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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.

“For years, Movies that Matter has been dedicated to creating an internationally renowned platform for films about society, human rights, and activism,” says Margje de Koning, Artistic Director. "This recognition by the Academy is a significant acknowledgement of the filmmakers who, often under difficult circumstances, manage to bring their stories to life.”

The Cinéma du réel Competition comprises up to twenty international and up to twenty French documentary films of all durations. The 47th edition of the Paris-based festival runs March 22-29 2025. Only films completed after 15 January, 2024 are eligible. International films must be French premieres. Online submission deadline: 15 November 2024.

As of 2025, the Polish Millennium Docs Against Gravity festival will be an Oscar® qualifying event. “This means that the Grand Prix – Bank Millennium Award winner will have a clear path to the Academy Awards,” the festival writes. The deadline for submissions for the 22nd MDAG is January 6. The festival will take place May 9-18 2025 in cinemas, and from May 20 to June 2 online at mdag.pl.

“Bringing together visionary filmmakers from over 20 African countries and the diaspora, from Morocco to Madagascar, Sierra Leone to Senegal, Film Africa is an unparalleled showcase of contemporary African cinema, highlighting the diverse narratives and innovative spirit thriving across the continent today,” write organisers. The festival runs 25 Oct - 3 Nov during Black History Month.

The 67th edition will present a total of 209 films and XR works from 55 countries. “The films bear witness to a diverse and complex world. Many of them point out alternatives to the status quo. They give hope. They do not deny the looming destruction of our natural resources; instead they are dedicated to examining what we want to preserve,” says festival director Christoph Terhechte.

The 12th DOXS RUHR Film Festival (Germany) and the DK4 Alliance is inviting film professionals to an October 28 Think Tank on documentaries for young audiences. “What kind of docs should we be making that not only engage young audiences but also provide them with a view of the world beyond their own?” organisers ask. “How can we better support the creation of documentaries for young people? What needs to change, and in which direction(s) can we evolve and collaborate?”

The programme offers more than three hundred films and includes a revealing retrospective of Swiss filmmaker Anne Marie Miéville and a showcase of award-winning Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang. The festival will be attended by director Kirsten Johnson, the author of this year's Ji.hlava festival trailer, and directors Roberto Minervini, Albert Serra and Andrei Ujică. The 28th IDFF Ji.hlava will take place on October 25 – Nov 3.

CPH:DOX, EAVE and IMS (International Media Support) announced October 9 participants within the CHANGE programme which seeks to “empower” documentary film projects from the European Eastern Partnership countries. For the 2024/2025 line-up, eight teams from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine will join the co-production training workshop series.

The 2024 jury for the International Competition Documentary Film consists of Maria Bonsanti, Sylvaine Dampierre, Eric Hynes, Avi Mograbi, and Akram Zaatari. The five jury members will present Golden Doves to both the Best Feature Documentary and the Best Short Documentary. Silver Doves will be awarded to the best feature-length documentary and the best short documentary by an up-and-coming director.