Europe's got talent
Turning diversity into talent
In order to achieve this, Sunny Side of the Doc has joined forces with key European partners active in the sector, to help identify these new voices in emerging European markets: Al Jazeera Balkans, East Doc Platform, HBO Europe, Pitch The Doc, Film Center Serbia, Baltic Sea Docs, Balkan Documentary Center, Croatian Audiovisual Fund, Film Centre of Montenegro, DocuDays UA, Estonian Film Institute, National Film Centre of Latvia, Slovak Film Institute, Lithuanian Film Center, MADOKE, Audiovisual Producers’ Association, KFF Sales & Promotion, Georgian National Film Center, DokuBaku.
Talent Hub & Work in Progress Jury
Talent Hub CEE
Rebecca Houzel - Petit à Petit Production
Marketa Stinglova - Czech TV
Work in Progress
Anna Berthollet - Light Dox
Adriek van Nieuwenhuijzen - IDFA
Diana Tabakova - DAFilms
2021 Work in Progress & Talent Hub Selections
72 HOURS
Produced by: Playtime Films (Belgium)
Directed by: Anna Savchenko
NORD EXPRESS
Produced by: Mistrus Media (Latvia)
Directed by: Karlis Lesins
Logline: For 30 years, there has been a dream to build a railway to connect the Baltic States to the rest of the Europe. Filmmaker Kārlis Lesiņš starts an investigation and goes on the road to find out why 5 years before the intended launch the construction of this 7 billion euro EU funded high-speed railway line Rail Baltica has barely started.
LAGOONS. A BATTLE FOR PARADISE
Produced by: Albatros Communicos (Ukraine)
Directed by: Serhiy Lysenko
Logline: During one year, the wheel of wildlife at Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park in Ukraine comes full circle, as people who want to live as a part of the Nature, fight those who only want to use it.
IRON BUTTERFLIES
Produced by: BABYLON’13 (Ukraine)
Directed by: Roman Liubyi
Logline: A Butterfly-shaped shrapnel found in the body of the pilot of the flight MH17 leads to the identification of the state, responsible for a war crime that has gone unpunished. “Iron Butterflies” is a hybrid documentary investigating multiple layers around the downing of MH17 in Eastern Ukraine, 2014.
AURORA'S SUNRISE
Produced by: Bars Media (Armenia), Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion (Germany), ARTBOX Laisvalaikio Klubas (Lithuania)
Directed by: Inna Sahakyan
Logline: At only 14, Aurora faced the horror of the Armenian Genocide. Luck and courage enabled her to escape to America, where her tragic story became a cultural sensation. Starring in a Hollywood film based on her life, Aurora became a celebrity and the face of the largest charity campaign in US history. Her odyssey sees her confront loss, trauma, and greed, all while battling to maintain her humanity.
FIGHT
Produced by: Motif Films (Armenia)
Directed by: Lilit Movsisyan
Logline: In a conservative Armenian family, 16-year old Karine dreams to become a veterinarian, but her family, especially her father, a well-known dog-fighter, is against her dream. Karine’s destiny is one amongst thousands. How can girls and women grab their freedom in countries that are deeply rooted on patriarchal values?
BERLINER
Produced by: 1991 PRODUCTIONS (Georgia)
Directed by: Anna Khazaradze
Logline: A middle-aged Georgian immigrant woman works in Berlin as a German language interpreter for criminals and refugees from Post-Soviet countries.
GIRLS' STORIES
Produced by: Pinot Films (Poland)
Directed by: Aga Borzym
Logline: Story about being on the verge of becoming a teenager. We observe the world of adolescence, with all its ups and downs, through the eyes of two guides – 11-year-old Jagoda and 13-years-old Zuzia.
CINEMA UNDER SIEGE
Produced by: Novi Film (Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovia)
Directed by: Srđan Šarenac
Logline: CINEMA UNDER SIEGE tells the story of determined group of artists staging first Sarajevo film festival during the deadly siege of Sarajevo in 1993.
YOGOGI PARK
Produced by: Volia Films (Estonia/Belarus)
Directed by: Max Golomidov
Logline: Yoyogi is a place of freedom and going beyond everything human. Like the first flight to the sky.
WORK IN PROGRESS: EASTERN & CENTRAL EUROPE
An award sponsored by Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival
Prize: 2,000 euros in cash
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“Since we started with broadcasting in November 2011, Al Jazeera Balkans (AJB) has been offering a new and exciting perspective in the regional media landscape. In almost 10 years, Al Jazeera Balkans became one of the biggest buyers and producers of documentary films in the Balkans region. With our 4th edition of AJBDOC, international film festival, we are continuing to “give voice to untold stories, promote debate, and challenge established perceptions.” Edhem Fočo, Director of Al Jazeera Balkans Film Festival (AJB DOC)
TALENT HUB CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE
An award sponsored by Institute of Documentary Film
Prize: 2,000 euros in cash
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“I am very happy for our partnership with Sunny Side of the Doc. For us it’s a great way to introduce you to the new talents coming from Central and Eastern Europe and help them navigate through the European film market. Networking and international collaboration was always a crucial task for us – to stimulate cooperation that will bring the stories to life – and I believe that Sunny Side of the Doc could be the right place for the filmmakers to find new partners for their projects. ” Zdenek Blaha, Programme Director, Institute of Documentary Film
2021 Grant recipients
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CROATIA: Senad Sahmanovic (Sekvenca Production) presenting "VUD"
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ROMANIA: Oana Muntean (Kolectiv Romania) presenting "MamaPan"
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SLOVAKIA: Zuzana Mistrikova (PubRes) presenting "One More Question"
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ESTONIA: Riina Sildos (Amrion) presenting "Two Hours of Happiness"
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MOLDOVA: Caline Laur (Laur Cinema) presenting "In the Forgotten Country"
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ARMENIA: Vahagn Khachatryan (Ulik Production, Color Of May, NCCA) presenting "Aperik or 5 Dreamers and a horse"
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SLOVAKIA: Peter Veverka (Azyl Production, s.r.o. & Company F) presenting "A Happy Man"
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CZECH REPUBLIC: Margaréta Cvečková (Trigon Production sro) presenting "Dezo Hoffman - Photographer of The Beatles"
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HUNGARY: Krisztina Meggyes (Little Bus Production KFT.) presenting "Hatchery"
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SERBIA: Sonja Bozic (Elastic Media, Dart Film & Video, CineSud Promotion, Institute for Transmedia Design) presenting "Chocolate & Milk"
Supporting low production capacity countries
Sunny Side of the Doc 2021 will highlight talents from Central and Eastern Europe through a number of initiatives.
To facilitate easier access to our documentary market, we are delighted to offer preferential registration rates to participants from the following Low Production Capacity Countries, as defined by Europe Creative.
Online Passes are available for €285 instead of €385!
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.A shared ambition with our partners
For more information, please contact:
Patrizia Mancini
International Development Executive