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Three documentary projects are selected within this year’s Sarajevo Film Festival CineLink Work-in-Progress programme that showcases “the most compelling new features emerging from Southeast Europe and the MENA region.” New prizes include the HBO Award (€30 000 cash) and the Avanpost Media Award (€30 000 in kind). The 31st Sarajevo FF will be held 15 to 22 August 2025.

Sold internationally by CAT&Docs, the feature documentary She gives voice to some of the 80,000 workers in one of the largest electronic industrial plants based in Vietnam, where 80% of the basic workforce are women who work 12-hour shifts, day and night. All protagonists are connected by the exploitation they are subjected to every day. Italian distribution rights are held by AntropicA and PFA Films, while Les Films de l’oeuil sauvage will distribute the film in France.

Fantastique is a magic‑realistic documentary that follows 14‑year old contortionist Fanta in Guinea Conakry. Fanta juggles between the care for her ailing mother, school and what she loves the most; training as one of the only girls within an acrobatic group, with the hopes of joining their next big tour. Trying to bridge all expectations, Fanta starts to doubt what she really wants. The film is produced by Ellen De Waele and Mirna Everhard (Serendipity Films, Belgium), who are also handling sales.

The 5-day intensive documentary development workshop will take place 8–12 November 2025 at the Central European University Budapest Campus. Applications are sought from directors, editors and producers with first or second feature-length documentary projects. The Lab focuses on story development and editing, offering emerging European docmakers the opportunity to strengthen their projects with the guidance of experienced mentors. The deadline for applications is July 31.

The 2025 edition of Nordisk Panorama Forum and Market (18-23 September) will present 54 projects from 140 entries. “The selection includes notable filmmakers who make their return to Nordisk Panorama as well as new talent emerging on the Nordic scene," write organisers.

The programme includes 12 feature-length and 8 short documentary films. “More than half of the titles in this year's programme reflect the need to reconceptualize human relationships as a particularly necessary value,” says Sarajevo doc programmer Rada Šešić. “It is interesting that in most films in these gloomy times, or precisely because of this, the authors celebrate the power of love as the strongest driver of life, whether they are family or war stories.” he 31st Sarajevo FF runs August 15 to 22.

The Venice Film Festival unveiled July 22 the official line-up for its upcoming edition. Two Italian documentaries feature in Competition (incl Gianfranco Rosi’s Sotto le Nuvole), while 19 play Out of Competition. Nine docs are selected for Classics. This year, Alexander Payne will serve as the President of the Jury which also includes Stéphane Brizé, Maura Delpero, Cristian Mungiu, Mohammad Rasoulof, Fernanda Torres and Zhao Tao. The 82nd Venice FF takes place August 27 to September 6.

Submissions for the Oscar® qualifying Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (5-15 March 2026) are now open. The Festival has four competition sections: Feature Length International Competition, Newcomers International Competition, >>Film Forward International Competition and Immersive: All around cinema International Competition. Submission deadline: Nov 30. Early bird deadline: Sept 15.

The 8th edition of FIPADOC will be held in Biarritz from January 23 to 31 2026. Deadlines: September 26 for films eligible for non-competitive selection or for Francophone Panorama selection (already broadcasted on TV or released in cinemas). October 6 for new films eligible for Grand Prix competitions and other competitive selections.

Adel Ksiksi, Head of AJD Industry Days, posted a reassurance July 17 that this year's edition “is not cancelled” despite the recent closure of Al Jazeera Balkans and the AJB DOC Film Festival, both located in Sarajevo. “We will be in touch very soon with details of the new location and dates,” Ksiksi underlined in a statement to BDE. The 4th Industry Days event was due to run 13-15 September, while the  AJB DOC Film Festival was originally scheduled for 12-16 September.