Documentary is in the ascendant at the upcoming CONNEXT as a plethora of new Flemish works (pitches, works in progress and completed works) are presented to the Belgian and international professionals in attendance. CONNEXT runs 9-10 October in Antwerp, Belgium. The online catch-up platform will remain open for business until 23 October. The showcase is organised by Flanders Image, a division of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF),
This year’s CONNEXT will see the return of the two awards that were presented in pre-COVID years: the CONNEXT Perfect Pitch and the CONNEXT Work In Progress awards. Both prizes consist of a post-production package offered by Flow Post-Production and an online ad package offered by Screen International, as well as 30 hours of intensive coaching by strategic publicist Kathleen McInnis. In the past few months, McInnis has already coached many of the teams that will pitch projects or present work in progress at this year’s CONNEXT. She will also present the teams during the sessions.
Additionally, Oscar nominee and Cannes laureate Lukas Dhont will curate the inaugural The Future Five programme (media partner Screen International) during which five emerging filmmaking talents are introduced to the national and international professionals.
CONNEXT will close with a conference session on the final afternoon, during which Hannah Walsh, research manager at the media data, research and analytics firm Ampère Analysis, will present a study on the end of ‘Peak TV’ and what this means for smaller territories going forward, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Julia Fidel.
No fewer than 16 completed documentaries will be presented at CONNEXT 2023, many of which were presented as new projects and works in progress at past editions. These include Aldine Reinink’s Life Will Give You Pictures; Slave Island by Jimmy Hendrickx and Jeremy Kewuan, and Peter Woditsch’s Engel’s Dream. One of the completed doc series is the much-heralded Draw for Change, sold by Autlook, which was awarded Best Documentary Series at Canneséries earlier this year.
Documentary Feature Pitches
- Fantastique, written and directed by Marjolijn Prins (prod. Serendipity Films)
- Porto Central, written and directed by Daniel Lambo (prod. Storyhouse)
Documentary Series Pitch
- In The Dark, The Mysterious Case of the Belgian Triangle, written by Bram Conjaerts, directed by Bram Conjaerts and Maarten Bernaerts (prod. Diplodokus)
Documentary Work in Progress Feature Pitches
- 2m2, written and directed by Volkan Üce (prod. Menuetto)
- The Last Jewish Summer, written and directed by Thom Vander Beken (prod. Quetzalcoatl)
- Last Letters from my Grandma, written and directed by Olga Lucovnicova (prod. While We’re Here)
Documentary Work in Progress Series Pitches
- She They Us – Towards an Equal Future, written by Heleen Declercq, Tim De Keersmaecker, Emmy Oost, Lieven Corthouts, Sam Peeters, Ischa Clissen and Zaïde Bil, directed by Zaïde Bil, Ischa Clissen, Heleen Declercq and Sam Peeters (prod. Cassette for timescapes, sales First Hand Films)
- The Vatican, written by Rik Torfs and Jo Badisco, directed by Kat Steppe (prod. Panenka)
Screening/Completed: Documentary Features
- Ana + yek, written by Zohra Benhammou and Romy Mana, directed by Zohra Benhammou (prod. Mirage)
- Apple Cider Vinegar, written and directed by Sofie Benoot (prod. Inti Films)
- Beast!, written by Joost Laperre and Jillis Schriel (prod. Lionheart Productions)
- Bye Mom!, written and directed by Ellen Pollard and Marie De Hert (prod. Borgerhoff & Lamberigts Tv)
- Engel’s Dream, written and directed by Peter Woditsch (prod. Sophimages)
- Forbidden Pilgrimage, written and directed by Ellen Vermeulen (prod. Inti Films)
- A Hiphop Minute, written and directed by Pascal Garnier (prod. Animal Tank, sales Reservoir Docs)
- How Do You Spell Home, written by Louisiana Mees and Wederik De Backer, directed by Louisiana Mees (prod. Diplodokus)
- Jan Hoet – The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, written and directed by Luc Vrydaghs (prod. Menuetto)
- The Jacket, written and directed by Mathijs Poppe (prod. Mirage)
- Kamay, written and directed by Ilyas Yourish and Shahrokh Bikaran (prod. Clin d’oeil films)
- Life Will Give You Pictures, written by Aldine Reinink and Bart Maes, directed by Aldine Reinink (prod. Zonderling)
- Paradigma, directed by Jozef Devillé and Pablo Eekman (prod. Las Belgas)
- Slave Island, written by Jimmy Hendrickx, Jeremy Kewuan, Kristian Van der Heyden and Terje Toomistu, directed by Jimmy Hendrickx and Jeremy Kewuan (prod. Harald House, sales Film Option)
- This Is My Moment, written and directed by Lieven Corthouts (prod. Cassette for timescapes)
- Yalla, Baba!, written and directed by Angie Obeid (prod. Savage Film)
Screening/Completed: Documentary Series
- DNA, written by Maarten Stuyck, directed by Lennart Stuyck and Maarten Stuyck (prod. Diplodokus)
- Draw for Change!, written by Guillaume Vandenberghe, Vincent Coen, Alisar Hasan, Nada Riyadh, Anna Moiseenko, Sama Pana, Karen Vázquez Guadarrama, Laura Nix and Alaa Amer, directed by Alaa Amer, Alisar Hasan, Nada Riyadh, Anna Moiseenko, Sama Pana, Karen Vázquez Guadarrama and Laura Nix (prod. Clin d’oeil films, sales Autlook Film Sales)
