News

Leading pitch forum revealed May 18 the official selection for its 32nd edition, plus the XR experiences shortlisted for the 5th PiXii Festival. “It’s sending out a strong message by shining the spotlight on diversity, independent voices and creativity at the international marketplace for documentary and narrative experiences!” say organisers.

The feature doc will go live in UK cinemas in Summer 2021 following world prem at Tribeca. “Her brand of feminism was about sexual freedom, and she wrote about female desire in a way that was brave, bold and ahead of its time,” says director Laura Fairrie of the celebrated UK novelist.

Of the 36 films to be screened in the Feature Length Int’l Competition, Newcomers Int’l Competition and the >>Film Forward Int’l Competition, thirteen are world, nine are international and six are European Premieres. The Golden Alexander award in Feature-Length International Competition comes with a €15,000 cash prize.

The VIKTOR awards in the DOK.international, DOK.deutsch and DOK.horizonte sections were awarded May 16. DOK.international award to Helena Třeštíková for Anny. DOK.deutsch prize to Zuhur’s Daughters by Laurentia Henske and Robin Humboldt. DOK.horizonte award handed to Things We Dare Not Do by Bruno Santamaría. All awards, plus Industry.

Festival programme includes 55 world premieres in Sheffield and UK cinemas, and online. “We are very proud to present a programme that brings together a multitude of forms, landscapes and visions, with a myriad of incredible talent to whom we deeply thank for their trust,” says Fest Director Cíntia Gil.

25th edition of the Riga-based doc training and pitch event for the Baltic countries is scheduled to take place in hybrid form 1-12 September 2021, with the industry events held mostly online. The call for projects is open now and will close 11 June.

A free-flowing cerebral essay attempting to combine the deeply philosophical with the gently amusing, and whose playful quality keeps it ticking over in breezy fashion.

An up-close examination of the final days of an elderly woman in a Chinese hospital, The Ark is never an easy watch but ultimately a very involving and necessary one.

Launching 14 May, The Clintons Green Shoots Environmental Award aims to support talented filmmakers and invites them to submit ideas for feature length documentaries that explore issues, solutions and innovations relating to the environment.

Zuhur’s Daughters is a compassionate and non-judgmental film that chronicles four deeply complex and life-changing years in the lives of siblings Lohan and Samar, two young transgender women who fled Syria with their family of fourteen and are now embarking on a very different – and much freer – life in Germany.