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End of the Present by Andrea Bussmann, and Hôtel Homère by Parastoo Anoushahpour, Faraz Anoushahpour and Ryan Ferko, have been selected for Jordà Residencies following the 2026 call for proposals. Both projects are “intertwined in their focus on memory and technological mediation,” the festival underlines. Organised by Museo Reina Sofía, Doclisboa and FIDMarseille, the residency is structured across three phases - in Madrid, Marseille and Lisbon.

Produced by Rodrigo Areias of Bando à Parte. André Guiomar’s feature project tells the extraordinary story of Mozambican Alex who, at the age of 4, escaped civil war in his country after his adoption by Chinese foster parents. Years later, as a Kung Fu master who trained at the Shaolin Temple, he returns to fight corruption, training the Special Forces. “It’s the Kung Fu mentality prevailing over the local culture, and martial arts and values transforming an unprepared police force into a high performance one,” Areias explains to BDE his fascination for the project.

Hugo Pedro’s deliciously-titled feature project portrays a “constellation” of young friends who refuse to kowtow to the world they live in. “By portraying this intimate space shared among a group of friends, we have this unfiltered and unique look into the lives of a non-conformed youth,” says production co-ordinator Vasco Esteves. “Hoping for a more humane world, their daily experiences are fuelled by the desire to conceive a parallel world, a refuge, a community, where they can play, feel happy and be free.”

Aleksandra (Ola) Staszel is set to take over from Christoph Terhechte who will leave the festival on January 31 2026. The pair will work together through January 2026 in order to ensure a smooth transition. “In Ola Staszel, the city of Leipzig will gain a general manager for DOK who brings with her a broad artistic vision as well as considerable experience in the documentary film industry and a thoughtful approach to it,” says Dr Skadi Jennicke, Leipzig’s Mayor for Arts and Culture, and Chair of the festival’s supervisory board.

Industry luminaries will determine winners across the Opus Bonum, First Lights, Testimonies, Czech Joy, Fascinations, Virtual Reality and Industry sections. The 29th Ji.hlava IDFF opens Friday October 24 with Virtual Girlfriends by Czech director Barbora Chalupová. The festival runs through to November 2.

Representatives of Film Fund Luxembourg, Flanders Image, SEE NL and Wallonie Bruxelles Images are in Lisbon to attend Nebulae, the Doclisboa Industry Space, in order to boost collaboration with the Portuguese and wider doc industries. The program sees the presentation of 11 projects in development and works-in-progress from the Benelux, a Jumpgate session designed to foster wider cross-border collaboration, and two core Industry round tables.

“The Industry section at Doclisboa is a space for fostering both creative and production-based collaborations. It is also a space for the kind of cinema that the festival believes in — one that values artistic integrity, reflection, and community,” Marina Thomé, the festival’s Director of Industry and Development, underlines to Business Doc Europe as doors opened on the 2025 edition of the Portuguese docfest.

The selection includes 15 titles in Opus Bonum International Competition, and 11 titles in First Lights competition for debut films. The Czech Joy comp section presents 18 new Czech docs. In total, 305 films are selected for this year's Ji.hlava IDFF, which include 76 world, 28 international, and 15 European premieres. The festival opens Oct 24 with Virtual Girlfriends by Czech director Barbora Chalupová. “Documentary cinema has long been the most dynamic and inspiring area of filmmaking,” confirms Ji.hlava IDFF director Marek Hovorka. The festival runs Oct 24 to Nov 2.

Doc veteran Irena Taskovski will present the first part of her 3-module program, which seeks to “redefine success in film through wellbeing and conscious leadership,” October 16 to 20 during the Sitges FF. Further sessions will be held next year in Amsterdam during Movies That Matter (March) and at Sunny Side of the Doc (June). “We are creating a space where creativity and wellbeing are not in conflict - but fuel each other,” says Taskovski. “This is how we build lasting filmmaking sustainable carries and success.”

Selections were unveiled October 14 for the main International and Envision competition sections of the upcoming IDFA, running November 13 to 23. The festival also announced selections for the entire IDFA DocLab program, as well as the Luminous and Frontlight sections, and the nominations for all cross-section awards. The festival will open Nov 13 with a selection of short films: As I Lay Dying by Mohammadreza Farzad & Pegah Ahangarani; Intersecting Memory by Shayma' Awawdeh, and happiness by Firat Yücel.