Visions du Réel has unveiled the project selections for the three leading professional programmes of VdR-Industry, namely VdR-Pitching, VdR-Work in Progress and VdR-Rough Cut Lab. Aimed at filmmakers and producers, the VdR-Industry platform is “a springboard for audiovisual creation, offering support at every stage of production, concrete financing and distribution opportunities, as well as an inspiring and productive networking hub for the industry.” VdR-Industry is now under the direction of Sophie Bourdon and will take place from 23 to 27 April.
“I am delighted to reveal VdR-Industry’s class of 2023. This edition clearly builds on the achievements of my predecessor [Madeline Robert], who expanded the Festival’s professional services significantly, as well as its reputation,” says Bourdon. “My main objective is to consolidate the programme’s cross-cutting approach, its hybrid format – which was initially a result of the pandemic – while enhancing our services with new proposals, such as the recently extended VdR–Development Lab.”
With more than 400 submissions for all the programmes, “it is clear that Visions du Réel is the first choice for filmmakers looking for financing, collaboration and distribution opportunities, and that independent production is in strong creative vibrations” continues Bourdon. “We are particularly pleased to notice two positive shifts in the profiles that make up the 2023 selection. One is the return of many filmmakers selected as part of a previous Festival edition, making up around 25% of selected projects (including Francesca Mazzoleni, Ezequiel Yanco and Laila Pakalnina). The other is that, excitingly, we’re seeing plenty of debut films, which make up nearly 30% of the titles. This underlines the enduring relationship between the Festival and filmmakers such as Swiss-Canadian master Peter Mettler, as well as our positioning among the next generation. We will end the VdR–Industry days by focusing on meeting the young talent.”
Thirty-two countries are represented within a selection of 31 projects, divided across VdR–Industry’s four core activities (details below). “This selection presents an exciting panorama of the latest documentary-making practices. It is also a unique space for young talent to develop and talk to experienced filmmakers. The Festival’s professional services offer long-term support, providing guidance from the development phase to post-production. One example is the journey of Burmese filmmaker Sein Lyan Tun, who took part in the VdR–Development Lab last year, and who will participate in the VdR–Pitching this year. Visions du Réel supports filmmakers throughout the genesis of their film, giving us an incredible and humbling show of trust,” Bourdon adds.
VdR–Industry 2023 in figures
- Projects submitted across all programmes: +400
- Projects selected: 31
- Countries represented in the selection: 32
- Number of debut films: 11
VdR–PITCHING 2023 VdR–Pitching is an international co-production and financing forum that highlights a selection of feature films to a series of decision-makers. These projects, which are ready to go into production, combine artistic ambition with international potential. A total of 15 projects take part in VdR-Pitching.
- Arctic Link by Ian Purnell Production: Franziska Sonder (Ensemble Film GmbH). Switzerland
- Cat on my Mind by Laila Pakalniņa Production: Laila Pakalniņa (Hargla Company). Latvia
- FAITH by Mo Scarpelli Production: Mo Scarpelli (Rake Films), Lilian Koskei. United States, Italy, Kenya
- Flying Cows by Vahagn Khachatryan, Aren Malakyan Production: Jia Zhao (Muyi Film), Vahagn Khachatryan (Oolik production). Netherlands, Armenia
- Florence from Ohio by Stephanie Wang-Breal Production: Mynette Louie (The Population), Carrie Weprin (Once in a Blue). United States, Taiwan
- Gabin, a Youth in the Backland by Maxence Voiseux Production: Elise Hug, Cécile Lestrade (Alter Ego Production), Ulla Lehmann (AMA Film). France, Germany
- Lonan Tché by Joël Akafou Production: Laurent Bitty (Les Films du Continent), Florent Coulon (VraiVrai Film), Gianluca De Angelis (Tekla Films). Côte d’Ivoire, France, Italy
- Memories of an Oblivion by Carmen Castillo Production: Camille Laemlé, Serge Lalou (Les Films d’Ici), Macarena Aguilo (El Espino Film), Isabelle Truc (Iota Production). France, Chile, Belgium
- Rebibbia 310 by Francesca Mazzoleni Production: Alessandro Greco (Morel Film), Roberto De Paolis, Carla Altieri, Rachel Greenwood (Young Films). Italy
- Simon the Absurd by Felipe Monroy Production: Palmyre Badinier (Rita Productions), Diana Bustamente (Burning), Alexandre Perrier (Kidam), Kyzza Terrazas (La Corriente Del Golfo).
- Switzerland, Colombia, France, Mexico
- The Arctic Circle of Lust by Markku Heikkinen Production: Hannu-Pekka Vitikainen (Zone2 Pictures oy). Finland
- The Bamboo Family by Sein Lyan Tun Production: Sein Lyan Tun (PS Films), Dwi Sujanti Nugraheni (DS Nugraheni/Jawa Dwipa Films). Myanmar, Indonesia
- The Days I Would Like to Forget by Alina Gorlova, Maksym Nakonechnyi, Simon Mozgovyi, Yelizaveta Smith Production: Eugene Rachkovsky, Maksym Nakonechnyi and Karina Kostyna (Tabor), Nabil Bellahsene (Les Valseurs), Ralph Wieser (Mischief Films). Ukraine, France, Austria
- The Guest by Zuzanna Solakiewicz, Zvika Gregory Portnoy, Michal Bielawski Production: Maria Krauss (Plesnar & Krauss Films). Poland
- The Reserve by Ezequiel Yanco
- Production: Elena Fortes (No Ficcion), Ezequiel Yanco (Isoi Cine), Juan Martín Hsu. Argentina, Mexico
VdR–WORKS-IN-PROGRESS 2023 7 projects participate in VdR–Work in Progress, which aims to help filmmakers find suitable partners to collaborate with, in order to finalise post-production and optimise the distribution prospects for their films.
- Can’t Feel Nothing by David Borenstein Production: Jesper Jack (House of Real), Denmark
- Friday at the Window by Atiye Zare Arandi Production: Bram Crols, Nina Payrhuber (Associate Directors). Belgium, Iran, Qatar
- Immortals by Maja Tschumi Production: Nadine Lüchinger (Filmgerberei), Mohammed Alghadhban (Rola Production). Switzerland, Iraq
- Night has Come by Paolo Tizon Production: Diana Castro (Sans Soleil Films). Peru
- Piropolis by Nicolás Molina Production: Joséphine Schroeder (Pequén Producciones), Francisca Barraza (Funky Films). Chile
- Rising Up at Night by Nelson Makengo Production: Rosa Spaliviero (Twenty Nine Studio & Production), Dada Kahindo (Mutotu). Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium, Germany, Burkina Faso
- While The Green Grass Grows by Peter Mettler Production: Cornelia Seitler (maximage), Peter Mettler (Grimthorpe Film). Switzerland, Canada
VdR–ROUGH CUT LAB 2023 VdR–Rough Cut Lab is a workshop that presents a selection of 4 feature films in an advanced stage of post-production. Filmmakers receive personalised feedback on the presented rough cut version from both individual tutors and editors, as well as advice on how to finalise the film.
- Our Daughters by Chithra Jeyaram Production: Chithra Jeyaram (Real Talkies LLC). United States
- The Silence of the Mountain by Inti Jacanamijoy Production: Jorge Forero (Marginal Cine), Inti Jacanamijoy (La Cueva Films). Colombia
- Untitled Project by Min Min Hein Production: Min Min Hein (BurmaCat Films). Myanmar
- XiXi by Fan Wu Production: Fan Wu and Venice Atienza (Svemirko Film Productions), Sona Jo and Yoonsoo Her (Sona Films). Taiwan, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea)
VdR–DEVELOPMENT LAB 2023 The VdR–Development Lab is a hybrid nine-month programme aiming to support 5 filmmakers and their creative producers during the development phase of their new feature films, and preparing them for the international market.
- Few Monuments More, Few People Less by Aneta Lesnikovska Production : Kornelija Ristovska, Aneta Lesnikovska (AKA Film). North Macedonia, Netherlands
- Just Like a Dream by Corine Shawi Production: Nancy Sabbagh. Lebanon, Germany
- Olympic Rifle by Manuel Muñoz Production: Mauricio S. Burckhardt (Haus Kino). Honduras, Argentina, Colombia
- The Birdwatcher by Sai Kong Kham Production : Lin Sun Oo (Tagu Films). Myanmar
- The Road Ahead by Carla Valdés León Production: Rosa María Rodríguez (GatoRosa Films), Carla Valdés León. Cuba
The full programme of Visions du Réel will be revealed on 28 March 2023. Accreditation for professionals will open on 13 March.
