
Six documentaries-in-progress were garlanded during the July 13 award ceremony of Cannes Docs 2021. The top prize of €10,000 was awarded to Cent’anni by Maja Doroteja Prelog. In total 32 projects from eight partner organisations competed for the prizes.
“I’m extremely glad and proud that in the context of a somewhat atypical Cannes 2021 edition, we still managed to showcase 32 fantastic docs-in-progress from all parts of the world right here at Marché du film in Cannes and online, hopefully bringing a lot of attention to all of these projects who need the support, the attention and the push to help them towards completion and the best possible festival distribution career,” Pierre-Alexis Chevit, Head of Cannes Docs, told Business Doc Europe.
“Cannes Docs is all about supporting the documentary filmmakers and the documentary genre within the Cannes ecosystem, bringing the Cannes label to all of these projects and films and hopefully bringing them a lot of help, visibility and exposure, because they all deserve it so much.”
Awards in full, plus jury citations:
IEFTA Award (€10,000 cash prize and professional long term project follow-up by The International Emerging Film Talent Association)
CENT’ANNI, directed by Maja Doroteja Prelog, produced by Rok Biček (Cvinger Film, Slovenia), Alessandro Leone (Agresywna Banda, Poland), Massimo Casula (Zena film, Italy). Showcase CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator
Jury award: To a courageous step in an unknown journey that dives into a couple’s struggle through a fight for life and love, with a promising cinematic approach.
Think-Film Impact Award (strategic impact workshop & an impact pitching coaching session)
MUNNI, directed by Tahrima Khan, produced by Abu Shahed Emon (Batayan Productions, Bangladesh). Showcase South Asia
Jury award: To support the main character on her mission to make this world a better place and because as Munni says, ‘Girls are helpless in every place.’
DAE – Documentary Association of Europe Award (free membership and a rough cut consultation with one of its senior consultants)
GWETTO, directed by Michaël Andrianaly, produced by Michaël Andrianaly (IMASOA FILM, Madagascar). Showcase ParisDOC – Cinéma du réel
Jury award: For a powerful presentation of a strong and gifted author.
Alphapanda Award (two exclusive consultations on film marketing & social media)
THREE PROMISES, directed by Yousef Srouji, produced by Marielle Olentine & Zein Khleif (United States). Showcase Palestine
Jury award: For a personal take on a story that takes place in the past and remains very current.
Cineli Digital Award
OF DOGS AND GODS, directed by Laurent Van Lancker, produced by David Borgeaud (Roue Libre, Belgium). Showcase ParisDOC – Cinéma du réel
Jury award: For its outstanding cinematographic vision.
VOSTAO Award (French and/or English subtitles offered by VOSTAO, Paris)
MEETING POINT, directed by Roberto Baeza, produced by Paulina Costa (La Toma, Chile). Showcase Chile
Jury award: For a very emotional experience that affected us profoundly.
Each year, Cannes Docs partners with a number of festivals and organizations from all over the world to showcase curated selections of docs-in-progress in finalization stage, aiming to hit the circuit within a few weeks or months. These showcases of docs-in-progress are primarily designed for decision makers looking for fresh new titles, in particular festival programmers and sales agents. The projects are also generally in search of post-production funding or general gap financing, and sometimes still open to co-production opportunities.
The countries/partners participating in the 2021 Docs-in-Progress program included: Showcase CANADA, Telefilm Canada, partnered with The Montreal International Doc Fest, and in collaboration with Hot Docs; Showcase CHILE, organized by Chiledocs, and financed by ProChile and the Ministry of Culture, Arts & Heritage; Showcase CIRCLE, CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator; Showcase ITALY, Festival Dei Popoli & Torino Film Festival, Toscana Film Commission & Film Commission Torino Piemonte; Showcase PALESTINE, Palestine Film Institute; Showcase PARIS DOC; ParisDOC is the professional program of Cinéma du réel, The International Documentary Film Festival in Paris; Showcase SHEFFIELD, Sheffield DocFest; Showcase South Asia, International Film Initiative of Bangladesh.
