The East Doc Platform 2022 Open Program includes masterclasses, presentations, screenings and much more. It will take place at the French Institute in Prague, March 26 - April 1. See the program below and get your EDP Industry Pass now! Also, enjoy EDP 2022 trailer and poster!
FRIDAY, MARCH 25
Screening: The Filmmaker's House
(dir. Marc Isaacs, UK, 2020, 75 mins)
19:30 – 21:00
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
facebook event
The film starts out as a classic documentary, but the viewer gradually gets the feeling of watching a scripted film. The theme of hospitality—both topical and important but hardly spectacular—is given an unexpected twist at the end that turns the entire film upside down. Isaacs thus criticizes the predictability of commercial documentaries; in contrast to the trend of tailoring facts to media formats, he presents fiction driven by authenticity. He shows how complex authorship can be—and that it is precisely what produces quality.
SATURDAY, MARCH 26
Masterclass by Marc Isaacs: The Art of Provocation
10:00 – 11:30
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
facebook event
Using specific extracts from his body of work as examples, Marc Isaacs will discuss the importance of provocation in his filmmaking process. By interrogating what a documentary is and can be, he will demonstrate how his ideas are conceived and developed and how scenes are formed. Isaacs will encourage a reflection on the balance between intervention and chance and examine how to plan for spontaneity. When and why is it necessary to stage reality and how do we avoid predictability in our filmmaking endeavors?
SATURDAY, MARCH 26
Screening: 1970
(dir. Tomasz Wolski, prod. Anna Gawlita / Kijora Film, PL, 2021, 71 mins)
19:00 – 20:30
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
facebook event
When protests broke out in Communist Poland in late 1970, a crisis team gathered in Warsaw. Soon after the militia made use of their batons. Shots were fired. Through archival recordings and animations, viewers are able to observe various power mechanisms. The film 1970 is a story about a rebellion but told from the perspective of the oppressors.
SUNDAY, MARCH 27
Lecture by Mikael Opstrup: Character driven Documentary is the only art form beyond control of the creators
9:30 – 11:00
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
facebook event
This is a quote from Mikael Opstrup’s recently released book THE UNCERTAINTY about developing Character driven documentaries. In his lecture Mikael will address this and other issues from his book: The difference between events and stories, presenting a film that doesn’t exist and what it means that a pitch trailer is not a piece of work in its own right. The lecture will focus on pitching with related detours to the different elements in documentary filmmaking in general.
SUNDAY, MARCH 27
Screening + Discussion: Tales of a Toy Horse
(dir. Ulyana Osovska, Denys Strashnyy, UA, EE, 2021, 76 mins)
16:30 – 18:30
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
Entry: Voluntary donation – support Ukraine
facebook event | tickets on GoOut
Directors of the movie Tales of a Toy Horse Ulyana Osovska and Denys Strashnyy remain in Kyiv in the midst of the war. All proceeds from the entrance fee will be donated to Ukrainian filmmakers. The screening will be followed by a debate on activism and volunteering with invited guests. The film will be screened with English subtitles.
An intimate and poetic cinema verite with animated interludes reveals the philosophy of life of an old monk and artist, who for many years keeps his monastic vow to find something good in every day. Combining spiritual life with social activism since 2014, he takes multiple trips to deliver humanitarian aid to Donbas, where his vow is challenged by the war-torn reality.
SUNDAY, MARCH 27
A Dialogue between Tomasz Wolski and Anna Gawlita: Be a Documentary Maker and Survive
17:00 – 18:30
Conference Room, French Institute in Prague
Films can be made with three trucks of lights, the best equipment, with a dozen or more people and several assistants. But they can also be made with a minimal team, even two people. Is it possible to survive in the film industry working this way? Won't the quality of the film suffer? How is it to perform several roles at once? Is it possible to do things differently? What are the pros and cons? On the example of our films: Festival, Horse Riders, An Ordinary Country and 1970 we will talk about our cooperation. Additionally, using the example of 1970, we will tell why historical cinema appeared in our filmography.
MONDAY, MARCH 28
Keynote by Esther van Messel: Loving the Audience
10:00 – 11:00
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
Loving the Audience can mean many things and I think we need to talk about all of them. Creatives who work in storytelling need an audience that does storylistening. No letter not to be read, no image not drawn, not seen, no joke is told not to be laughed about. We make our livelihood here, we work in storytelling, in making sure the stories get told well, and also, that they get seen. So why are we not more curious about the storywatchers? And of course, we are. From the gathering and hunting tales in the caves to the commercial breaks on TV, everything is a story. This here, this is a story. Everybody who can acquire a thing can sell another thing, everybody is telling a story all the time. Mine, today, is about audiences, and how we love them.
MONDAY, MARCH 28
Panel: Introducing the Austrian film industry
14:00 – 15:30
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
Industry panel presenting the Austrian documentary landscape. Leading representatives of the country's documentary industry will explain the co-production, funding and distribution opportunities with neighboring CEE countries. Panelists: Barbara Pichler (KGP Filmproduktion), Karin Schiefer (Austrian Film Commission), Eva Sangiorgi (Viennale). Moderated by Marion Schmidt (DAE – Documentary Association of Europe).
MONDAY, MARCH 28
Case Study: Too Close - From development to distribution
16:00 – 17:30
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
Documentary training workshops and European independent film funds are essential part of CEE producer’s strategy when producing politically engaged documentaries dealing with issues of human rights, economic, geopolitical, cultural, ethical and/or societal issues. In this joint case study of two international training workshops, Ex Oriente Film (Ivana Pauerová Miloševičová) and dok.incubator (Andrea Laciaková), together with Docs Up Fund (Alex Szalat), we will learn about the journey of Romanian project Too Close from director Botond Püsök, who participated together with his producer Irina Malcea in the 2020 edition of the Ex Oriente Film, dok.incubator 2021 and has received financial support from Docs Up Fund. The discussion will focus on the significance of the training workshops and independent film funds on the development and completion of challenging author driven projects in the current documentary industry climate.
Too Close (Romania, 2022, 70 min, dir. Botond Püsök, prod. Irina Malcea - Luna Film, edit. Brigitta Bacskai, sales Anja Dziersk - Rise and Shine World Sales)
TUESDAY, MARCH 29
Presentation: Czech Docs: Coming Soon
16:30 – 17:30
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
Five Czech upcoming feature documentaries are presented by the producer-director team to an audience of representatives of leading international film festivals, sales agents, distributors, and to the wide public. This event is organized in cooperation with the Audiovisual Producers’ Association (APA). Moderated by Diana Tabakov (DAFilms).
TUESDAY, MARCH 29
Lecture by Oriane Hurard: Producing XR - Back then, now and future
17:00–18:00
Conference Room, French Institute in Prague
What does it mean to be a producer in XR nowadays? Technology-driven narratives are subject to constant changes as the hardware, platforms, networks, funding systems and associated opportunities are changing all the time. Sometimes it is like a ship full of innovations, hopes, and potentials for real change in search of a harbor. What was it like to produce XR content back then, how is it now and how might it be in the future? Not only have workflows, structures, and job profiles changed massively. New technologies raised questions on which content is produced by and for whom and how it is distributed. This lecture leads into the daily business, thoughts and challenges of Oriane Hurard as a senior producer at Atlas V.
TUESDAY, MARCH 29
Screening + Discussion: This Rain Will Never Stop
(dir. Alina Gorlova, UA, LV, DE, QA, 2020, 102 mins)
18:30 – 20:45
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
Entry: Voluntary donation – support Ukraine
facebook event
Director Alina Gorlova stays in Kiev with fellow filmmakers, helping people in need and documenting the current situation. All proceeds from the entrance fee will be donated to support their cause. The film will be screened with both English and Czech subtitles. The screening will be followed by a debate on war-to-war migration, double standards of migration and other topics.
This Rain Will Never Stop takes the audience on a powerful, visually arresting journey through humanity’s endless cycle of war and peace. The film follows 20-year-old Andriy Suleyman as he tries to secure a sustainable future while navigating the human toll of armed conflict. From the Syrian civil war to strife in Ukraine, Andriy’s existence is framed by the seemingly eternal flow of life and death.
FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/382341496842646
Tickets at GoOut: https://goout.net/en/this-rain-will-never-stop+discussion/sztdqct/
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30
Presentation: East Doc Forum
9:30 – 13:30
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
Entry: Accredited guests only
The East Doc Forum brings 19 feature-length documentaries in development and production from Central and Eastern Europe to be pitched to international industry professionals and potential funders. The prestigious pitch East Doc Forum has welcomed more than 1000 filmmakers and supported over 500 documentary projects over the years, including award-winning films from key international festivals, such as Something Better to Come, Over the Limit, When the War Comes, Sofia’s Last Ambulance, Village without Women, Ukrainian Sheriffs, The Russian Job or Brothers.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30
Case Study: Producing Series for Netflix
15:00 – 16:15
Conference Room, French Institute in Prague
Vendetta: Truth, Lies and the Mafia is an Italian six-part Netflix documentary series (released in 2021) about the people battling organized crime in Sicily. Meeting producers of the series Davide Gambino we explore the success story of the series in terms of collaboration with one the most privileged partners in the world. What was the path to reach the platform? Is it possible to produce docu-series in the local language? What was the role of Italian Doc Screenings?
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30
Green Filming: How to Make Films Sustainably
16:00 – 17:00
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
More and more filmmakers are becoming aware that filmmaking can have a significant impact on the environment and the locations in which it takes place. The term 'Green Filming' has become established for the whole process of crews trying to film sustainably, reduce air travel and document their carbon footprint. It is no longer just the efforts of foreign filmmakers. Local filmmakers are also starting to follow this trend. In a panel discussion featuring, among others, the director of The Ants and the Grasshopper Raj Patel and the creative team of the Slovak documentary The Sailor, filmmakers will share their experiences of sustainable filmmaking - how did this choice influence the creative process? And can we expect the film industry in general to be more responsible on environmental issues in the future? Panelists: Raj Patel, Lise Lense-Møller, Lucia Kašová, Nazarij Kľujev, Katarína Krnáčová. Moderated by Ivana Formanová (IDF).
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30
Lecture by Rob Eagle: The Bigger Picture: 'Blended Realities'
17:00 – 18:00
Conference Room (online stream), French Institute in Prague
Augmented reality (AR) allows us either to enhance or obscure elements of our physical reality. We see AR today everywhere from Zoom filters to Instagram and Pokemon GO. But AR is only a digital tool that extends the human desire to transform our landscapes and our own bodies. To augment is to be human.
AR artist and researcher Rob Eagle will argue that AR is now part of our modern communications and media ecosystems – and it is up to cultural creators and producers to harness its potential for art and storytelling. We'll look at recent artistic applications of AR from documentaries to games to contemporary dance. Drawing on Rob's practice and research, we'll also look at where this technology is going.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30
Panel Discussion: Festivals 2.0: How to Approach the Audience in the Post-COVID Era
17:30 – 18:30
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
facebook event
No sector of the film industry has remained unaffected by the pandemic, film festivals not excluded. What is their future as platforms for distributing films that audiences will not see elsewhere, and as unique venues for direct encounters between filmmakers and visitors? Audience habits are changing due to VoD platforms and the necessary shift of many festivals to virtual environments. Individual festivals have to respond to this and each one does it in a slightly different way. In his introductory speech, Petr Szczepanik from the Department of Film Studies of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University will present the audience surveys he is currently working on. This will be followed by a panel discussion with representatives of Visegrad festivals, who will discuss their ways of coping with the difficult situation and their plans for future editions: Martin Horyna (Karlovy Vary IFF), Barbara Orlicz-Szczypuła (Krakow Film Festival), Enikő Gyureskó (Verzio International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival). Moderated by Tomáš Poštulka (One World). The panel is organized in cooperation with Film New Europe and supported by the International Visegrad Fund.
THURSDAY, MARCH 31
Presentation: East Doc Series
10:00 – 11:00
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
The East Doc Series presentation will feature several new documentary series projects looking for international partners. Selected filmmakers will present their upcoming documentary projects to a wide audience of film professionals from Europe and beyond. What topics fascinate filmmakers from Central and Eastern Europe? What approaches do they choose to tell these stories? And what does the current production of documentary series in our region look like? Come and find out at the East Doc Series presentation.
THURSDAY, MARCH 31
Presentation: East Doc Interactive
12:00 – 13:30
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
Entry: Accredited guests only
The East Doc Platform has been dedicated to new forms of documentary storytelling since 2014 through the East Doc Interactive workshop and presentation. The aim is to provide support, contacts and know-how regarding virtual and augmented reality projects, as well as other interactive projects in the form of apps, web, etc. A total of five projects from Central and Eastern Europe will be presented to an expert audience with the aim of finding new partners and future audiences.
THURSDAY, MARCH 31
KineDok Screening: Communism and the Net or the End of Representative Democracy
(dir. Karel Vachek, CZ, 2019)
14:00 – 20:30 (335' including three intermissions)
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
facebook event
Afternoon movie marathon with guests Mikuláš Novotný & Radim Procházka and refreshments.
This six-hour essay in four parts explores the history of regimes and revolutions, leaders and martyrs through a philosophical lens. A collage of personal recollections, staged scenes and archives of collective memory compares the Prague Spring with the Velvet Revolution, showing the exposure, collision, crisis and catharsis of post-Soviet society. The hope for saving democracy is creative laughter, dissolving the untouchability and over-inflated egos of state representatives. The Internet frees society from representatives as a dysfunctional intermediate link that prevents direct communication between citizens and the authorities.
"I see you until I see you. Once I see you, I don't see you anymore." Karel Vachek
THURSDAY, MARCH 31
Ceremony: East Doc Platform Partners’ Awards
16:30 – 17:30
Gallery of Art Critics, Adria Palace
Entry: Accredited guests only
Join us for the announcement of the winners of Partners’ Awards of the 11th East Doc Platform. The winners of the following awards will be revealed: The Golden Funnel, Ex Oriente Fine Cut Award, Cut thru the Noise Award, Sunny Side of the Doc Prize, DOK Leipzig DOK Co-Pro Market Award and DOK Preview Award, DocsBarcelona Award, DAE Pitch Talent Encouragement Prize, and Pitch the Doc Prize.
THURSDAY, MARCH 31
Screening: The Earth Is Blue as an Orange
(dir. Iryna Tsilyk, UA, LT, 2020, 74 mins)
21:00 – 22:30
Kino 35, French Institute in Prague
Entry: Voluntary donation – support Ukraine
facebook event | tickets on GoOut
A screening of the award-winning film by Ukrainian director Iryna Tsilyk, who stays in Ukraine with her child and reports on current events. All proceeds from the entrance fee will be donated to Iryna. The film (screened with both English and Czech subtitles) will be accompanied by an introduction.
The Earth Is Blue as an Orange is based on the observation of a family who live in Krasnohorivka, a small city in the “red zone“ of Donbas, one of the most destroyed after shellings in 2014. Military actions have been ongoing in the East of Ukraine. Many people from the civilian population were injured and lost their homes. But the life goes on. Anna is a single mother. She has daughters Mira & Nastya, sons Vlad & Stas, as well as the dog, six cats and the turtle. The whole family became a small “film-production”: they try to shoot films by themselves to cope with their experience during the war. Nastya is the director, Mira is DOP, their mom is trying to learn film editing, and they use their small boys as the actors. Given the fact they use their own experience as material for shootings, it is an impressive storyline of the film which presents a life-affirming story. The war in Ukraine is still going on. But the life in the war zone is still going on too.
