ICFR calls for ‘immediate and unconditional” release of Iranian Mohamad Rasoulof and Mostafa Al-Ahmad
The filmmakers were arrested following an appeal they posted on social media speaking out against the disproportionate repression of civil protestors. “The arrest…is just another example of how the corrupt nation and municipal authorities twist what is a simple act of protest into an endangerment of public order charge,” says Mike Downey, European Film Academy Chairman and co-founder of International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk, Mike Downey.
BFI Doc Society Feature Fund now open for applications
“This Fund aims to champion a breadth of bold and distinctive filmmaking across the UK with a particular focus on backing independent documentary filmmaking with bold cultural and creative ambitions,” say Fund personnel. Deadline for submissions: September 16.
AJB DOC deadline extension
Al Jazeera Documentary and AJB DOC Film Festival are extending until July 15 the deadline for submission of projects for ‘Al Jazeera Documentary Industry Days @ AJB DOC’ that will take place in Sarajevo 9-13 September 2022. The event will provide docmakers from the SEE, Caucasus, and MENA region an opportunity to network with decision-makers and leading professionals from both regional and international film and TV industries.
Göteborg Film Festival appoints Josef Kullengård as Head of Industry
With a broad background in film festivals and industry forums, Kullengård joined Göteborg Film Festival 2017 as the Industry Producer for Nordic Film Market and worked with the development of the industry programmes up until 2021. Since 2019 he has also been part of the editorial team for the festival’s annual Nostradamus report.
26th Ji.hlava IDFF unveils new poster; will world premiere new Švankmajer film, plus deadlines
The Czech doc festival reveals Juraj Horváth’s visual identity for the 26th edition of the docfest, running Oct 25-30. The deadline for submissions for films underlined as July 31. Deadline of August 22 for Ji.hlava New Visions Forum & Market 2022. The 2-hour director cut of legendary surrealist Jan Švankmajer’s Kunstkamera to world premiere at the fest.
Sheffield DocFest 2022: And the winners are…
Best Film Award in International Competition to Sansón and Me (Mexico/US) by Rodrigo Reyes. Best First Feature Award went to Master of Light (US) by Rosa Ruth Boesten. Best Short Film Award was awarded to Fawley by Chu-Li Shewring and Adam Gutch (UK). Audience Award for Film went to A Bunch of Amateurs by Kim Hopkins, and for Alternate Realities to Santa Barbara by by Diana Markosian. All awards…
IDF to host Facebook debate June 29 on Industry response to war in Ukraine
Titled ‘Decolonization of Old Ideological Constructs and Film Industry,’ the debate, organised in co-operation with Docudays UA is part of Institute of Documentary Film’s Industry Sessions series, will feature Daria Badior, Kumjana Novakova, Volia Chajkouskaya and Srdjan Keča. The event will be moderated by Dîna Iordanova. Facebook, June 29 at 18.00 CET.
Sales outfit Lightdox acquires world rights for musical Dublin doc North Circular
Luke McManus’ “musical ode to contemporary Dublin” is having its international premiere at Sheffield DocFest. “North Circular is a film that shines such depth and complexity on bigger subjects like gentrification, community and history through touching personal stories, creating a love letter to this iconic place which has a turbulent history as well as present,” says Lightdox founder Anna Berthollet.
Sheffield Industry: Future docs from Ukraine
During Sheffield DocFest Industry three works-in-progress (to be pitched June 28) and five new projects from Ukraine are presented to buyers, financiers, sales reps and festivals working within the international doc sector. These new projects complement the 14 works selected across the festival’s Film and Alternative Realities programmes. The Ukraine presence at Sheffield is arranged in association with Docudays UA, whose Head of Industry, Darya Bassel, talks to BDE.
From Nepal to Sheffield
Five female Nepali filmmakers are attending DocFest looking for financial partners on their projects, as well as to investigate networking opportunities. They are in Sheffield as part of the #Docs Connect Taskovski training program supported by British Council’s Gender Film Programme. “This collaboration with the British Council Nepal is a further step towards building a stronger documentary filmmaking base in Nepal,” comments Taskovski Films founder, Irena Taskovski.





















