- Thursday, March 19
PANEL DISCUSSION: Reaching the Next Generation: Distribution Strategies for Young Audiences
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
19:00-20:00
How can filmmakers, producers, and distributors reach young audiences in today’s changing media landscape? This panel explores distribution strategies for children and young adults from festivals and cinemas to digital platforms, schools, and regional initiatives. Through case studies and international experience, speakers will discuss shifting viewing habits and the partnerships that help content reach the next generation. Featuring Paul Rieth, Magdalena Żelasko, Katharina Bergfeld, and Radka Hoffman.
SCREENING: Non-Aligned: Scenes from the Labudovic Reels by Mila Turajlic
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
20:30-22:00
For accredited professionals only - In a forgotten Belgrade vault lie the “Labudović Reels,” documenting African and Asian liberation movements of the 1960s. Their presence in Yugoslavia reveals the hidden story of cameraman Stevan Labudović, who filmed these revolutions while working for President Tito. Sent to document liberation wars, Labudović captured the rise of the Non-Aligned Movement and became part of the era’s information struggle. This film diptych reflects on the legacy of his footage and how cinema shaped the political dreams of decolonization.
Friday, March 20
LECTURE: Pivotal Guide to World Sales and Distribution of Creative Docs with International Sales Agent Anna Berthollet (FR-CH) of Lightdox
French Institute in Prague, Conference room
9:30-10:30
For accredited professionals only
This session offers a clear overview of today’s sales and distribution landscape for creative documentaries. Anna Berthollet will break down what a sales agent actually does and will share practical strategies for building a productive, transparent collaboration. You’ll learn how to position your film for international markets and festivals, and what materials and decisions make the biggest difference. The lecture also includes hands-on tips for filmmakers considering DIY distribution. You’ll leave with a sharper sense of the pathways your film can take, from production to reaching its audience.
Languaging Documentary Film. Keynote by expert, curator and producer Caroline Libresco (US)
Saturday, March 21
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
16:00-17:00
For accredited professionals only
John Grierson, who first coined the term “documentary” in 1926, defined it as “a creative treatment of actuality,” in other words, an art form. As streamers increasingly rely on algorithms for determining what they make and acquire, the vision for what documentary film can be, is narrowing in scope. The marketplace definition of “documentary” has come to include everything from YouTube videos to true-crime docutainment to reality TV to advocacy films. If we are to keep documentaries alive as an art form, we must develop ways of talking about them as art. In Languaging Documentary Film a veteran film programmer/producer/executive will present a framework to help us break down and put “language” to how documentaries work creatively.
MASTERCLASS: Fiume o morte! with director Igor Bezinović (HR)
VR SCREENINGS: 21-22 CHINA and Fresh Memories: The Look
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
9:30-11:00
For accredited professionals only
Igor Bezinović is a Croatian filmmaker from Rijeka whose work focuses on socially engaged cinema, collective filmmaking, and innovative approaches to historical storytelling. In his masterclass, he will present his award-winning film Fiume o morte! which received the European Documentary Award at the European Film Awards, and discuss its distinctive participatory production process, as well as the film’s exploration of history, propaganda, and political performance.
French Institute in Prague, Gallery
10:00-16:00
Step into new worlds and experience stories in virtual reality. VR screenings offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in documentary worlds, discover new perspectives, and experience storytelling in an entirely new way.
21-22 CHINA (dir. Thierry Loa, 25 min, Canada, 2022)
Would we see the world differently if our perspective changed?
21-22 CHINA presents an immersive, meditative journey across the world’s fastest-growing superpower, a land undergoing rapid urbanization, major industrial development, and massive topographical transformations.
Fresh Memories: The Look (dir. Ondřej Moravec, Volodymyr Kolbasa, 10 min, Ukraine, Czechia, 2023)
Can you look into the eyes of those whose lives have been shattered by war?
Fresh Memories: The Look is a short Czech-Ukrainian VR film that transports viewers into the heart of bombed-out Kharkiv, one of the cities most devastated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Through powerful, direct eye contact, the film shares the emotional stories of local residents affected by the war. Viewers find themselves in ruined apartments, hospitals, and playgrounds, where people silently convey their pain and resilience.
VR screenings will take place from March 21 to 24. On weekends from 10:00 to 16:00 and on weekdays from 15:00 to 19:30.
LECTURE: Editing as Directing by Michael Palm (AT)
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
16:30-18:00
For accredited professionals only
As a film editor, I have often the feeling that I am doing the film director’s job. As a film director, I feel strongly for the film editor who works with the footage with a new eye and fights himself/herself through the masses of footage. The lecture will focus on selected aspects of collaboration between editor and director, with some reflections on cases where both roles are embodied in the same person.
Sunday, March 22
Lecture: It’s Never Too Early to Start Your Audience Strategy by audience design expert Dimitra Kouzi (GR)
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
10:00-11:00
For accredited professionals only
In this case-study-based presentation, audience development specialist and producer Dimitra Kouzi demonstrates how to place audiences at the heart of your documentary as an integral part of the film's creative development. Drawing on 15 years of experience across production, festival programming, impact campaigning, and press and media strategy, participants will explore how to actively engage viewers, build lasting connections, and design thoughtful outreach pathways that extend a film's resonance well beyond its premiere.
VR SCREENINGS: 21-22 CHINA and Fresh Memories: The Look
French Institute in Prague, Gallery
10:00-16:00
Step into new worlds and experience stories in virtual reality. VR screenings offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in documentary worlds, discover new perspectives, and experience storytelling in an entirely new way.
21-22 CHINA (dir. Thierry Loa, 25 min, Canada, 2022)
Would we see the world differently if our perspective changed?
21-22 CHINA presents an immersive, meditative journey across the world’s fastest-growing superpower, a land undergoing rapid urbanization, major industrial development, and massive topographical transformations.
Fresh Memories: The Look (dir. Ondřej Moravec, Volodymyr Kolbasa, 10 min, Ukraine, Czechia, 2023)
Can you look into the eyes of those whose lives have been shattered by war?
Fresh Memories: The Look is a short Czech-Ukrainian VR film that transports viewers into the heart of bombed-out Kharkiv, one of the cities most devastated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Through powerful, direct eye contact, the film shares the emotional stories of local residents affected by the war. Viewers find themselves in ruined apartments, hospitals, and playgrounds, where people silently convey their pain and resilience.
VR screenings will take place from March 21 to 24. On weekends from 10:00 to 16:00 and on weekdays from 15:00 to 19:30.LECTURE: Introduction to Audience Design by expert Paul Rieth (DE)
Monday, March 23
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
11:30-12:15
For accredited professionals only
Audience design is a practical framework for identifying target audiences early, shaping both the creative and strategic direction of a documentary. In this session, audience design expert Paul Rieth will explore how clarifying a project’s goals, motivation, and intent can guide story and production choices, while aligning the writer/director, producer, and release partners (world sales and distributor). Participants will learn how early audience definition strengthens storytelling, sharpens communication, and supports stronger international positioning and outreach.
MASTERCLASS: Making, Funding, and Positioning Documentary Practice Today with Mila Turajlić (RS)
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
16:00-17:30
For accredited professionals only
How does an archive-driven project move from open-ended investigation to a work that can be pitched, financed, and shared without flattening its complexity? Drawing from her long-term research project Non-Aligned Newsreels and films including Non-Aligned & Ciné-Guerillas: Scenes from the Labudović Reels, Mila Turajlić shares a practice of working with archives as contemporary, contested terrain. The session also explores the expansion of documentary practice beyond film - into performance and art contexts - as both an aesthetic choice and a production strategy. Framed through today’s funding ecosystem for documentary projects, with particular attention to Central and Eastern Europe, the masterclass connects creative decisions to positioning, pitching, and circulation.
PRESENTATION: Czech Docs: Coming Soon
VR SCREENINGS: 21-22 CHINA and Fresh Memories: The Look
French Institute in Prague, Gallery
15:00-19:30
Step into new worlds and experience stories in virtual reality. VR screenings offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in documentary worlds, discover new perspectives, and experience storytelling in an entirely new way.
21-22 CHINA (dir. Thierry Loa, 25 min, Canada, 2022)
Would we see the world differently if our perspective changed?
21-22 CHINA presents an immersive, meditative journey across the world’s fastest-growing superpower, a land undergoing rapid urbanization, major industrial development, and massive topographical transformations.
Fresh Memories: The Look (dir. Ondřej Moravec, Volodymyr Kolbasa, 10 min, Ukraine, Czechia, 2023)
Can you look into the eyes of those whose lives have been shattered by war?
Fresh Memories: The Look is a short Czech-Ukrainian VR film that transports viewers into the heart of bombed-out Kharkiv, one of the cities most devastated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Through powerful, direct eye contact, the film shares the emotional stories of local residents affected by the war. Viewers find themselves in ruined apartments, hospitals, and playgrounds, where people silently convey their pain and resilience.
VR screenings will take place from March 21 to 24. On weekends from 10:00 to 16:00 and on weekdays from 15:00 to 19:30.
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
17:30-18:30
Five upcoming Czech documentaries - presented by their producer–director teams - offer a rare first look at stories in production or post-production. This lively pitching showcase connects Czech talent with international festivals, sales agents, distributors, and a curious public audience. Expect fresh voices and bold subjects.
Tuesday, March 24
This event is organized in cooperation with the Audiovisual Producers' Association (APA), Czech Audiovisual Fund and Ji.hlava IDFF.
Moderator: Hana Kulhánková
East Doc Forum
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
9:00-13:20
For accredited professionals only
Public pitch presentation of 16 feature length documentary & 5 docuseries projects to international commissioning editors, film funds representatives, buyers, distributors, sales agents, independent producers and other funders.
LECTURE: Rewriting the Rules of Co-Production – From Model to Practice
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
15:00-16:30
International co-productions often reproduce structural imbalances: money determines rights, while authorship, access, and contextual risk remain undervalued. What changes if we apply a different logic? In this lecture, International Media Support (IMS) adviser and producer Henrik Underbjerg introduces a value-based co-production model that allocates rights and control according to real contribution, not cash alone, while staying compatible with European co-production standards. Through concrete cases, he shows how the model works in negotiations, shaping IP ownership, recoupment, creative decisions, and long-term sustainability. The lecture is followed by an open discussion focused on practical tools producers can use at the table.
VR SCREENINGS: 21-22 CHINA and Fresh Memories: The Look
SHOWCASE: East Doc Caravan + Screening: In Hell with Ivo
French Institute in Prague, Gallery
15:00-19:30
Step into new worlds and experience stories in virtual reality. VR screenings offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in documentary worlds, discover new perspectives, and experience storytelling in an entirely new way.
21-22 CHINA (dir. Thierry Loa, 25 min, Canada, 2022)
Would we see the world differently if our perspective changed?
21-22 CHINA presents an immersive, meditative journey across the world’s fastest-growing superpower, a land undergoing rapid urbanization, major industrial development, and massive topographical transformations.
Fresh Memories: The Look (dir. Ondřej Moravec, Volodymyr Kolbasa, 10 min, Ukraine, Czechia, 2023)
Can you look into the eyes of those whose lives have been shattered by war?
Fresh Memories: The Look is a short Czech-Ukrainian VR film that transports viewers into the heart of bombed-out Kharkiv, one of the cities most devastated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Through powerful, direct eye contact, the film shares the emotional stories of local residents affected by the war. Viewers find themselves in ruined apartments, hospitals, and playgrounds, where people silently convey their pain and resilience.
VR screenings will take place from March 21 to 24. On weekends from 10:00 to 16:00 and on weekdays from 15:00 to 19:30.
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
17:00-18:30
East Doc Caravan is a curated initiative of the Institute of Documentary Film, supporting distinctive creative documentaries at the festival launch and international circulation. After the short program introduction, stay for a curated screening from the East Doc Caravan Collection: Screening: In Hell with Ivo (Kristina Nikolova, 2025, Bulgaria/USA) - a famous queer Bulgarian artist embarks on a series of intimate home concerts before returning home to confront his abusive past, culminating in one final performance for his parents. Winner of the Jury Award, Sarajevo Film Festival 2025.
Wednesday, March 25
PANEL DISCUSSION: Who Pays for Czech Docs Now — Programming, Audiences, and the Money Behind the Decisions
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
12:00-13:00
Streaming has fragmented audiences across platforms, devices, and viewing habits — but key decisions remain: what gets made, for whom, and who pays for it. This panel brings together Czech public and commercial commissioners with a media expert to discuss how documentary and factual programming decisions are made today. How do programmers think about audiences in 2026? How does that change depending on whether funding comes from licence fees, subscriptions, or advertising? Focusing on the link between audience strategy, commissioning priorities, and funding models, the discussion offers a practical look at what gets greenlit, what gets sidelined, and why. For documentary filmmakers and co-production partners, understanding this dynamic is increasingly crucial. A frank reality check on the forces shaping Czech documentary programming in the year ahead. Guests are: Diana Tabakov (Head of Digital Content at Czech Television), Ivana Pauerová Milošević (Head of Documentaries at Czech Television), Erika Hníková (Creative Producer at OnePlay/TV Nova), and Milan Kruml (Development Specialist at Czech Television, Historian). Panel discussion is moderated by APA, in Czech only.
LECTURE: Responsibility, Accountability, and Power: Musings on Safety in the Documentary Industry
French Institute in Prague, Kino 35
14:00-15:30
“Safety” means different things to different people—and “safe space” can easily become a slogan. In a field shaped by power dynamics and hierarchies, what does safety actually look like at markets, festivals, trainings, and in the editing room? Who is responsible, what risks are acceptable, and how can institutions reduce harm in practice? To address these questions and develop shared language and tools, the international #DocSafe initiative was launched in 2023. It evolves through ongoing dialogue, research, and advocacy - challenging the normalization of malpractice and working toward concrete solutions. In this session, Marion Schmidt (#DocSafe) introduces the initiative and shares key insights from its first two years, followed by an open discussion with the audience.- IDF is a member of #DocSafe.
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