CIRCLE Doc Accelerator has unveiled the ten projects chosen for its upcoming edition. The three-module CIRCLE program provides women and gender-expansive filmmakers a space to “nurture their projects, elevate their careers, and navigate existing film power structures.” The programme kicked off June 22 in Edipsos, Greece, and will continue through Portorož, Slovenia (October 2026, in partnership with the Slovenian Film Centre) and Trieste, Italy (January 2027) in partnership with When East Meets West.
The selection process was headed by CIRCLE’s programme director Biljana Tutorov and CIRCLE’s Co-Head of Studies Brigid O’Shea with the support of a selection committee consisting of writer and producer Suzy Gillet, film scholar Jelena Mišeljić, and two CIRCLE alumni: director and producer Koval Bhatia and director and producer Zipporah Nyaruri.
This edition’s selected projects are House No. 7, by Rama Abdy (Syria), documenting the life of women who turn a crumbling house in Damascus into a sanctuary; Who We Are by Sophie Ataya (Germany), a personal political documentary film tracing an East German-Palestinian family history and a journey of reclaiming a silenced identity; Sanctuary, written and produced by Sara Geurtsen (Germany), following inspiring immigrant rights organizers in the U.S. who counter state violence with vigilance and collective care; and The Inner Whale In My Ear by Ida Grøn (Denmark), a poetic feature documentary exploring the role of hearing in our connection to others and to ourselves.
The Myth of Monsters by Beatrice Leong (Malaysia), documents her return to her mother to face their silence after being institutionalized as a young woman and diagnosed with autism too late. The Digs by Diana-Elena Munteanu (Romania), follows an archaeologist on a search for unmarked graves of political prisoners buried during Romania’s communist regime; while Chasing Horses by Maja Prettner (Slovenia), portrays a brave woman rescuing wounded and retired horses, returning them to freedom on a harsh karst landscape. In A Journey to the Universe, Piano Primrin (Thailand) enters a poisoned neighbourhood to expose toxic waste dumping, only to discover its traces within her own life years later. In Call Me from the Frontline by Marta Smerechynska (Ukraine), the director keeps in touch with her friends volunteering for the Ukrainian army as war gradually transforms their lives and friendships, while in Song to an Emerald Sky by Dea Tcholokava (Georgia), the director’s grief for her mother intertwines with the grief for her homeland, a place where she can no longer remain.
This year’s mentors include director, producer and scriptwriter Diana El Jeiroudi, director Salomé Jashi (Taming the Garden), director Gianluca Matarrese (GEN_), and producer and documentary consultant Lucila Moctezuma.
Biljana Tutorov, founder of CIRCLE, comments: “We are overjoyed to kick-start yet another CIRCLE Doc Accelerator with a new cohort of talented filmmakers from across Europe and around the world. When selecting participants, we are very sensitive to how each other’s projects and experiences echo and support one another. This spirit of solidarity and collaboration makes CIRCLE so special and is something we are nurturing with special care among our community.”
Brigid O’Shea, mentor at CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator, adds: “I cannot wait to get to know our 10 participants at our first upcoming residential workshop. While each comes with their film project, and the challenges and creative work it takes to complete a film, CIRCLE’s unique focus on self-empowerment and personal development is achieved through the deep bonds we forge with our filmmakers, mentors and all involved in the workshop. The first step is always in the getting-to-know-you process. Moreso, this year each of the projects are very personal, intimate and honest works it promises to be a year of surprises and courage.”
Among CIRCLE’s alumni are Something Familiar by Rachel Taparjan (Chicken & Egg Award – Cannes Docs 2025, World premiere at CPH:DOX 2026), White Lies by Alba Zari (IFFR 2026, Thessaloniki FF, Trieste FF – Direzione Donna Award), Truck Mamma by Zipporah Nyaruri (IDFA 2025, HotDocs 2026), River Dreams by Kristina Mikhailova (Berlinale Forum 2026 – Ecumenical Jury Award), Becoming Ema by Patricia Drati(CPH:DOX 2026), In Between, A Place by Faezeh Nikozaad (Visions du Réel 2026), Ever Since I Knew Myself by Maka Gogaladze (support from IDFA Bertha Fund, World premiere at Vision du Reél 2024), XiXi by Fan Wu (world premiere at Hot Docs 2024, International Competition, receiving the Emerging International Filmmaker Award), Twice Colonized by Lin Alluna (world premiere at Sundance 2023, opening film HotDocs and CPH:DOX 2023, Sheffield Docs 2023), and La Singla by Paloma Zapata (Opening film Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival 2023, Audience Award and jury special mention at Docs Barcelona 2023).
SELECTED PROJECTS CIRCLE DOC ACCELERATOR 2026/2027
- Rama Abdy / director (Syria). Project: House No. 7. Producer: Hazar Yazji. Country of Production: Syria , Qatar
- Sophie Ataya / director (Germany). Project: Who We Are. Production company: SEERA FILMS. Producers: Thomas Kaske / Marion Schmidt. Country of Production: Germany
- Sara Geurtsen / producer and writer (Germany). Project: Sanctuary. Director: Areeb Zuaiter. Country of Production: United States
- Ida Grøn / director (Denmark). Project: The Inner Whale In My Ear. Production company: Purple Pictures aps. Producer: Cecilie Bolvinkel. Country of Production: Denmark
- Beatrice Leong / director and producer (Malaysia). Project: The Myth of Monsters. Production company: Gather Together. Country of Production: Malaysia
- Diana-Elena Munteanu / director (Romania). Project: The Digs. Production company: Remora Films.Producer: Ana Maria Vijdea. Co-Producer: Margaux Juvenal (Take Shelter). Country of Production: Romania, France
- Maja Prettner / director (Slovenia). Project: Chasing Horses. Producer: Maja Prettner. Country of Production: Slovenia
- Piano Primrin / director and writer (Thailand). Project: A Journey to the Universe. Production company: Pop Pictures. Producer: Jeanne Sombatwattana. Country of Production: Thailand
- Marta Smerechynska / director (Ukraine). Project: Call Me from the Frontline. Producer Ukraine: Krystyna Petrenko (Cinema Bozen). Producer France: Matthieu Belghiti (What’s Up Films). Countries of Production: Ukraine, France
- Dea Tcholokava / director (Georgia). Project: Song to an Emerald Sky. Producer Georgia: Ketevan Kipiani (Sakdoc Films). Producers Germany: Felipa Goltz, Maxime Pillip. Co-Producer Germany: Gregor Streiber (Inselfilm). Country of Production: Georgia, Germany
