News

Four documentaries to be screened across London cinemas, theatres and exhibition spaces following Ireland’s national Saints’ Days festivities. The event will focus on “celebrating the strength and diversity of Irish cinema,” festival organisers write. Doc selections include Luke McManus’ North Circular and Andrew Gallimore’s One Night in Millstreet. The festival runs March 21-28.

The Pamplona-based docfest runs 11 to 16 March. 80 films to be shown across 65 programmed sessions, including Q&As with filmmakers, workshops, musical activities and family film sessions. “For six days, film-lovers from the city and surrounding area will rub shoulders with documentary filmmakers and professionals, alongside film students from all over Spain,” write organisers.

The 28th Baltic Sea Forum for Documentaries (Baltic Sea Docs), which describes itself as “the most important documentary co-financing pitching event in the Baltic countries,” will take place 1-8 September 2024 (Industry dates: 1-6 September) in Riga, Latvia. The call for projects across all sections is now open and will close May 10. The selection results will be announced by 7 June.

Sold by France-based agency Stranger Film Sales, the Balkans-based story of profound gender transformation represents a “powerful depiction of patriarchal dominance,” say filmmakers Kristine Nrecaj and Birthe Templin. The film, which was pitched as a work-in-progress during DOK Leipzig, world premieres March 8 - International Women’s Day - in Thessaloniki’s Open Horizon’s section.

Ahead of the 26th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, Business Doc Europe chatted to Angeliki Vergou, Head of Agora. Agora is the gathering’s “developmental branch” unfolding both on site and virtually. The Greek industry event focuses on showcasing stories and filmmakers from the neighbouring region through a series of dedicated initiatives such as the Pitching Forum and the Docs in Progress section.

The traditional presentation of highlights from the previous year’s Ji.hlava IDFF selection will commence March 5 with a screening (plus Q&A) of The World According to My Dad by Marta Kovářová in the European Parliament in Brussels. More screenings and Q&As are planned through to March 7 both in Brussels and Ghent. Further Echoes of 27th Ji.hlava IDFF presentations are planned over the following months for Romania, New York, Poland, Serbia and Slovakia.

DocSoc announces professional development opps for the 6-month producer programme RISE, and for the Producing Truths programme aimed at mid-career producers outside of London. The organisation also invites applications from disabled UK docmakers, producers and editors to participate in a virtual delegation to IDA’s Getting Real 24 conference (15 - 18 April). Additionally, details of TikTok MicroDoc Challenge announced, plus Made of Truth BFI Doc Society Short Film Fund now open.

Al Jazeera Documentary (AJD) Industry Days has announced the call for projects for its third edition that will take place from 14-16 September 2024. Entries are open from March 4 to the deadline day of May 31. AJD Industry Days runs in parallel with the Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival (AJB DOC) which is organized for 13 to 17 September 2024 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The ‘Balkan Watchers – Media Program for Documentary Films and Podcasts’ aims to amplify the voices engaged in investigative and independent journalism through documentaries and podcasts as alternative forms of critical reporting. Aimed at journalists and filmmaker activists, 10 film and 10 podcast projects will be selected, with 3 of each to receive financial support (€25,000 per film, €5000 per podcast). Submission deadline extended to March 8.

The documentary, directed by Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó and which premiered at Sundance 2024, examines the Gross National Happiness index in Bhutan as well as the personal happiness of one of the people measuring it. Sales on Agent of Happiness are handled by Cinephil. DocsBarcelona runs May 2 to 12. DocsBarcelona Industry will run May 6 to 10.