The VdR-Industry Awards 2021 were announced April 20. The ceremony took place as a hybrid event in Nyon and on the VdR-Industry online platform.
“With its numerous prizes and grants, VdR-Industry and its partners once again reaffirm their determination to support independent documentary filmmaking in all its diversity,” the festival underlined after the event.
“Since 15 years, Visions du Réel’s industry activities aim to underline and exalt the variety and richness of creative documentaries while providing precious networking opportunities. Acting as the Festival’s professional hub, VdR–Industry is designed as a springboard for projects, facilitating both national and international collaborations and long-term partnerships between the projects’ representatives and the professionals attending the industry events,” the statement continued. VdR–Industry runs from April 14 to April 22, both online and in person.
VdR–Pitching International Jury
Roberto Minervini, Director, Italy/USA
Roberto Olla, Executive Director Eurimages, France
Rasha Salti, Independent film and visual arts curator, Commissioning editor for La Lucarne Arte, Lebanon/France/Germany
VdR–Pitching Award: 5,000 CHF in cash for the most promising project
Science Fiction (Argentina)
Ezequiel Yanco, director
Ana Godoy, Ezquiel Yanco, Isoi Cine, producers
The Party Film Sales Award: acquisition of international rights
King Coal (United States)
Elaine McMillion Sheldon, director Shane Boris, Cottage M, producer
RTS Award: pre-buy of one film
Yoga Village (China)
Rongfei Guo, director
Wenxin Zhong, Galaxion Films LLC., producer
HEAD–Genève Postproduction Award: colour grading and creation of the files for diffusion
Yoga Village (China)
Rongfei Guo, director
Wenxin Zhong, Galaxion Films LLC., producer China
Cannes Docs Award: two accreditations for the filmmaker and producer to attend the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes and participation at Cannes Docs
The Last Year of Darkness (China, United States)
Ben Mullinkosson, director
Sol Ye, Florence, producer
Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Award: accreditation and accommodation to TDF and access to AGORA for one person
But Dear Lord Why? (Georgia)
Rati Tsiteladze, director
Olga Slusareva, Nino Varsimashvili, Rati Tsiteladze, ArtWay Film, producers
DOK Leipzig/DOK Industry Networking Award: accreditation and accommodation at DOK Leipzig & observer access to the DOK Co-Pro Market for the filmmaker and producer
Malqueridas (Chile)
Tana Gilbert, director
Paola Castillo, Errante, producer
VdR–Work in Progress International Jury
Roberto Minervini, Director, Italy/USA
Rasha Salti, Independent film and visual arts curator, Commissioning editor for La Lucarne Arte, Lebanon/France/Germany
VdR–Work in Progress Award: 3,000 CHF in cash for the most promising project
Transfariana (France, Colombia)
Joris Lachaise, director
Line Peyron, Mujo, producer Guillermo Quintero, Romeo, producer
Lightdox Award: 3,000 CHF in cash for the project with highest international potential
Blue Island (Hong Kong SAR China, Japan)
Chan Tze Woon, director
Catherine Chan, Peter Yam, Blue Island Production Company, producers
Raggioverde Subtitling Award: subtitle creation incl. translation in one language
Another Spring (Serbia)
Mladen Kovačević, director
Iva Plemić Divjak, Horopter Film Production, producer
EFM Award: 2 Market Badges for the EFM and a consultations session at the DocSalon
About Everything There Is To Know (Peru)
Sofía Velázquez, director
Carolina Denegri, Mercado Central Asociación Cultural, producer
DAE Encouragement Award: 2x memberships for the network plus 4 free consultations with network members, tailored to the needs of the project
The Home (South Africa, United States)
Jessie Zinn, Chase Musslewhite, directors
Jessie Zinn, Chase Musslewhite, Red Coat Films, producers South Africa, United States
Freestudios Award: creation of a DCP package
We, Students! (Central African Republic, France, Congo – Kinshasa)
Rafiki Fariala, director
Daniele Incalcaterra, Boris Lojkine, Makongo Films, producers Central African Republic, France, Congo – Kinshasa
visions sud est Award 2021 International Jury
Sebastiano Conforti, Distributor at Outside the Box, Programmer FIFF Fribourg International Film Festival, Switzerland
Daniela Persico, Film Critic, Programmer Locarno Film Festival, Italy
Meret Ruggle, Director, Trigon-Film, Switzerland
visions sud est Award: 10’000 CHF in cash for the best project from the South (Africa, Latin America and Asia) or from Eastern Europe (excluding EU members)
The Vanishing (Senegal, France)
Rama Thiaw, director
Hortense Maunoury, Boul Fallé Images, producer Jean-Laurent Csinidis, Films de Force Majeure, producer
Opening Scenes Awards
IDFA Spotlight Award: the winning director will be invited to IDFA’s next edition to participate in a tailor-made programme within the IDFA Industry
Don’t Hesitate to Come for a Visit, Mom (Belgium, Hungary, Portugal, Russia)
Anna Artemyeva, director
TËNK Award: purchase of distribution rights for one film of the Opening Scenes section and an editing residency at the Documentary Village of Lussas (France) for the filmmaker of the awarded film
Seeking Aline (Switzerland, Senegal)
Rokhaya Marieme Blade, director
Elisa Gómez Alvarez
Switzerland
META Cultural Foundation Award: winner will be invited to a creative residency in Slon (Romania)
Not Over Yet (Brazil)
Monise Nicodemos, director
