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On May 10, the 18th edition of Doclisboa finally drew to a close after a 7-month odyssey that presented over 200 films, meetings and debates. The Fernando Lopes Award for Best Portuguese First Film was handed to 42.ZE.66 by Eduardo Saraiva.

Director Großpietsch’s striking film may well be presented without words but nevertheless speaks volumes about the times we live in.

At the close of voting, Dear Future Children (Germany/UK/Austria) won the Hot Docs Audience Award, while the top short documentary was the Oscar-nominated A Concerto Is a Conversation. The Canadian Spirit to Soar was voted top mid-length film by festival attendees.

Sixteen projects from 13 countries selected from 502 submissions, including new offerings from Ben Rivers and Carolina Moscoso. “Benefiting from their geographical diversity and unique writing qualities, the selection mixes political, environmental, historical, musical, utopian and artistic motives…full of beauty and surprises,” says FIDLab director Fabienne Moris.

A warm-hearted and at times gently insightful delve into the life of Czech sex-worker Anny.

Running 10-16 May, the LUX Audience Week presents the films nominated for the 2021 LUX Audience Award. The presentation includes virtual screenings and a live Q&A with the makers of Collective (Alexander Nanau), Another Round (Thomas Vinterberg) and Corpus Christi (Jan Komasa). Voting closes May 23, ahead of June 9 presentation.

The 10th Antenna Documentary Film Festival, running 14–24 October 2021 in cinemas across Sydney, Australia, has increased its Best Feature Documentary cash prize to $10,000 AUD (approx €6,470) cash prize. The regular submissions deadline is 18 June, with a late deadline of 16 July.

Best International Feature Documentary Award given to Ostrov - Lost Island, Special Jury Prize -International Feature Documentary to School of Hope. Emerging International Filmmaker Award to Annabel Verbeke for Four Seasons in a Day.

Kicking off May 10, Göteborg Film Fund 2021 is a one-year project, financed by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a long-term goal to establish a permanent international film fund. The new initiative aims “to contribute to a diversified media landscape, with increased artistic freedom and free speech.” Doc and fiction submissions welcomed.

A deeply moving, compassionate and ultimately heart-warming doc which may be modest and straightforward in tone and structure, but will strike a deep chord with audiences.