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DOK Co-Pro Market has put out its final call for author-driven documentary, animated doc and – as of 2026 – feature animation projects. “The animated fiction projects will focus on artistic feature-length films with theatrical potential, alongside series suited for platforms and broadcasters – all targeting adult audiences, a rising segment in the animation industry,” write organisers. The call for applications closes July 1.

Sheffield Industry’s biggest prize, The Whickers Pitch, Film & TV Funding Award 2026, which includes a pot of £120,000, went to Children of Honey directed by Jigar Ganatra and Emanuel Musa Marco. The Whickers Development Prize of £25,000 went to Welcome to Our Bathhouse directed by Tommaso Barbetta. All prizes…

Ultimate Thunder was unveiled June 15 as winner of Sheffield DocFest’s Audience Award. The other award winners were announced June 14 at a ceremony held at Sheffield’s Crucible Playhouse. Thirty-seven films competed this year across the five prestigious competition categories at Sheffield DocFest, the UK’s leading documentary festival. The top prize in International Competition went to Filthy (Sucia – Per què no vas fer res?) by Bàrbara Mestanza and Marc Pujolar. All winners…

Guardian Documentaries and arte.tv have joined forces to support filmmakers making documentary shorts, exploring the theme of Democracy at Stake in Europe. Announced at Sheffield DocFest, the initiative opened for submissions 11 June 2026 and invites filmmakers from across Europe to pitch character-led short documentaries examining the challenges facing democratic societies today.

Film Harbour has picked up Kristof Bilsen’s new feature doc The Apologist which has its world premiere in International Competition at Sheffield DocFest June 11. The film is produced by Belgian-based Limerick Films, and co-produced with Tangerine Tree (NL), Warboys Films (FR) and Wrong Men (BE). “It’s wonderful to have a sales agent of the calibre of Film Harbour work with us and it feels like a testament to the six years which this multi-layered project to unpick the nuances and challenges of apologising which is so important today,” says director Bilsen.

Netflix announced June 10 the five filmmaking teams, selected from thousands of applications, that will receive funding and professional support during the fourth year of the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund. The filmmakers were selected by a jury of industry experts (pictured above) after pitching their idea for a short documentary films inspired by the prompt, “On the theme of change.”

Chilean Oscar®-nominated director Maite Alberdi will give a June 12 Art of Storytelling masterclass, as well as present her latest documentary A Child of My Own at the 33rd Sheffield DocFest. Chile will furthermore be represented in MeetMarket with three projects: The Weight of Snow (rough cut), directed by Matías Bolla; Inside the Biggest Case on Earth, directed by Renan Flumian, and Isabel Allende: The Documentary, directed by River Finlay. Chiledoc will also host a co-production gathering June 11, with aim of fostering new international collaborations within the doc sector.

DOK Leipzig is seeking XR projects from immersive creators from around the world, and at all stages of development, for its DOK Exchange XR industry program, a 2-day conference and showcase offering an in-depth exploration of XR creation. The application deadline is 1 July, after which applications will be evaluated by an international jury. The 69th edition of DOK Leipzig runs 26 October to 1 November 2026.

On June 5, the Industry awards of Krakow Film Festival were handed out. A total of 23 awards and honourable mentions were presented: seventeen for documentary projects and four for animated projects. The documentary prizes were awarded to projects in the DOCS TO START and DOCS TO GO section. Two honourable mentions went to participants in the Animated in Poland Talent Market.

The Golden Horn for Best Film went to Tristan Forever (Switzerland), while the Silver Horn for the film with high artistic value was won by Silent Flood (Ukraine, Germany). The Silver Horn for the film on social issues went to If Pigeons Turned to Gold (Czech Republic, Slovakia). The FIPRESCI Prize went to The Tale of Sylian. The Golden Hobby Horse (Polish Competition) was won by Tickling the Devil, which also won the Audience Award, together with Where Music Grows by Katrine Philp. All winners…