Al Jazeera Documentary Channel is set to present the second Al Jazeera Documentary Industry Days @ AJB DOC September 9 – 11 2023. The professional event “aims to empower and support the global expansion of documentary production,” write organisers. The first edition was launched in 2022 during the 5th Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival (AJB DOC).
This year, the AJB DOC Industry Days offers co-production prizes amounting to $70,000, as well as partner cash awards totaling nearly $20,000. and other in-kind rewards.
Ahmed Mahfouz Nouh, Managing Director of Aljazeera Documentary Channel, underlines the importance of AJB DOC Industry Days to filmmakers in the MENA region. “The initiative will not only support aspiring documentary filmmakers within the Arab world, it will also give them the opportunity to connect and network with decision-makers and leading professionals from around the world, which will reflect on the quality of documentary films in the region.”
Adel Ksiksi, Head of Industry Days, comments: “This year’s initiative promises to be a dynamic gathering of filmmakers, producers, investors, and enthusiasts. We received 177 project entries from 52 countries from MENA, Southeastern Europe, and Caucasus regions, and have shortlisted 22 finalists with compelling projects.”
“The selection committee comprises of decision makers, inclusive of industry experts, broadcasters, funders, and distribution companies from around the world,” Ksiksi adds. “They work to evaluate projects, provide valuable feedback, and select projects that demonstrate outstanding creativity and potential for impact. Winning projects will have a chance to secure funding, distribution options, and co-production partnerships that can bring their visions to life on screens across the globe.”
Edhem Fočo, Director of AJB DOC Film Festival comments: “Industry Days is in its second year but is already shaping up as a very serious and desirable industry event attended by decision-makers of the documentary film industry, without a precedent for this region. We are very proud of it, and it is mainly due to Al Jazeera Documentary Channel spearheading this event and using its pulling power to bring all these people together… We want to give priority to the films that deal with the Middle East, South East Europe, and Caucasus.”
“Last year’s event was already very successful; we saw 5 or 6 projects shown in our Industry Days later during IDFA Forum with some funding already secured at our Industry event,” Fočo continues. “What lessons did we learn [from the first edition of Industry Days in 2022]? Perhaps to slightly reduce the number of projects selected and to give a bit more leisure time to our decision-makers.”
Main Pitch is a platform intended for independent filmmakers and production companies with projects in early stage of development. “This will be an opportunity to secure funding for their productions and ensure support for overseas broadcasting, distribution and screening,” write organisers. The selected projects are:
- Jana – Mohammad Reza Azadi (Pakistan/ Iran)
- The Srebrenica Tape – Chiara Sambuchi (Germany)
- Finding the Way Home – Zakaria Mohamed Ali (UK)
- December – Grzegorz Paprzycki (Poland)
- Solo – Amine Boukhris (Tunisia)
- Con 24000 baci – Alessio Bozzer / Ivana Marinić Kragić (Croatia)
- A Butterfly Hug – Sally Abobasha (Egypt/ Sudan)
- The Rabbis’ Intifada – Heather “Chana” Tenzer (USA)
Work in Progress is an international co-production platform aiming for projects and films to be broadcast on the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, with possibilities for broadcasting on other Al Jazeera channels, international broadcasters, and partner platforms. The selected projects are:
- My Mother & I – Dilpak Majeed (Iraq/ Egypt)
- Bitter Sugar – Ana Barjadze (Georgia)
- Green Line – The Cat-Child – Sylvie Ballyot/ Fida Bizri (France)
- Moscow Nights – Irina Maldea/ Brendan Culleton (Ireland/ Romania)
- Until the Buzzing Stops – Abd al-Kader Habak (UK/ Lebanon)
- My Mother the State – Ieva Ozolina (Latvia)
- Life is Beautiful – Mohamed Jabaly (Palestine/ Norway)
- Dakar Sistaz – Jan Těšitel, Zuzana Kučerová (Czech Republic)
Balkan Stars is an international and regional co-production platform aiming to highlight the work of Al Jazeera Balkans and Al Jazeera Documentary Channels and subsequent international developments of relevant projects. “Balkan Stars pitch is a reflection of the diverse world of Balkans today,” write organisers. The selected projects are:
- The Partisan Necropolis – Chris Leslie (UK)
- I Don’t Want To – Hanis Bagashov (North Macedonia)
- Rear Admiral – Mladen Ivanović (Croatia/ Montenegro)
- Another Film About the War, Father & Home – Damir Markovina (Croatia)
- Cordon – Anton Mezulić (Croatia)
- I’m Sorry I Didn’t Die – Ana Lalić, Aleksandar Reljić (Serbia)
