Visions du Réel has announced its Industry dates for 2021. The most important activities and project presentations will be held online April 14 to April 17 in a format for professionals that will be “community-centred and user-friendly.” It is hoped and expected that face-to-face meetings will resume when the event is further opened up to professionals April 18-22.
“A high-end projects selection carefully crafted by VdR–Industry will bring together a broad spectrum of international professionals in order to recreate as best as we can the unique atmosphere of Visions du Réel,” the festival statement underlines.
“With your health and safety as top priorities, you are warmly invited to enjoy the Festival in Nyon, Switzerland, as it is always essential for us to be able to propose what is at the heart of VdR–Industry – on-site gatherings by the shores of Lake Geneva. We are welcoming those who can join us for a full and special programme.”
Commented Visions du Réel’s Head of Industry Madeline Robert: “After the great success of our 2020 edition, held entirely online with a wide profile of professionals attending, we wanted to be sure that everyone, wherever they are based in the world, could participate in the 2021 VdR–Industry edition. Also, in light of the quality and the very exciting artistic proposals we received for this year’s selection, one of our priorities is to ensure the highest number of opportunities to the project holders.”
“At the same time, we also share the industry representatives’ need and urgency to gather to work in person. This is why we are welcoming everyone who will be able to come to Nyon in April, after the online activities have taken place,” she adds.
Core events at VdR Industry 2021 to be presented both online and on-site
Pitching du Réel is Visions du Réel’s international co-production forum for creative documentaries intended for theatrical distribution and TV broadcasting. It offers the participants the opportunity to discuss the content and form of their projects and to find out which contexts and markets might be the most relevant for them. It encourages international co-productions and helps to finance outstanding film projects addressing an international audience.
Docs in Progress, as part of Visions du Réel Industry, presents roughly eight films at finishing stage. Via Screenings available exclusively to film professionals (festival representatives, funds supporting post-production, post-production facilities, distributors, TV buyers etc) and through specific individual meetings, the aim of this activity is to allow project holders to find suitable partners to go into and/or to finalise post-production, and look for distribution, festivals, sales etc.
The Rough Cut Lab invites four film teams, each with a creative documentary at the finishing stage, to present their rough cut to industry professionals in order to get specific feedbacks and advice. The idea is to support filmmakers at the moment of editing. The rough cuts will be screened and discussed together with tutors, moderators and the film teams during a working session.
Opening Scenes Lab is a special programme for the 16 filmmakers invited to the Opening Scenes section of the Festival, dedicated to first short films or student films. Accompanied by two tutors, the filmmakers get the opportunity to get better acquainted with the international market for documentaries and its decision makers, to look for distribution for their short film as well as to meet potential partners for their next project.
The Film Market, formerly known as the Media Library, is an online platform that includes a selection of 400+ new creative documentaries with international potential. It comprises Visions du Réel’s Official selection as well as many more unreleased documentaries proposed by the festival’s own selection committee, partner institutions, sales agents and producers. The purpose of the Film Market is to facilitate exchange, acquisitions and sales of new films.
