Draw for Change (Belgium, Clin d’Oeil Films)
Sunny Side of the Doc has announced the 12 projects selected for Global Pitch 2022, which this year has a theme of Women’s Voices. 180 projects were received from 47 countries. The 12 chosen projects will pitch online February 22-23.
“We welcome important, compelling, topical, relevant and original stories with a female perspective. While we wish to champion women filmmakers, particularly from under-represented communities, we are open to all off screen talents,” Global Pitch organisers write.
The Global Pitch Award (€3,000) will be presented to the creative team behind the best project pitched online. The award-winning team will also get two free accreditations for Sunny Side of the Doc 2022.
The Global Pitch is further described as “a unique opportunity for 12 selected projects to reach out to 100+ key decision makers through online pitching and tailored individual meetings. The platform will also offer all applicants and participants networking and business opportunities.”
The Global Pitch kicks off Sunny Side of the Doc 2022 and its year-long online activities which will, throughout 2022, focus on the Diversity of Voices!. “Sunny Side of the Doc aims to bring to light projects, stories and talents from diverse geographical, social, racial, age and gender backgrounds. It wishes to embrace the diversity of narration of the documentary genre. It will take place in person in La Rochelle from June 20 to 23,” say organisers.
“Sunny Side of the Doc is committed to gender parity in order to keep the documentary business thriving, to foster women’s empowerment both in front and behind the camera and to champion talents and new voices coming up on the international marketplace,” write organisers.
“Women make up half the world’s population but are still far from being treated on an equal footing with men, even in countries at the forefront of gender equality. And yet the positive links between gender equality, empowerment of women and effective and sustainable development are very clear,” the statement continues.
“72% of the selected projects at Sunny Side of the Doc 2021 were driven by female talents (directors and producers) and women made up half our mentors, jury members, experts and panelists. No such results can be achieved, let alone maintained and improved, without a steadfast commitment. The Global Pitch 2022 is yet another step in embracing and celebrating a diversity of talents and stories,” the statement continues.
The jury will 2022 Global Pitch jury will include: Lucila Moctezuma, Program Director at Chicken & Egg Pictures (United States), Mehdi Bekkar, Sr. Producer – In House Production at Al Jazeera Media Network (Qatar), Gugi Gumilang, Executive Director at In-Docs (Indonesia). The projects are:
Occupied Territory
Produced by: Rymer Childs (Australia). Directed by: Judy Rymer
Logline: Women are being prevented from accessing 21C medical advances by religious, cultural and political leaders, causing millions of women to die, exacerbating overpopulation and wasting billions of dollars. Two leading female physicians are joined by women all over the world to make the case that a woman’s body is an OCCUPPIED TERRITORY.
Aazadi (Freedom)
Produced by: Aazadi (Germany). Directed by: Rees Dale
Logline: A story of hope, courage and determination: A group of Indian women use the sport of Judo to find freedom from a constant threat of abuse and fear to lead a life they otherwise would not have had. They fight against poverty, prejudice and an unforgiving society whilst sharing one other thing in common: They are all blind.
Broken Flower
Produced by: Rabison Art (Islamic Republic of Iran). Directed by: Sarvnaz Alambeigi
Logline: A teenage Afghan girl joins the Afghan Muay Thai national team despite domestic violence and threats from ISIS and the Taliban.
Draw For Change!
Produced by: Clin d’Oeil Films (Belgium). Directed by: Laura Nix, Nada Riyadh, Sama Pana, Karen Vazquez Guadarrama, Anna Moiseenko, Alisar Hasan, Alaa Amer
Logline: A documentary series about female cartoonists from all around the globe, challenging the red lines and the taboos of their society. Each episode a cartoonist takes us into her world showing us not only the obstacles and dangers she faces, but also the courage and humour needed to deal with these.
Eat Bitter
Produced by: Kea-Kwis Production (Central African Republic). Directed by: Pascale Appora-Gnekindy, Ningyi Sun
Logline: During a civil war in the Central African Republic, an immigrant Chinese construction manager and a local African laborer work on opposite ends of the spectrum to construct a sparkling new bank. As deadlines loom, they don’t hesitate to strip the earth and destroy their family lives for a seat at the table of prosperity.
The Cord
Produced by: GoDolphins Films (Brazil). Directed by: Nolwenn Hervé
Logline: In the paradise lost that became Venezuela, a pregnant woman does everything she can to save both her life and that of her baby. Her journey crosses with Carolina’s, a former gang leader touched by redemption. Together they embody a nation at the throes of death that tries to hold onto life, onto a “cord” that connects them to their motherland.
Devi
Produced by: Mediadante (Nepal). Directed by: Subina Shrestha
Logline: Devi, a former guerrilla fighter who survived wartime rape, decides to fight for justice. Nepal’s leaders want to keep the shameful truth about how sex abuse was used as a weapon of war buried, but Devi will do whatever it takes to bring her suffering and that of her countrywomen to light and resolve the conflict still raging within her.
We Had Too Much Rain This Year
Produced by: Beyond Frozen Films Co.LTD (China). Directed by: Cheng Chen
Logline: In 2021, there was more rain in Beijing than in previous years. Likewise, the lives of Wen Li and Hong Li also encountered more difficulties than ever before.
Finding La Singla LA SINGLA
Produced by: La Fábrica Naranja (Spain). Directed by: Paloma Zapata García
Logline: Being deaf, Antonia Singla developed the talent of dancing to the rhythm of the music that she kept in her memory. At 17 she already had an international career and was considered one of the best in the world. 50 years later, the time has come to take her story back.
We Are Berta
Produced by: Not So Crazy! Productions (Belgium). Directed by: Matthieu Lietaert, Erika Gonzalez
Logline: To face some of the biggest mining transnational corporations in Latin America, three women land defenders are adapting 500 years of colonial resistance to today’s global reality. How to hunt down corporations, wherever they hide?
Sisters Act
Produced by: Amok Films (France). Directed by: Dea Gjinovci, Antoine Goldet
Logline: SISTERS ACT follows fearless religious sisters who have formed a network to end sexual slavery, counterbalancing the dark and abusive rings of traffickers who exploit women internationally.
Gender Wars
Produced by: Cave 7 Productions Inc. & World on Fire Productions Inc. (Canada). Directed by: Rebecca Snow
Logline: A feature documentary about the clash between trans rights and women’s rights that no one dares talk about.
