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At MIA 2024, Business Doc Europe caught up with Andrea Cini, writer of The First Time, a feature doc chronicling Napoli FC's epic journey from underdog to footballing powerhouse, made possible by the arrival of Diego Armando Maradona in 1984. The project is pitched in the event’s Italians Doc It Better showcase.

At MIA 2024, BDE talked to Alessandra Cataleta, director of the Italian documentary Pulling My Own Strings, pitched in the Italians Doc It Better section of the Rome gathering. The feature in development, produced by Atomic, centres on the turbulent life of puppeteer Anna Cuticchio and is based on a treatment shortlisted for the prestigious Solinas Award for Theatrical Documentary in 2021.

Three weeks after its liberation from Russian forces, respected Italian war journalist Francesca Mannocchi navigates the devastated streets of Bucha, a city symbolic of the horrors of war. “The documentary reflects on suffering, resilience, and the power of storytelling, placing humanity at the centre of the ruins of conflict,” reveals the Ukrainian Whispers team.

IDFA Artistic Director Orwa Nyrabia announced October 15 the 13 films in International Competition this year at the Amsterdam-based docfest, one of which, About a Hero by Piotr Winiewicz, will open the festival on November 14. Nyrabia also announced the selections in its Envision, Luminous, Frontlight, and IDFA DocLab sections. “The diversity of artistic tendencies is staggering. The program introduces some of the most beautiful works of recent years, including a few instant classics,” he said. “It is a program that defends documentary cinema better than ever before.”

Impact came to Berlin October 15 with the Good Media Pitch during which activist docmakers met non-profit organizations, foundations, civil society organisations, research institutes, policymakers, brands, and media representatives to address “today’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.” Six Impact campaigns were pitched on projects a diverse series of subjects. Each project was either completed or in late post-production.

The Paris-based producer/distributor took to the stage at the 10th MIA to discuss contemporary non-fiction storytelling and ZED’s rich slate of projects, as well as the business of doc. “By producing films, you don’t make a lot of money, but by distributing them, you can. Working on both production and distribution allowed me to balance my cash flow and made my business sustainable. That’s why I’m here today,” Catteau told Head of Doc & Factual,

“There are events in the history of Italy that mark a before and after. Because they shape History. And, because of them, the world will never be the same,” reads the beginning of the MIA project synopsis of Seveso – The Italian Chernobyl. At MIA 2024, Business Doc Europe caught up with the Fandango team to unpack the 4x50-minute documentary series about the notorious 1976 Seveso disaster, an industrial accident that occurred in a small chemical manufacturing plant.

The Greek-Italian co-pro The Discreet Charm of Forgery by Dimitris Gotsis is a 5x30-minute investigative documentary series delving into the complex world of art forgery, where the lines between authenticity and deception blur. Ioanna Davi, from Chania-based firm Indigo View, is producing the project with Claudio Esposito, of Rome and Bari-based outfit The Piranesi Experience. Davi talks deception with BDE.

At MIA 2024, Business Doc Europe caught up with Vincenzo Filippo of Lupin Films, one of the producers involved in the making of Reborn – Perfect Love, helmed by Giovanni Conte and Francesco Pascucci, currently in development. The project concerns ‘reborn’ dolls that closely resemble children. “They exist for one purpose: to allow the women who cradle them to fill a void that work, a husband, or [their own] children cannot fill.”

In addition to the already announced Opus Bonum & First Lights International Competitions, the Testimonies will offer “the most daring documentaries from the fields of politics, nature and knowledge.” Czech Joy features the national competition and Fascinations and exprmntl.cz focus on experimental films. Meanwhile, Constellations will present the best docs form leading world festivals this year. The Czech film fest runs October 25 to November 3.