The East Doc Platform program is held at the French Institute in Prague (Štěpánská 644/35) and is accessible free without accreditation, if not stated otherwise. If you want to attend the East Doc Forum, Awards Ceremony and other closed events, you can get the Industry Pass here.
Friday, March 24
19:15–20:30
Screening: The Swedish Theory of Love (Erik Gandini, 2015, SE, 76’)
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
Sweden is typically portrayed as having a perfectly organized society in which everyone has equal opportunities for an independent existence. One upshot is that people don’t need to ask anyone else for help or favors, bringing contact between individuals to an absolute minimum. Half the population lives in single households, and an increasing number of women are choosing single motherhood through artificial insemination. Meanwhile, the number of people dying alone is continually on the rise. The woeful succession of sperm banks deserted residential areas and forgotten deaths casts a disturbing light on the downside to an independent society in which the only truly social activity appears to be searches for missing persons. The film raises the fascinating question of why a life lived in such security and safety should turn out to be so unsatisfying. Some Swedes are putting up courageous resistance. The film first shows a group of young people organizing gatherings in the woods to surrender to their emotions and reform ties of kinship. The second part of the film focuses on a successful surgeon who has moved away to Ethiopia, where despite the lack of material wealth, he has relearned the value of community. In conclusion, maverick sociologist Zygmunt Bauman explains why a trouble-free life isn’t necessarily a happy one.
Saturday, March 25
9:30–11:00
Case Study by Ümit Uludag of CORSO Film: International Co-production with Germany
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
How, when and under what conditions CORSO Film enters into co-productions? Which type of funding can be accessed with a German producer on board? German producer Ümit Uludag will present several case studies on recent successful international documentary co-productions completed by German production company CORSO Film. We will explore different financing strategies, with particular focus on international collaborations on projects originating from CEE Europe: A Woman Captured (dir. Bernadett Tuza Ritter, HU/DE, 2017), Acasa, My Home (dir. Radu Ciorniciuc, RO/FI/DE, 2020), The Wall of Shadows (dir. Eliza Kubarska, PL/DE/CH, 2021), BLIX NOT BOMBS (dir. Greta Stocklassa, CZ/SE/DE, 2023).
Saturday, March 25
16:30–17:30
Lecture by Iikka Vehkalahti: 10 Most Common Sins in the Teaser-thinking
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
Why is it so difficult to make a good teaser and is a teaser needed only to attract financiers? Let's try to find 10 most common sins in the teaser-thinking with Iikka Vehkalahti.
Sunday, March 26
9:30–11:00
Lecture by Mikael Opstrup: ‘Character Driven Documentary is the Only Art Form Beyond Control of the Creators’
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
This is a quote from Mikael Opstrup‘s 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 the complex answer to the simple question: What are we looking for? - with related detours to the different elements in documentary filmmaking in general.
Sunday, March 26
16:30–17:15
Case Study by Ben Kempas: On the Impact Campaign of Emma Davie’s Oil Machine (2022)
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
The impact campaign of Emma Davie’s Oil Machine will be discussed during a case study by Ben Kempas, a campaign specialist, a founder and a company director of Film & Campaign Ltd. Clients across Europe and North America hire Ben as strategic consultant or hands-on outreach producer to identify and engage target audiences, create networks and partnerships, organize grassroots events, produce additional content or virtual screenings, and build action-focused websites.
Sunday, March 26
17:30–19:00
Masterclass by Erik Gandini
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
In this masterclass, acclaimed filmmaker and producer Erik Gandini will offer the audience an essential exploration of the art and craft of his directing. The Italian-born, Swedish-based film director, producer and writer is known for Surplus: Terrorized into Being Consumers (2003), Gitmo (2005), Videocracy (2009), The Swedish Theory of Love (2015) and his latest documentary After Work (2022).
Monday, March 27
10:00–11:15
Panel Discussion: How Can You Make Movies and Keep Your Sanity?
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
In the highly competitive environment of the audiovisual industry, mental health has been a rather taboo topic up to now. People working in the industry are often on the verge of burnout due to the stressful working conditions. They often consider changing careers and ask themselves whether their work is worth the uncertainties it brings; whether this relates to funding, finding a work-life balance, or struggling to juggle many things at once. Louise Johansen, founder of the Sane Cinema program, Jana Neustupová from the company New Era Safety, Mikoláš Arsenev, director of Breaking the Silence, and former Sundance programmer Caroline Libresco will talk about preventing occupational risks and their connection to documentary filmmaking on a panel dedicated to the mental health of documentary filmmakers.
Monday, March 27
15:00–16:00
Presentation: Don’t Let Them Lose Your Thread: How Digital Platform Could Help Your Film
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
Pitch the Doc & ShareDoc presentations of new digital tools
Pitch the Doc is an online hub for documentary professionals, and a catalogue of curated documentary projects. It‘s an example of a web-based tool for professional preparation of “film packs”, and for continuous promotion and building the international recognition of documentary projects – how to use it to establish new contacts, and to maintain business relations initiated at pitchings and co-production meetings.
Are you a documentary maker aiming to support the protagonists involved in your film and to share their unique story? Then ShareDoc might be just for you. This new free-to-use platform offers a unique solution for making a change with your film. ShareDoc would like to be seen as a crossroad between everyone involved in the lifecycle of a documentary. Through setting up a profile on the platform and implementing simple QR code in your film credits, the viewers could directly donate to your cause, characters or otherwise contribute to the good thing.
The session will introduce both of these platforms and how you could join as a filmmaker, what are the benefits and what is needed to join. For more info visit pitchthedoc.com and share-doc.org.
Monday, March 27
16:30–18:00
Lecture and Case Study by Christa Auderlitzky: International Distribution Strategy for the Documentary Fragile Memory (2022)
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
Christa Auderlitzky, distributor, sales agent and director of the international sales company Filmdelight will present case studies of the sales and distribution of film titles from the CEE region from her company's catalogue. She will introduce the audience to the distribution strategy of the internationally acclaimed film Fragile Memory (dir. Ihor Ivanko). She will further expand her lesson with an update on the possibilities of international cooperation and co-production between Austrian filmmakers and CEE producers.
The lecture is organised with the support of the Austrian Cultural Forum in Prague.
Monday, March 27
18:30–20:00
Complexities of Power: Two Gatekeepers in Conversation
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
In collaboration with the audience, Ruth Reid and Caroline Libresco wade into a reservoir of charged topics shaping the documentary film ecosystem and their own work: the status of women, producers as creatives, the art and alchemy of nonfiction storytelling, financing hurdles, the future of independent film, sustainability and burnout, fomenting change, personal drive, and political purpose.
This keynote is supported by American Film Showcase and the U.S. Embassy in the Czech Republic.
Tuesday, March 28
13:00–15:00
Presentation: B2B Doc: Visegrad Pitch
Conference Room, 5th floor, French Institute in Prague
A selection of Ukrainian documentary works-in-progress seeking funds and co-producers is pitched by the filmmakers to industry professionals from the Visegrad countries, other EDP guests and the wide public. This event is organised by B2B Doc in cooperation with the Institute of Documentary Film with the support of the International Visegrad Fund.
Tuesday, March 28
16:30–17:30
Presentation: Czech Docs: Coming Soon
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
What is coming up in the Czech documentary and what to look forward to in the future? Five upcoming Czech feature documentaries will be presented by their creators to an audience consisting of the general public, representatives of leading international film festivals, sales agents, distributors and other film professionals. The event is organized in cooperation with the Audiovisual Producers’ Association (APA). Moderated by Ivana Formanová (KineDok).
Wednesday, March 29
9:15–13:30
Pitching: East Doc Forum
Cinema 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 Outside, Pianoforte, 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 29
17:00–18:30
Panel Debate: Virtual Reality - The Ideal Tool for Spreading Impact?
Conference Room, 5th floor, French Institute in Prague
Virtual reality as a technology and medium offers specific ways to reach audiences. Doctors practice challenging operations, astronauts train to attach a space module - VR provides new experiences that are hard to get in real life. How is this impact potential used in original art projects? Can we use VR to "train" ourselves to be more respectful of nature or more open to people who are part of different minorities? And how can we work with obstacles such as the cost of the headset and the inaccessibility or limited distribution channels and capacities that stand in the way of wider societal impact? The creators of this year's VR projects (The Shape of Us, Lou, Endless) and others will share their experiences and talk about the steps in the creative process leading to the creation of an impact project.
Wednesday, March 29
19:00–20:30
UA:PBC screening: Shchedryk Against the “Russian World” (Oleksandr Nazarov, 2022, UA, 80')
Conference Room, 5th floor, French Institute in Prague
Russia’s attempts to conquer and take over Ukraine haven’t started with this war - they date back to hundreds years ago. This film tells a story from the beginning of the 20th century, the period of national liberation struggle in Ukraine after the collapse of the Russian Empire. The film combines two storylines. The first one demonstrates the aspiration of Ukraine to justice and independence, to its proper place on the European map. The second one shows the aspiration of Russia to destroy, deny, or appropriate everything. “The same people and the same culture” is a false manipulative narrative which was used by Russia more than 100 years ago and which stays unchanged till today.
Thursday, March 30
10:00–11:00
Presentation: East Doc Series
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
Presentation of the new documentary series projects that are looking for international partners and collaborators. The filmmakers will present their current factual series to the international audience of film professionals and decision makers. What are some of the topics that are coming from Central and Eastern Europe? What tales the filmmakers follow, or what approaches they choose to tell these stories? Find out during the presentation.
Thursday, March 30
11:00–11:30
Introductory Session: KineDok Conference: How to Set Up a Screening Venue
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
Community-driven distribution platform KineDok will host an international conference titled How to set up a screening venue during the East Doc Platform in Kino 35 of Prague's French Institute. The public programme starts at 11:00 on the 30th of March and it consists of presentations by venue managers who organise cultural and screening events in alternative social venues such as cafes, bars and galleries. The conference includes a panel discussion where expert guests whose experience goes beyond organising cultural events in alternative venues will share their know-how.
KineDok is an international community-driven distribution project of the Institute of Documentary Film. The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe. This project is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA.
Thursday, March 30
11:30–13:00
Presentation: Think Outside the Traditional Cinema Format
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
"Think outside the traditional cinema format" is a program that showcases success stories by venue managers from all KineDok countries presented in the PechaKucha format. These managers organise cultural and screening events in alternative social venues such as cafes, bars, and galleries. Through presentations, attendees will learn about the challenges and opportunities of organising non-traditional screenings and events, and how to create unique and engaging experiences for audiences. The program encourages thinking beyond the traditional cinema format, and highlights the potential of alternative venues to foster community engagement and bring diverse films to new audiences.
Thursday, March 30
14:30–16:00
Presentation: Empowering Communities through Documentary Film
Cinema 35, French Institute in Prague
This session aims to empower communities through the use of documentary film. Annelies Cuba, an Austrian programmer, will present the youth-focused activities of the Wienxtra cultural centre, which aims to encourage young people to explore their creativity through film. Polish film journalist Adam Kruk will introduce the basics of thinking about film in text, teaching participants how to write about film in a critical and engaging way. Enikő Gyureskó, from the Hungarian festival Verzio, will discuss the process of curating and organising film programmes, highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusivity in film selection. Finally, Matej Sotník will delve into the specific work behind producing and distributing creative documentaries, providing insights into the challenges and rewards of this artistic medium. This program brings together experts from across Europe to inspire and equip participants to use documentary film as a tool for community empowerment.
The presentation is organised with the support of the Austrian Cultural Forum in Prague.