Interviews

Leading doc producer Heino Deckert (centre) discusses Mansky and Kossakovsky with Business Doc Europe, how to balance sales and production activity (not easy in a lockdown), and the current US fascination with European documentaries.

In Let My Body Speak Madonna Adib reflects on growing up in Damascus in a repressive and deeply patriarchal society in which the very idea of queerness seemed hardly to exist.

Water buffaloes in the Carpathians and a hero who wants to settle down - but on his own terms. Ukrainian producer Aliona Kachkan discusses her Docs For Sale selection As Far As Possible, about to complete post-production and ripe for a festival debut in 2021.

In 'Here we move, here we groove', director Sergej Kreso asks of Balkan Beats founder DJ Robert Soko, what next? The answer is creative and compassionate, and appropriate for our age.

Femke Wolting has revealed further details of her galactic plans. Co-founder of Amsterdam/LA-based film and transmedia outfit Submarine, she is one of the producers on Richard Linklater’s new project 'Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Adventure', described as a hybrid of live action in a fully animated world.

No, the Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI) won’t be holding their usual soirée during IDFA at which it plies festival guests with wee drams of whisky. Covid restrictions have meant that SDI representatives, like other international industry delegates, can’t be in Amsterdam in person.

Music doc Phil Lynott: Songs For While I'm Away premiered in the UK recently to considerable acclaim at Alexandra Palace as part of the Doc N Roll music documentary festival. However, the film’s theatrical life in the UK has been hampered by the COVID lockdown.

“In established power structures, there are many people who abuse their power willingly and for their own benefit, and also at least as many people who know about it and silently tolerate it.” Alison Kuhn talks to BDE about The Case You, her documentary response to a horrific experience.

Kids and Docs embraces young adults in 2020, explains co-ordinator Marije Veenstra to Business Doc Europe ahead of IDFA Junior Day at Amsterdam’s Eye. Plus there is a VR in competition for the first time, alongside 12 short and feature documentaries.

In 2020 the Poles have four docs in official selection, a bagful in Docs for Sale and a project in Forum. What’s more, Polish Docs will present four new projects at the online Industry Hub 20 November. The new projects are “very diverse and that it is their strength,” says company MD Barbara Orlicz-Szczypuła.